Tax Planning and Preparation Services
At Clemont Accounting, we guide our clients through a full range of tax planning and preparation decisions with strategies that minimize your tax liabilities, maximize your cash flow and keep you on track to your financial goals. Our expertise, experience, analysis and thorough research allow us to optimize financial opportunities to be found in existing as well as recently altered tax laws. We are knowledgeable and up to date on the tax laws and can make sense of your receipts, bills and notices.

Why not do it online with a free service?

Purchasing items over the Internet has become a popular way to shop for millions of Americans. While it can be dangerous to use a credit or debit card over the Internet, it can be much riskier to utilize the services of an online tax-preparation company. Not only does a customer have to pay for the tax preparation with a credit or debit card, but other vital personal information like Social Security numbers and bank routing numbers are also shared.
Secure Servers May Not Be Secure
Electronic tax-filing companies have servers that they claim are secure. These companies also often stress their privacy policies, giving customers the impression that their personal information is safe. No matter how isolated and monitored a company's server may be, websites can and do get hacked into by unauthorized users. Online tax-preparation companies get your vital personal information via the Internet. If this information---bank routing numbers, Social Security numbers, retirement account information---is accessed by outside parties, your financial security is in jeopardy.
Online Tax Preparers Have Limited Liability
Fine print is often just skimmed over, and its full message is not digested. Online tax-preparation companies have fine-print conditions of service that severely limit their liability in case a client's personal information is compromised. If that happens, many online tax-preparation companies are responsible only for refunding the amount of their services or the cost of any software that is used by a customer, according to SmartPros Ltd.
Security Protection Is Vital on Both Ends
Since so much vital personal information is shared when a person files income taxes online, it is important that the proper security measures be in place. Tax preparers must have the latest firewall and anti-virus protection, as should those who utilize their services. In addition to having these protective measures in place, they must be activated to protect personal information. Customers can ensure that their computer's protection devices are current and activated, but it can be difficult to know if a company that is receiving personal information has done the same.

Advantages of using Clermont & Associates
Filing your own taxes can be incredibly time consuming.
In 2007, the IRS estimated that the average person spent 24.2 hours completing their tax returns. For those who had to file a Schedule C for business or a Schedule E for rental properties, this number quickly jumped to 52.2 hours. To put this number into perspective, if you assume that the average person’s time is worth $25 an hour, that is a cost of up to $1,305 dollars. Money and time that could be saved, invested, or in my case, put towards the down payment on a new car. A tax professional will be able to work quickly and efficiently and save you not only time but the unavoidable headache that is sure to follow.
Tax preparation fees can be deductible.
Assuming you itemize, any fees you incur while preparing for you taxes can be deducted on Form 1040 as long as the sum of your miscellaneous deductions you are claiming here is greater than 2% of your adjusted gross income.
Difficulty. Filing a tax return cannot only be complicated and confusing but is also constantly changing. The Federal tax code is adjusted each year making is nearly impossible for the average taxpayer to be fully aware of all changes that may apply to them. If you must claim any of the following it is especially advised that you speak with a tax professional as these scenarios will instantly complicate your tax return:

• You own, sold or started a business
• Have many investment losses or gains
• Capital asset transactions
• Real estate transactions
• Change in marital status
• Your income and residence are not in the same state or country
• Trust Fund Transactions
• Completing a Schedule for Self-Employment Income
• Find deductions or credits that may have otherwise been missed.

Audit assistance.
In the unlikely event that you are audited, a tax professional (only a CPA, Enrolled Agent, or Tax Attorney) can work with you to organize any necessary paperwork and can deal with the IRS directly on your behalf, ensuring that you are well represented. Sometimes using a tax professional, that can represent you in front of the IRS, and who also prepared your tax return, can help streamline things with an audit. Even though only 1% of taxpayers are audited each year, you should not take any chances and face the dreaded IRS alone.
Avoid mistakes.
Regardless of how confident you are on your ability to file your taxes, mistakes are inevitable. Many professional tax preparers use software as well and they can double check things themselves.
Convenience.
This point speaks for itself as there are few who can deny the appeal in avoiding the stress and hassle of filing taxes.

We welcome your business and feel free to come in to let us answer any questions you may have.