Individual Tax Return Preparation in Los Angeles

Who this service is for

Individual tax preparation is for anyone who files a personal return and wants it done carefully by a licensed CPA. Before opening my own practice, I worked in CPA firms helping prepare both simple and complicated individual tax returns. Common situations include:

• Employees with one or more W-2s
• Married couples deciding between filing jointly or separately
• Families with dependents and child or education credits
• Homeowners comparing the standard deduction with itemizing
• People with interest, dividends, investment sales, or retirement income
• W-2 employees who also have some side income (see self-employed taxes)

What's included

• Preparation of your federal and California returns
• A review of the deductions and credits you may qualify for, based on your documents and answers
• A walkthrough of your return before you sign, in plain language — in English, Armenian or Arabic
• Answers to follow-up questions about your return

Key numbers for 2025 tax returns

For tax year 2025 (returns filed in 2026), the federal standard deduction is:

Source: IRS. Higher amounts apply if you are 65 or older or blind.

The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21) added or expanded several deductions starting with 2025, available whether or not you itemize, each with its own eligibility rules and income phase-outs:

• A deduction for qualified tips
• A deduction for qualified overtime compensation
• A deduction for interest on a qualifying loan for a passenger vehicle purchased in 2025
• An enhanced deduction for seniors

For people who itemize, the cap on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction rose to $40,000 ($20,000 if married filing separately), reduced for modified adjusted gross income over $500,000 ($250,000 if married filing separately).

California has its own tax law and often does not follow federal changes, so your California return can differ from your federal return. That's one reason it helps to have both prepared together.

Deadlines to know

• 2025 returns were due April 15, 2026; with an extension, the filing deadline was October 15, 2026. An extension gives more time to file, not more time to pay.
• Haven't filed for 2025 yet? File as soon as you can. Penalties and interest on unpaid tax generally keep growing until you file and pay.
• 2026 returns are generally due April 15, 2027.

What to bring

• Last year's federal and California returns (especially if you're a new client)
• W-2s from every employer
• 1099 forms (1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-B, 1099-R, 1099-NEC, 1099-K, SSA-1099)
• Form 1098 (mortgage interest) and property tax statements
• Form 1095-A if you had a Covered California marketplace plan
• Childcare provider name, address, tax ID and amounts paid
• Records of charitable gifts, education expenses (Form 1098-T), and estimated tax payments
• Bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit or payment
• Photo ID for you (and your spouse, if filing jointly)

What I don't promise

No honest preparer can promise a specific refund. I'll prepare an accurate return based on your documents and the law, look for every deduction and credit you legitimately qualify for, and explain the result.