Copeland Accounting & Tax

12/29/2025

Important information for taxpayers using USPS for mailing to the IRS.

Summary of the Final Rule The United States Postal Service (USPS) has adopted a final rule ( FR Doc. 2025-20740 ) adding Section 6 08.11, "Postmarks and Postal Possession," to the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM). The rule formally defines postmarks and identifies the types of markings that qu

01/30/2025

Anyone who has tried to contact the IRS, knows the wait time can be unbearable. As a tax professional, I can tell you that in the last couple of years, this has improved and technology has improved thanks to the additional funding in 2023. Now, Trump has signed an executive order that freezes the hiring of federal civilian employees, which includes the IRS. This could have a real impact on taxpayers just in time for tax season. I know the IRS has a bad reputation, but the IRS does not create tax law. That is done by Congress. The IRS must implement that law. So don’t get mad at the IRS when you can’t get help this tax season. Get mad at this administration.

01/25/2023

We can expect smaller refunds this year. The past couple of years we had many Covid relief measures that were available to lower our tax bills. This year we won't have the Economic Impact Payment and the Child Tax Credit goes back to the amount prior to Covid. Don't wait until the last minute to file your tax return. You might be in for an unpleasant surprise.

01/24/2023

IRS reminds taxpayers: Choose a tax professional carefully.

The Internal Revenue Service today reminded taxpayers to choose a tax return preparer with care. Even though most tax return preparers provide honest, quality service, some may cause harm through fraud, identity theft and other scams.

Each tax season, the IRS publishes a reminder to choose your tax professional carefully and gives some warning signs.

Tax pros are required to sign the tax returns . They are required to have a valid Preparer Tax Identification number (PTIN) which will be on the preparer's signature line.

"When choosing a tax professional, the IRS urges taxpayers to visit IRS.gov. The Choosing a Tax Professional page on IRS.gov has information about tax return preparer credentials and qualifications. The IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications can help identify many preparers by type of credential or qualification."

You should also consider how the tax pro handles you personal information. Here at Copeland Accounting and Tax, we take this very seriously. We hold your information in strict confidence and provide a secure portal for exchange of documents.

Customer service is also important and we are proud of the high standards we set for ourselves.

07/07/2022

This is an article from the IRS. I've been warning tax payers of these OIC mills for years. If you have tax debt and want to see if you qualify for an Offer in Compromise, please call me. I have had many hours of training and will guide you through this in a fair and ethical manner.

“Companies who promise to eliminate tax debt sometimes leave taxpayers high and dry
As the old saying goes: When something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Taxpayers with outstanding tax bills might be tempted by businesses who advertise and offer to help them reduce their tax debt. These businesses, often called Offer in Compromise mills, make huge claims about reducing unpaid taxes for pennies on the dollar. Unfortunately, these companies sometimes don’t deliver and charge large fees.
An Offer in Compromise with the IRS can help some taxpayers who can’t pay their tax bill.

An Offer in Compromise is an agreement between a taxpayer and the IRS that settles a tax debt for less than the full amount owed. The offer program gives eligible taxpayers a path toward paying off their debt when they otherwise couldn’t or would face financial hardship.
The OIC mills that are dishonest take advantage of taxpayers’ lack of knowledge to make a quick buck.

These OIC mills urge people to hire their company to file an OIC application, even though the taxpayer won't qualify. They often charge big fees to prepare applications that they know the IRS will deny. This unfair practice wastes taxpayers’ time and money.
The OIC mills that are dishonest are a problem all year long, but they step up their advertising after the filing season ends, when taxpayers are trying to resolve their tax issues. “