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What to Expect at Your First Appointment

Knowing what happens before you walk in, or log in, makes the whole thing easier. Here is how a first appointment with us works.

Reviewed by LaToya Clark-Thompson, FounderLast updated

Booking

You can book online through our scheduling link, call (864) 781-4035, or contact us. Choose an in-person visit at the Easley office or a virtual meeting. If you would rather talk before committing to anything, a consultation is free.

New clients start at get started: you tell us a little about yourself and what you need, then create your secure client portal account. That is where documents go, so they never travel by email or text.

What to bring

The tax prep checklist has the full list. The short version:

  • Photo ID for you and your spouse if filing jointly, and Social Security numbers or ITINs for everyone on the return
  • Last year’s federal and state returns, if we did not prepare them
  • Income forms: W-2s, every type of 1099, and records of income that did not come with a form
  • Deduction and credit records: Form 1098, property tax, childcare, tuition, charitable gifts, estimated payments
  • For a business: books or bank statements, mileage, asset purchases, payroll reports
  • Bank details for direct deposit or payment

Missing something? Bring what you have and tell us what is absent. Many documents can be obtained from IRS transcripts or reissued by the payer while the rest of the work goes on.

At the appointment

LaToya Clark-Thompson leads the work, so the person you meet is the person preparing your return. The conversation is about your year, not just your forms. Expect questions like these:

  • What changed since last year: marriage, a baby, a move, a new job, a home bought or sold?
  • Did you earn anything outside your main job, including cash or app payments?
  • Did you receive any letters from the IRS or the South Carolina Department of Revenue?
  • Is anything coming next year that we should plan for now?

The single most useful thing you can bring is a short note of what was different about this year. It surfaces things a document list never would.

After the appointment

  1. We prepare your return and review it
  2. We walk you through the results before filing, including what drove your refund or balance due
  3. You review and sign electronically through the portal, or in the office
  4. We e-file the return, and your records stay on file for reference next year

A formal client relationship begins once onboarding is complete and the required agreements are signed, which the portal handles. Not sure which service you need? Try the service finder.

Frequently asked questions

What should I bring to my first tax appointment?

Photo ID, Social Security numbers or ITINs for everyone on the return, last year’s federal and state returns, every W-2 and 1099, your Form 1098 and other deduction records, records of any estimated payments, and bank details for your refund or payment. Business owners should add books or bank statements, mileage and payroll reports. A note of what changed this year helps most.

Is the first consultation free?

Yes. A consultation is free and there is no obligation to go further. It is a chance to talk through your situation, ask who will prepare your return, and understand what the work involves before you commit. You can book it online, call (864) 781-4035, or schedule a free discovery call from the get started page.

What if I do not have all my tax documents yet?

Come anyway, or upload what you have. Knowing what is missing early lets us chase it while the rest of the return is prepared, rather than discovering the gap at the end. Many missing income documents can be pieced together from IRS transcripts, and payers can usually reissue a lost W-2 or 1099.

Do I sign my tax return in person?

Either way works. If you come into the Easley office, you can review and sign there. If you work virtually, you review the return and sign electronically through the secure client portal. In both cases the return is walked through with you before it is filed, so you know what you are signing.

Not the question you had? The full tax FAQ covers more ground, and our client reviews say what the work is actually like.

Related pages

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Free prior-year review

What we look for, what happens if we find something, and what to send.

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Switching tax preparers

What to bring, what carries over, and how the Best Rate Guarantee works.

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Tax preparer vs. CPA

What AFSP means, who genuinely needs a CPA, and how we handle matters that do.

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Part of Working With Us. Not sure which service fits? Answer a few questions.

Tell us what you need

Send a short note about your situation and we’ll come back to you with a straight answer — whether that’s a quote, a next step, or a referral if it isn’t something we handle.

Prefer to talk it through first? Book a consultation and we’ll find a time, in the Easley office or virtually.

Prefer to talk? Call (864) 781-4035 or book a consultation.

Ready when you are. In the office or virtually.

Call (864) 781-4035 or book a consultation, in the Easley office or virtually.

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