Individual Tax Preparation
Federal and state Form 1040 preparation for W-2 earners, families and investors, filed electronically and reviewed line by line.
How BATS handles individual tax preparation
Your personal return is the one document that ties every part of your financial year together: wages, investments, rental income, education costs, health coverage and family changes. We prepare it carefully, look for every deduction and credit you qualify for, and explain what changed from last year so nothing on it surprises you.
We work with clients in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., so state-specific rules are covered whether you are in one state or several.
Who this is for
- W-2 employees with side income or investments
- Families claiming the Child Tax Credit, dependent care or education credits
- Homeowners with mortgage interest, property taxes or a recent home sale
- Investors with stock sales, dividends, K-1s or crypto activity
- Anyone who moved states or changed jobs during the year
Everything covered in this service
Federal Form 1040 with all required schedules
Resident, part-year and nonresident state returns
Review of itemized vs. standard deduction
Credit review: child, education, energy and dependent care credits
Prior-year comparison and a plain-English summary
E-filing, direct deposit setup and IRS acceptance tracking
The paperwork behind individual tax preparation
| Form 1040 | U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, the main federal return |
|---|---|
| Schedule A | Itemized deductions such as mortgage interest, state and local taxes and charitable gifts |
| Schedule B | Interest and ordinary dividends above the reporting threshold |
| Schedule D and Form 8949 | Sales of stock, crypto and other capital assets |
| Schedule 8812 | Child Tax Credit and credit for other dependents |
| Form 8863 | Education credits (American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning) |
| Form 2441 | Child and dependent care expenses |
| Form 4868 | Automatic extension of time to file |
What we'll need from you
Have these ready and your first meeting goes much faster. Don't worry if something is missing; we'll help you find it.
- Social Security numbers or ITINs for everyone on the return
- W-2s from every employer
- 1099s: interest, dividends, brokerage, retirement, unemployment and freelance income
- Form 1098 (mortgage interest), 1098-T (tuition) and 1098-E (student loan interest)
- Form 1095-A if you had Marketplace health coverage
- Records of estimated tax payments
- Charitable donation receipts
- Childcare provider name, address and taxpayer ID
- Last year's federal and state returns
How it works, step by step
Upload your documents
Send W-2s, 1099s, 1098s and last year's return through our secure portal.
Advisor review
Your advisor checks for missing income, deductions and credits, and asks follow-up questions.
Review and sign
You see a draft and a summary of your refund or balance due before anything is filed.
File and track
We e-file federal and state returns and confirm acceptance with you.
Why clients choose BATS for individual tax preparation
Reviewed line by line
Every return is checked against your documents and last year's return before it's filed.
Every state covered
Federal, state and local returns prepared together so nothing is missed or taxed twice.
Planning built in
We flag next year's savings opportunities while we prepare this year's return.
Help after filing
If the IRS or a state sends a letter about a return we prepared, we help you answer it.
Individual Tax Preparation FAQs
11 answers to the questions clients ask us most. Don't see yours? Ask us directly.
What documents do I need?
Typically your W-2s, any 1099 forms, mortgage interest (Form 1098), tuition (1098-T), health coverage forms, records of charitable gifts and last year's return. We send a personalised checklist after your first call.
Can you file my state return too?
Yes. We prepare returns for every state that taxes income, including part-year and nonresident returns when you moved or worked across state lines.
What if I need more time?
We can file an extension (Form 4868) to move the filing deadline to October. An extension gives more time to file, not to pay, so we also estimate any balance due.
Should I itemize or take the standard deduction?
We calculate both and use whichever lowers your tax. Itemizing usually only wins when mortgage interest, state and local taxes (subject to the federal cap) and charitable gifts together exceed the standard deduction.
How long should I keep my tax records?
Generally at least three years from the date you file, and longer in some situations, such as records for property you still own or years where income may have been under-reported.
When will I get my refund?
The IRS issues most refunds for e-filed returns with direct deposit within 21 days, although some returns take longer, especially those claiming certain credits.
Does my child need to file a return?
A dependent child may need their own return if their earned or investment income is above the filing threshold. We check this when we prepare your return.
I received a 1099-K from a payment app. Is it all taxable?
Not necessarily. Reimbursements from friends or sales of personal items at a loss are not taxable income. We separate business income from personal transfers so you only pay tax on what you owe.
How much does tax preparation cost?
Fees depend on the forms involved, the number of states and how organised your records are. After a short consultation we give you a written quote before any work starts.
Is my information secure?
Yes. Documents are exchanged through an encrypted client portal, and we follow a written information security plan as the FTC Safeguards Rule requires of tax preparers.
Can you prepare returns for prior years?
Yes. We prepare current and past-year federal and state returns, which is useful if you are catching up or amending.
Often paired with this service
Tax Planning & Strategy
Proactive, year-round tax planning that lowers your bill through timing, structure, retirement contributions and credits.
Learn moreTax Preparation & FilingMulti-State Tax Filing
Part-year, nonresident and multi-state business returns for people who moved, commute across state lines or work remotely.
Learn moreTax Preparation & FilingAmended Tax Returns
Correct past returns with Form 1040-X or business amendments to claim missed refunds or fix errors before the IRS does.
Learn moreIndividual Tax Preparation in every state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Popular cities
- Birmingham, AL
- Anchorage, AK
- Phoenix, AZ
- Little Rock, AR
- Los Angeles, CA
- Denver, CO
- Bridgeport, CT
- Wilmington, DE
- Jacksonville, FL
- Atlanta, GA
- Honolulu, HI
- Boise, ID
- Chicago, IL
- Indianapolis, IN
- Des Moines, IA
- Wichita, KS
- Louisville, KY
- New Orleans, LA
- Portland, ME
- Baltimore, MD
- Boston, MA
- Detroit, MI
- Minneapolis, MN
- Jackson, MS
- Kansas City, MO
- Billings, MT
- Omaha, NE
- Las Vegas, NV
- Manchester, NH
- Newark, NJ
- Albuquerque, NM
- New York City, NY
- Charlotte, NC
- Fargo, ND
- Columbus, OH
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Portland, OR
- Philadelphia, PA
- Providence, RI
- Charleston, SC
- Sioux Falls, SD
- Nashville, TN
- Houston, TX
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Burlington, VT
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Seattle, WA
- Washington
- Charleston, WV
- Milwaukee, WI
- Cheyenne, WY
Get help with individual tax preparation
Book a consultation and get a clear plan for your taxes and books, wherever you are in the U.S.