Resources

Client resources

Refund trackers, payment links, IRS and Kansas tools, and a record-keeping guide, gathered in one place so you do not have to hunt for them.

Track a refund

  • Federal: Where's My Refund? on IRS.gov. You need your Social Security number, filing status and the exact refund amount from the return. It updates once a day, usually overnight, and e-filed returns typically show up within 24 hours of acceptance.
  • Kansas: Kansas refund status from the Department of Revenue. Have your Social Security number and the refund amount handy.
  • Oklahoma: OkTAP has a "Where's my refund" link on its home page.

Pay a tax bill

  • IRS Direct Pay (irs.gov/payments/direct-pay) pulls from a bank account with no fee. Choose the reason (balance due, estimated tax, extension) and the tax year carefully.
  • IRS Online Account (irs.gov/account) shows your balance, payment history, prior-year transcripts and any notices, and lets you set up payments.
  • Payment plans: the Online Payment Agreement sets up an installment plan in a few minutes if you owe and cannot pay in full. Talk with us first if the balance is large.
  • EFTPS (eftps.gov) is the system businesses use for payroll tax deposits and estimated payments. Enrollment takes about a week, so do it before the first deposit is due.
  • Kansas: Make a tax payment covers individual and business balances and estimated payments; payment plan requests are a separate page. The Kansas Customer Service Center is where businesses file and pay sales and withholding tax.

Protect yourself

  • Identity Protection PIN. An IP PIN is a six-digit code that stops anyone else from filing a return with your Social Security number. We recommend one for every client. Bring the current year's letter to your appointment, since the number changes each January.
  • Spot a scam. The IRS does not call, text or email to demand payment or ask for card numbers. If you get a message like that, do not reply; forward phishing emails to phishing@irs.gov and call us if you are unsure.
  • Check your withholding. The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator tells you whether your paycheck withholding is on track. Adjust with a new Form W-4 at work and a Kansas K-4.

Accounts worth setting up

  • my Social Security for your earnings record, benefit estimates and a downloadable SSA-1099 each January.
  • HealthCare.gov for Form 1095-A if you had Marketplace insurance; the return cannot be filed without it.
  • Apply for an EIN if you are starting a business, hiring, or opening a business bank account. It is free and takes ten minutes; we are glad to do it with you.
  • Kansas Business Center for forming an LLC or corporation, annual reports and name searches.

How long to keep records

Record Keep for
Tax returns and the documents that support them 7 years. The IRS normally has 3 years to audit, 6 if income was understated by more than 25%, and no limit if a return was never filed.
W-2s, 1099s, K-1s, 1095-As 7 years, with the return they belong to
Purchase records for a home, land, equipment or investments, plus improvements 7 years after the year you sell the asset
Nondeductible IRA contributions (Form 8606) and Roth conversion records Until the account is fully distributed, plus 7 years
Payroll records: timecards, W-4s, Forms 941 and 940, state filings At least 4 years after the tax was due or paid
Sales tax returns, exemption and resale certificates At least 4 years
Business books, ledgers and year-end financial statements Permanently
Formation documents, EIN letter, S corporation acceptance, buy-sell agreements Permanently
Bank and credit card statements, receipts, invoices 7 years
Wills, trusts, estate tax returns, gift tax returns Permanently

Scan paper into your SmartVault folder before you shred it. The portal keeps it organized by year and it never fades or floods.

Forms and checklists

  • What to bring to a tax appointment, our own checklist for individuals, farms and businesses.
  • Form W-9, which a business gives you before paying you as a contractor.
  • Form W-4 and Kansas Form K-4 to change paycheck withholding.
  • Authorization forms (IRS Forms 8821 and 2848) that let us talk to the IRS for you. We prepare these and send them to your portal for signature.

Links go to government sites we do not control; if one has moved, call the office and we will point you to the right place.