In Office FAQ

Question: What should I have ready for my Tax Preparer?

Answer: You'll need to bring tax forms such as your W-2 and personal information.
•Your social security number/card and a valid ID.
•Your spouse's full name and social security number/card and a valid ID.
•Date(s) of birth and social security number(s)/card(s) of all dependents.

Question: How do I get my refund?

Answer: You can receive your refund by check, which will be available for pick up at the office you filed your tax returns. NOTE: All online filing refunds will be sent to mailing address sumbmitted in application.

Question: How long does it take to recieve my refund?

Answer: When we e-file your return to the IRS, you'll generally receive your refund check within 14 to 21 business days.

Qualifying Child Rules

Question: If both parents want to claim the earned income credit, but were never married, who is entitled to claim the credit?

Answer: If they otherwise meet all of the requirements to claim the earned income tax credit (EITC), unmarried parents with a qualifying child may choose which one will claim the credit.

Question: My child was born and only lived 40 minutes. Can this child be my qualifying child for the earned income credit and the child tax credit?

Answer: Earned Income Credit. Generally, for a child to be your qualifying child for the earned income credit, the child must live with you in the United States for more than half of the tax year. A child who was born or died in 2013 is treated as having lived with you for more than half of 2013 if your home was the child’s home for more than half of the time he or she was alive in 2013.

Question: If the noncustodial parent receives permission from the custodial parent to claim a child on his or her tax return, is the noncustodial parent eligible for the earned income credit?

Answer: No. The noncustodial parent cannot claim the earned income credit on the basis of that child because the child did not live with that parent for the greater part of the year and therefore does not meet the residency test.
• The custodial parent may be able to claim the earned income credit if all the other requirements are met. Note: For income tax purposes, the custodial parent is the person with whom the qualifying child in question lives with the greater number of nights during the year.

Question: Must I be entitled to claim a child as a dependent to claim the earned income credit based on the child being my qualifying child?

Answer: You do not have to be entitled to claim the child as a dependent to claim the earned income credit based on the child being your qualifying child. However, the child cannot file a joint return for the year except as a claim for refund of income tax withheld or estimated tax paid). If your qualifying child was married at the end of the year, he or she cannot be your qualifying child unless the following conditions are met: • You are entitled to claim an exemption for the child, or • The reason you are not entitled to claim an exemption for the child is that you released a claim to a dependency exemption for the child under the special rule for divorced or separated parents or parents who live apart.

Taxable & Nontaxable Income

Question: Is child support considered earned income when calculating the earned income credit?

Answer: No. For purposes of calculating the earned income credit, child support is not considered earned income. Examples of items that are not earned income include interest and dividends, pensions and annuities, social security and railroad retirement benefits (including disability benefits), alimony and child support, welfare benefits, workers’ compensation benefits, unemployment compensation (insurance), nontaxable foster care payments, and veterans benefits, including VA rehabilitation payments. Do not include any of these items in your earned income.