do you qualify for an email return?

Hey, tax filers! One of the most common questions we get all year round is, "When can I book my appointment?" Some of you reach out to ask before you've even started services with us. Hey, we get it! The sooner you can get that appointment, the sooner you can put that refund toward a vacation, paying off some bills, or tickets to a Taylor Swift concert (you're gonna need a big refund for that one).

But to get you the fastest tax prep appointment possible, we need to determine which kind you qualify for. We offer appointments both over the phone and via email. The email option is typically the faster one, but not everyone qualifies! So, let's clear up some of the confusion and address some of the frequent questions we get about them.

What is the difference between a phone appointment and an email return? Well, they're exactly what they sound like, and they both happen only after you've completed your workbook. Phone appointments are scheduled by us emailing you a link to a calendar which you then use to book the appointment yourself online. You pick your date and time, and you pay an up-front $200 retainer, which is then applied toward your final invoice. You then get an immediate email reminder about your time slot and who your preparer is. You'll be contacted by your preparer's assistant prior to your appointment to make sure you're both prepared for the phone call when it happens.

However, some clients qualify for an email return, which allows you to skip the phone call altogether. Instead, after you pay the $200 retainer (invoiced in your portal and also applied toward your final invoice), we place an appointment on one of our preparers' calendars for you for them to handle the return on their own schedule without speaking do you directly. Your preparer’s assistant will then send a follow up email or chat in your portal with any questions they have in order to finalize the return.  So, how do you qualify and sign up for one?

You choose the email return option based on questions and qualifications you'll find in the workbook. Don't worry, all of this is clearly explained in the workbook itself, but if you mistakenly sign up for one, just contact us and we can easily switch you over to a phone appointment.

The first major thing that we look for is that it's your third consecutive year filing with us. Travelers who have not filed with us for at least two previous years are instantly disqualified. We also want to make sure that you're a traveler/international client who is completely certain of your tax home, and that you're willing to promptly communicate with us via email and/or portal chat. We can't stress enough that if you're someone who doesn't keep an eye on your email and/or chats and reply back on a regular basis, the email return isn't for you.

But who does NOT qualify? We have a complete list of things to look out for! If any of these things apply to you, you should choose a phone return instead:

• New clients (2 years or less filing with TravelTax)
• Travelers unsure of their tax home (If you have any questions at all regarding your tax home, please CLICK HERE to book a tax home consult!)
• Athletes & Canadian Clients (or spouses) who want to discuss tax return over phone
• Clients (or spouses) who are not responsive over email
• Clients (or spouses) who need to discuss a plan of action with a preparer over significant capital gains/losses this or next year
• Clients (or spouses) who need to file a corporate return
• Clients (or spouses) who are a beneficiary or trustee of an estate or trust
• Clients (or spouses) who own more than $25,000 in non-US mutual fund shares
• Clients (or spouses) who own or have a partial ownership of a FOREIGN company, partnership, or corporation
• Clients (or spouses) who have had a major life change within the past year
• Clients (or spouses) who own rental property
• Clients (or spouses) who were a part-year resident of their state (meaning you moved states in the middle of the tax year)

A few other FAQ's regarding Email Appointments:

1. Is an email return going to get me in sooner?

Usually yes, at least by a little.

2. I got a notification of being scheduled for the email return. Do I have to be ready at any moment for an email to come through???

No. We just need to put a spot on the preparer's calendar that they are committed to preparing the client's return. The notification you get may list a specific day and time slot, but that is strictly for the preparer's benefit in order to work it into their schedule. You don't need to do anything that day. We'll be in touch if we need to follow up with any questions. That's the beauty of the email return. We handle it all on our end!

We hope this clears things up, but please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any other questions.
You can reach us Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm (EST) at 402-379-7818