Tax Season at The Phillips Group

Clear expectations. Transparent pricing. Expert care.

Every tax season, our goal is simple: make your filing process smooth, predictable, and stress-free. Below you will find a full breakdown of our current pricing, what each service includes, important deadlines, and how scheduling works for both monthly plan clients and annual “tax-only” clients.

The Process

  • This document outlines our responsibilities to you, your responsibilities to us, and the fee(s) for our services. In order to get started, we need each client - except those on monthly Plans - to read and sign this form each year.

    Your engagement letter will be sent to your email address on file in early December 2025. Please look for an email from noreply@ignitionapp.com.

  • Monthly Clients: Tax Season Appointments are included in your monthly fee.

    Annual Clients: Tax Season Appointments are an optional, add-on service available at the rate of $200.

    Scheduling: Clients will be notified of the ability to access our tax season calendar in stages, based on their service tier.

    • Dec. 8th: Advanced Plan clients

    • Dec. 22nd: Legacy Plan, Growth Plan, & Essentials Plan clients

    • Jan. 7th: Annual, “tax-only” clients

    Notification emails for clients at their respective levels of service will go out automatically, so be sure to check your email inbox on those dates. Alternatively, you are always welcome to call our office on or after your scheduled calendar release date to schedule your appointment over the phone.

    If you have any questions, or if you are not certain which level of service you fall under, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

  • We’ll need your tax documents in order to prepare your tax return, so this is the stage where you send us those documents.

    The best method is to upload them to our Client Portal, but you can also fax them, email them, or drop them off at the office.

    Personal Tax Organizer

    Tax Organizers are useful in helping clients remember what documents to send and to organize source documents. However, you are not required to fill them out.

    Personalized Tax Organizers, which include data from your prior-year tax return to help you gather documents, will be mailed out in early January. You can also download a generic (non-personalized) copy of the organizer by clicking here.

    For a list of commonly requested tax documents, click here.

    Business Tax Checklist

    • 2025 year-end balance sheet and profit & loss statement - REQUIRED starting with tax year 2024

    • Cumulative general ledger for the period 1/1/25 - 12/31/25

    • Copies of 2025 Forms W-2, W-3, 940, and (for CA clients) Quarterly DE9/DE9-C

    • Copy of 12/31/25 bank statement(s)

    • 12/31/25 Ending statements for all business loans

    • 2025 year-end collections report, if available

    • 2025 Pension contribution, if applicable

    • Details/invoices for any business assets purchased or disposed of during 2025

    • Copies of loan and/or lease documents for all new business loans or leases

  • Sit back, relax, and we’ll handle the return preparation. In the event we need more information, you can expect that either the person preparing the return or the person reviewing the return will reach out to you directly.

    If you have a tax appointment, we’ll do our best to have your return as close to completion as possible, provided that you sent us your source documents at least 3 business days before your appointment.

    If you have any questions during this process, simply email us at support@phillipsgrouptax.com.

  • Your tax appointment will be with our Co-Founder & C.E.O., Laura Phillips, E.A.

    If it’s your first time coming to our beautifully modern Anaheim office (map), please allow yourself a few extra minutes.

    If you’ve chosen a phone appointment, you can plan on Laura calling you at the appointed time.

    If you’ve chosen to meet virtually, Laura will start the Microsoft Teams meeting and then admit you from the waiting room. Note that you do not need a Microsoft account in order to use Microsoft Teams (instructions here). If you have any trouble, please call us at (714) 667-2311.

  • Once we’ve completed your return, we’ll send the return, final invoice (if applicable), and any estimate or payment links to you electronically via our Client Portal. If you do have a final invoice, you will be notified via email and this amount will be automatically charged to your payment method on file.

    If you would like us to mail you a paper copy of your return, simply let us know by emailing support@phillipsgrouptax.com.

  • This step is for you, our clients. Once you receive your return, review it carefully. In the end, you are responsible for the accuracy of your tax returns. We don’t expect you to know the ins and outs of tax law, but we would like you to let us know if something seems off. For example, you wouldn’t believe how many times clients have “approved” returns without remembering to tell us that they had a child or sold their home and moved out of state.

    In the event your return needs to be amended for any reason other than a mistake on our part, there will be a separate fee for the amended return.

    Once you have reviewed your tax return and all questions have been answered, please electronically sign your eFile Authorization form(s). All clients will need to sign a federal form, and most clients will also need to sign a state form.

  • Once we have received all required eFile Authorization Forms, along with your final fee payment, we will electronically file your tax return with the relevant tax authorities. Note that we will not file returns until all documents have been received and fees have been paid.

    On rare occasions, returns will need to be paper filed. We will let you know if this happens to you and why.

  • This survey will open to clients in mid-March.

  • If you’ve been satisfied with the support you’ve received from our team, we would truly appreciate it if you would keep us in mind for any colleagues, friends, or family who might benefit from proactive tax planning and year-round advisory services. Most of the new professionals we serve come through referrals, and your trust means a great deal to us. Thank you for being part of The Phillips Group community.

Tax Return Preparation Fees

Important Note:
All pricing below applies to Annual (tax-only) clients. Clients enrolled in any of our monthly plans receive complimentary tax preparation for themselves, their primary business, and their children. Additional business entities beyond the primary are billed at standard business-return rates.

Individual Returns

Adult Returns - starting at $400

Our standard adult return includes everything most individuals need for a straightforward filing. Additional schedules, states, or special situations may result in an increased final fee.

Every Adult Return Includes:
• Form 1040
• Schedules A & B
• One (1) State Return
• Our Accuracy Guarantee
• Digital document storage for all tax-year documents
• Limited year-round email and phone support for notices and tax questions
• Access to our 24/7 client knowledge base

A non-refundable $400 deposit is due when the engagement letter is signed. Your remaining balance, if any, will be automatically charged to your payment method on file after your return is sent for review.

Tax Form Add-Ons:

  • Additional states: $100 each

  • Schedule C*: $150

  • Schedule D: $100

  • Schedule E (rental property): $50 per property

  • Schedule E, page 2 (K-1s): $25 per K-1

  • Schedule F*: $150

  • Schedule H: $150

  • Form 8824 (1031 exchange): $500

  • Form 8832 (single-member LLC election): $100

Service Add-Ons:

  • Tax Season Prep Appointment: $200

  • Mid-Year Tax Planning Appointment: $349

  • *Accounting for Sch. C or Sch. F: $250/hr (1-hour minimum)

Late Document Policy for Individuals:

To prepare accurate returns during the busiest part of tax season, we rely on a clear and predictable workflow. When documents arrive very late, it creates significant strain on our internal capacity and can delay returns for clients who submitted on time. To avoid any Late Document surcharges, we ask you to submit your tax documents to us no later than March 27.

Documents Received After March 27 and before April 3

If your documents arrive during this period, you may choose one of the following:

  1. Move to an automatic extension at no cost.
    This is the most common option for clients who need extra time or are missing documents. Filing an extension avoids penalties and allows us to prepare your return after the peak rush.

  2. Request completion by the April deadline with a surcharge of 25% of your final total (base fee + add-ons).
    This surcharge helps offset the additional staffing, overtime, and workflow adjustments required to complete last-minute returns without compromising accuracy or impacting clients who submitted earlier.

Documents Received After April 3

Any returns submitted after April 3 will be completed on extension. At that point in the season, completing the return by the initial deadline is no longer possible while maintaining the level of quality and review we expect.

A Note About Extensions

Filing an extension is extremely common and does not increase your audit risk. If you anticipate owing taxes, you may still need to make an estimated payment by the April deadline, and we are happy to help you calculate that estimate - provided that you notify us no later than April 3.

Child Returns - Flat Fee of $200

Designed for dependents with uncomplicated returns.

Every Child Return Includes:
• Form 1040
• Schedule B
• One state return
• Our Accuracy Guarantee
• Digital document storage
• 24/7 knowledge base access

Children are not eligible for: phone support, tax appointments, or additional states, forms, or schedules beyond what is listed above.

The $200 fee is due at the time the engagement letter is signed and is non-refundable.

Eligibility:
• Age 25 or younger
• Unmarried
• Earning $50,000 or less annually
• One or both parents must be active and paid clients

Business Returns

Business Returns - Flat Fee of $1,850

Our business return fee is all-inclusive and covers all states, all schedules, and the full business entity filing.

Every Business Return Includes:
• Form 1120, 1120-S, or 1065, including all schedules and state returns
• Our Accuracy Guarantee
• Digital document storage for all tax-year documents
• Limited year-round email support and advice
• Access to our 24/7 client knowledge base
• One tax projection appointment in summer or fall

A 50% deposit ($925) is due upon signing. The remaining balance, if any, will be automatically charged to your payment method on file after your return is sent for review.

Minimal or No Activity

If we determine your business had minimal activity, the fee is $925, and your final payment will be waived. If your business had no activity, the fee is $200, and the remaining deposit will be refunded or applied to future services, at your discretion.

Prepayment Discount

Businesses may prepay the full fee by December 31 and receive a $100 discount. All fees paid are non-refundable, except in minimal- or no-activity situations.

Business Document Deadline

Business entities must submit all source documents by February 27. If they are received after this date, the business must go on extension unless internal capacity allows us to offer a $500 surcharge to complete the return by the original deadline.

Trusts & Estates

Estate & Trust Returns - Flat Fee of $450

Our flat fee for Estates and Trusts is designed to keep the process clear, predictable and easy to navigate during what is often a sensitive time. This single rate covers all states and schedules, along with the expert support needed to file an accurate and complete return.

Every Estate & Trust Return Includes:
• Federal, state and all required schedules
• Our Accuracy Guarantee
• Digital document storage for all tax-year documents
• Limited year-round email support and advice
• Access to our 24/7 client knowledge base

A 50% deposit ($225) is due upon signing. The remaining balance will be automatically charged to your payment method on file after your return is sent for review.

Deposits & Final Billing

To reserve space in our tax season workflow, all returns require a deposit when the engagement letter is signed. This allows our team to begin planning capacity, assigning staff, and preparing internal workflows well before documents arrive. Because resources are committed immediately, deposits are non-refundable for all clients.

Deposit Amounts

  • Adults: $400 deposit

  • Children: $200 flat fee

  • Business Entities: $925 deposit

  • Estates and Trusts: $225 deposit

These payments secure your place in our tax season schedule and activate your client file in our system.

When Your Final Balance is Charged

For returns that require a remaining balance, the charge is processed automatically approximately three days after your return is sent for review. This provides time to review the return, ask questions, and ensure everything looks correct before the final payment runs.

Why We Use Automatic Billing

Automatic billing keeps the filing process efficient during the busiest time of year. It prevents delays, ensures accurate recordkeeping, and allows our team to finalize returns promptly after they are reviewed.

We expect to move to electronic-only payments in the future, however, checks & cash are still acceptable payment options. Please note that services cannot begin until the deposit is received, and returns cannot be filed until the balance is paid in full.

Contact us with any questions.

We’re here to make running your practice & understanding your finances easier.

If you have questions or concerns, we’d love to hear them.