Questions about filing with us, answered.

Yes. Every step (document upload, CPA review, questions, and e-filing) happens online or by phone/video. Filing Karma is based out of Santa Ana, California, and works with clients across all 50 states without requiring an office visit.

Yes. Filing Karma serves clients nationwide through a virtual process, subject to the federal and state requirements that apply to each engagement. See our States We Serve page for state-specific information and contact us if your facts involve multiple jurisdictions.

Documents are shared through a secure upload process rather than unencrypted email attachments, and your return is reviewed directly by a CPA rather than passed through a call-center workflow. We're happy to walk through our exact process before you share anything.

Every return is prepared and reviewed under the oversight of Filing Karma's lead CPA before it's filed. You're not handed off to a seasonal preparer with no ongoing accountability.

Pricing is flat-fee and depends on the type of return and its complexity. See our Pricing page for starting rates on individual, business, and trust returns. You'll know your exact fee before work begins.

Typically your prior-year return, W-2s and/or 1099s, and records for any deductions or credits you plan to claim (mortgage interest, business expenses, rental income, etc.). We'll send a specific checklist once we know your situation.

For most individual filers, the federal deadline is April 15. See our Tax Deadlines page for the full current-year schedule, including business return and extension deadlines.

Yes, we can prepare and file late returns and help you understand and respond to an IRS or state notice. Reach out as soon as possible, since interest and penalties accrue the longer a balance goes unresolved.

Both. We prepare individual, S corporation, partnership, LLC, trust, and estate returns. See our Services page for the full list.

It depends on your filing status, age, and total income. As a general guide, most single filers under 65 need to file if their gross income is above the standard deduction amount for that year, and thresholds are different for married couples, dependents, and self-employed individuals. If you had any self-employment income of $400 or more, you generally need to file regardless of your total income. If you're not sure, we can review your situation and tell you either way, even if it turns out you don't need to file.

Your filing status depends on your marital status on the last day of the tax year and your household situation, not on what's most convenient. Head of Household generally requires being unmarried (or considered unmarried), paying more than half the cost of keeping up a home, and having a qualifying dependent living with you for more than half the year. Married couples can generally choose to file jointly or separately, and the better option depends on your specific numbers. We'll help you determine the correct status; it's not something to guess at, since using the wrong one can trigger an IRS notice.

Possibly. The rules differ for a 'qualifying child' versus a 'qualifying relative,' and involve tests around age, residency, income, and how much financial support you provide. An adult child in college, for example, has different rules than a parent you support. This is one of the most commonly misunderstood areas of a tax return, so we walk through the specific tests with you rather than assuming.

Yes. As a W-2 employee, your employer withholds taxes throughout the year. As a 1099 contractor or gig worker (rideshare, delivery, freelance, etc.), no taxes are withheld, and you're generally responsible for self-employment tax in addition to income tax, often through quarterly estimated payments. Many people are surprised by a balance due the first year they have 1099 income because nothing was withheld along the way.

Not necessarily. A 1099-K reports payments you received through a payment app or online marketplace, but it doesn't automatically mean all of that amount is taxable income. Money received from selling personal items at a loss, reimbursements from friends, or gifts generally aren't taxable, even if they show up on a 1099-K. We help sort out what's actually reportable income versus what isn't.

Often not, if Social Security is your only income. But if you have other income, such as a pension, part-time work, or retirement account withdrawals, a portion of your Social Security benefits can become taxable, and a return may be required. This depends on your total combined income, so it's worth a quick check rather than assuming either way.