Getting Ready for Tax Season

Our goal is to make the process easy and convenient to ensure every client receives consistent, timely communication and personalized service.

Income Tax Preparation Tips

Tax Planning: Tax preparation reports what has already happened. Once the year ends, there's usually little that can be changed.

For example, if you'd like to set up and contribute to a 401(k), that needs to be done well before year-end, since the paperwork and planning process takes time. Reaching out earlier in the year allows us to help you take advantage of opportunities like this before deadlines pass.
Bookkeeping Support: If you'd like to be more proactive—tracking profits, estimating taxes, or planning ahead—we can help during the year through our bookkeeping services. Having accurate, up-to-date financial records not only supports better planning but also simplifies your year-end tax filing. Please reach out if you are interested.
Submitting Your Tax Information: Each client will receive both:

-an electronic organizer through our secure Canopy Client Portal (a guided, web-based questionnaire), and
-a PDF version you can complete manually if you prefer.
If you'd like to receive a paper organizer by mail, please let us know by December 8.

When you're ready to send us your information, please provide:

-your completed organizer, and
-all tax documents together (W-2s, 1099s, K-1s, etc.)

Upload them through the client portal.
or mail/drop them off at 2454 E Dempster St, Suite 150, Des Plaines, IL 60016.
Helping Us Get It Right the First Time: To help us work accurately and efficiently, it's best to submit your documents as one complete package.

When new or updated information—such as additional documents, business or rental expenses—comes in after we've already started on your file, we're glad to incorporate it; just know it may add some processing time. Sending everything together up front is the easiest way to keep your return on its original timeline.

Submitting everything together keeps your return moving smoothly and helps prevent missed details or follow-ups.

Upload all documents through the client portal.
Personal Taxes (Form 1040) Deadlines: Our typical turnaround time is four to six weeks.

To ensure on-time filing by April 15th, please send all personal tax documents no later than March 4th.

After April 15th, the turnaround time may extend up to 90 days.

If your documents arrive after the recommended deadline and you still want your return filed by the due date, we'll do our best to accommodate you — getting everything to us as early as possible gives us the time to make that happen.
Business Taxes (S-Corporations & Partnerships) Deadlines: To ensure timely filing by March 15, please send us your Profit & Loss Statement and other financial information by February 2nd.

If your business information arrives after that date and you still want your return filed by the deadline, we'll do our best to accommodate you when we can, or we can prepare an extension instead — either way, we'll help you stay on track.

If you're one of our bookkeeping clients, you can ignore these deadlines — we'll automatically take care of your business tax return or extension for you. You'll just need to submit all remaining documents so we can complete your bookkeeping on time.

Our typical turnaround for business returns is also four to six weeks, so early submissions are strongly encouraged.
Personal Taxes Extensions and Payment Calculations: If you need additional time to gather your documents, we're happy to submit an extension on your behalf.

Please note that an extension gives you more time to file, but not more time to pay — your IRS and state payments are still due by April 15th, to avoid late-payment penalties and interest.

Please let us know by April 1st, if you'd like us to file an extension and whether you'd like us to calculate the payment amount.

We'll file the extension for free.

If you'd like, we can also analyze whether a payment is needed and calculate the amount for you — just let us know.
Business Taxes Extensions and Payment Calculations: If your business needs additional time, we can file an extension on your behalf.

To calculate any Illinois corporate tax payment required with the extension, we'll need your estimated profit.

Please let us know by March 1st, if you'd like us to file an extension and whether you'd like us to calculate the payment amount.

We'll file the extension for free.

If you'd like, we can also analyze whether a payment is needed and calculate the amount for you — just let us know.

(If you're one of our bookkeeping clients, this is already covered under your ongoing service — we'll handle your business tax extension automatically if needed.)
Personal Taxes (Form 1040, and C-Corporations): 📨 Submit your completed organizer and all documents by March 4th.
⏱️ Expect about 4–6 weeks turnaround (90 days after April 15th).
⚡ Getting your documents to us by the deadline helps us file on time — the sooner everything's in, the faster we can turn your return around.

🔁 Sending your documents together in one batch (rather than a few at a time) lets us review everything accurately the first time and keeps things moving without delays.

📄 Extensions are always free. If you'd like us to calculate any payment due, just let us know by April 1st.
Business Taxes (S-Corp & Partnership): 🧾 Submit your Profit & Loss Statement and all documents by February 2nd.
⏱️ Turnaround time is 4–6 weeks (90 days after April 15th).
⚡ Getting your documents to us early gives us the time to prepare an accurate return and file before the deadline.

📄 Extensions are always free. If you think you'll need one, a quick estimate of your profit by March 1st lets us calculate any payment due so you can stay ahead of IRS penalties and interest.

📘 Bookkeeping clients: no need to track these deadlines — we'll handle your tax return or extension automatically once your bookkeeping is up to date.

Other Resources

Account Access & Client Portal

Set up third-party bank access, connect to IL MyTax, and log in to your client portal.

View Guide

Bookkeeping Tips

Best practices for keeping your books clean and your records audit-ready throughout the year.

View Guide

Payroll Onboarding

Everything you need to get your payroll set up correctly from day one.

View Guide