Mills' Tax Prep and Professional Services

03/08/2026

Here are important notes every tax preparer should be documenting in their client files:

Residency Confirmation Note
Document where the child lived during the year.

Relationship Verification Note
Document the relationship between the taxpayer and the dependent.

Head of Household Eligibility Note
Document how the taxpayer qualifies for Head of Household.

Household Expense Explanation
Explain who contributes to the household expenses.

Business Income Determination
Document how the taxpayer calculated their business income.

Business Recordkeeping Method
Document whether the taxpayer keeps records of income and expenses.

Self Employment Income Clarification
If income appears estimated, document the explanation.

Address Confirmation for Dependents
Document the address where the dependent lived.

Child Support or Custody Information
If applicable, document custody arrangements.

Additional Inquiry Note
If information appears inconsistent, document the follow up questions you asked.

Audit Documentation Note
Document what documentation the taxpayer can provide if the IRS requests proof.

AOTC Education Credit Note
Document eligibility for the American Opportunity Tax Credit.

AOTC Documentation Reviewed
Document education records reviewed.

When the IRS reviews a file, they are trying to determine four things:

What questions you asked
What answers the client gave
What documentation you reviewed
Why you determined the taxpayer qualified

If it is not documented in the file, the IRS assumes it never happened.

02/20/2026

🚨 TAX REFUNDS ARE DROPPING 💰 — READ THIS BEFORE YOU PANIC 🚨

As a tax professional, let me educate before assumptions start flying.

✔️ Refund Transfer (Paying Fees from Your Refund)
If you didn’t pay your prep fee upfront, your return likely went through a refund bank so your preparer could be paid and the remaining balance sent to you.
That is a banking process — not theft.

✔️ Refund Advances
If you received an advance in January, your refund will be reduced by:
• The advance amount
• Bank processing fees
• Prep fees

That reduction is contractual — not your preparer “taking money.”

✔️ Refund Amount Lower Than Expected?
If “Where’s My Refund” shows less than expected, you likely had an offset (past-due debt).
This could include:
• Child support
• Defaulted student loans
• State tax debt
• Federal agency debt

Call the Treasury Offset Line: 800-304-3107 to verify.

Your preparer does not control federal offsets.

✔️ Unexpected Offset + Emergency?
If you are facing eviction, utility shutoff, or hardship, you can request a hardship review through the agency that took the offset (child support office, Department of Education, etc.).

✔️ Bank Apps Show Combined Totals
Many banking apps combine federal + state refunds.
Before accusing your preparer, verify:
• Federal amount
• State amount
• Advance taken
• Fees deducted

Education prevents embarrassment.

This isn’t personal — this is professional clarity.

Tax season is high emotion.
But facts > assumptions.

If you have questions, ask intelligently.
If you need help, schedule a consultation.

02/19/2026

Listen up 1099 and CONTRACTORS 🚨💼
If you’re not clocking in as a W-2 employee… lean in.

Uber drivers 🚗
Freelancers 💻
Hairstylists & Beauty Pros 💇🏽‍♀️
Truck drivers 🚛
Content creators 📱
Independent contractors of ANY kind

Let’s be very clear:

In the eyes of the IRS — you are a BUSINESS OWNER.

Not “just picking up extra money.”
Not “just a side hustle.”
You are self-employed. Period.

Now let’s talk strategy 👇🏽

✨ 1099 Income Is Gross Income
No taxes are withheld. That deposit looks good… but Uncle Sam is coming. If you don’t plan for it, you’ll feel it.

✨ You Must Set Money Aside
I tell my clients this all the time — if you touch all of it, you’ll owe all of it. A disciplined percentage needs to be saved from every payout.

✨ Quarterly Estimated Taxes Are Not Optional
If you expect to owe $1,000 or more, the IRS expects quarterly payments. Waiting until April is how penalties and interest start stacking.

✨ Track Your Legal Write-Offs Like a CEO
Not guesses. Documentation.

✔ Home office (regular & exclusive use only)
✔ Business travel & meals (generally 50%)
✔ Supplies, tools, equipment
✔ Marketing & branding
✔ Business portion of phone & internet
✔ Mileage (keep a real log, not vibes) 🚗📝

✨ Self-Employment Tax Is Real
You pay both sides of Social Security and Medicare — employer AND employee portion. Yes, all of it.

✨ Retirement Planning = Tax Strategy
SEP-IRA. Solo 401(k). Smart contributions reduce taxable income and build long-term wealth. That’s how you move from hustle to legacy.

✨ Health Insurance Deduction
If structured correctly, premiums for you and your family may be deductible.

Listen carefully:

Side hustle money is not “extra.”
It is business income.

And if you’re earning business income, you need business strategy.

At Mills Tax & Professional Services, we don’t just file.
We plan.
We structure.
We protect.

Track it.
Plan for it.
Pay it properly.

Because 1099 money hits different — and so do IRS penalties.

Ready to file like a business owner instead of reacting like one? 💼📊

Mills' Tax Prep and Professional Services

01/29/2026

A shutdown does not stop tax season.
What still happens:
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
✔️ You can still file your return
✔️ E filed returns are still accepted
✔️ Refunds can still be issued especially with e file and direct deposit.

01/05/2026

TAX TIME IS HERE SO LET’S STRATEGIZE REALLY QUICK!

Replace the numbers to fit your return amount! This is an example to show how you can possibly save…


Forget that trip. Forget that BBL. Forget dropping $5,000 on a car you can’t even afford the INSURANCE for.

👂🏾 LISTEN… Pay your RENT and BILLS ONE MONTH AHEAD. Watch how your whole life shifts.

HEAR ME OUT 🗣️
Rent $1,750. Pay 1 month up = $1,750. Most of y’all making at least $18/hr full time. $18 × 80 = $1,440 every check, two checks a month = $2,880 a month.

If you got 2 kids, your tax refund probably around $9,500–$10,500. So we setting it at a clean $10,000. $10,000 – $1,750 = $8,250 left.

Now bills:

WiFi $100
car insurance $300
electric $260
car payment $400
trash $30
water $60 = $1,150 total.

Pay ONE MONTH up = $1,150. $8,250 – $1,150 = $7,100 left.

Stay with me nah👀
Take $2,000, put it in a savings account and DO 👏🏽 NOT 👏🏽 TOUCH 👏🏽 IT. That’s your EMERGENCY FUND. Boom. Now you still got $5,100 left AND you’re one month ahead on everything.🙌🏾

Your real monthly expenses are $1,750 rent + $1,150 bills = $2,900. Your income is $2,880. You only $20 short, and THAT is why being one month ahead matters ,it protects you from falling behind every month. You’re not drowning. You’re not stressed. You’re COVERED.

For the rest of the year, use your income to pay your $2,900. If you’re short by $20–$40? Take it from your tax cushion. That’s EXACTLY what it’s for. Meanwhile you still got $5,100 leftover from taxes. Put $3,000 toward your goals (credit, car, savings, whatever) and keep $2,100 as your monthly BUFFER so you ALWAYS stay ahead.

BE SMART. THE WORLD IS NOT PLAYING FAIR RIGHT NOW.

Don’t blow $10k and stay broke get ONE MONTH AHEAD and take CONTROL of your life this year 🔥💯

01/02/2026

Before you send a single dispute letter… do this first👇🏾

Call each crèdit bureau 👇🏾
📞 Experian 888-397-3742
📞 TransUnion 800-916-8800
📞 Equifax 888-378-4329

Say this to the rep 🗣️

“I’m calling to update my personal information and remove any old or inaccurate addresses linked to my report.”

This matters because:

When your personal information is outdated or inaccurate, like old addresses, name variations, or misspellings, it can connect negative accounts to the wrong identity.

That means accounts that aren’t even yours can show up on your report, and when you dispute them, they’re more likely to come back verified because the system still links them to your file.

Cleaning up your personal information first helps separate you from any inaccurate data, making your disputes faster, cleaner, and way more effective.

Clean first. Then dispute. That’s how you win.
🥇

12/19/2025

Here’s a retired, elevated, straight-facts rewrite in your voice—authoritative, no drama, no misinformation, just business clarity:

☕️ TAX TEA: HOW REFUND ADVANCES ACTUALLY WORK
(Facts over feelings. Read this twice.)

Let’s clear this up because there’s a lot of noise, opinions, and flat-out misinformation floating around every tax season.

A tax refund advance is a bank loan based on your tax return.
It is not extra money, and it is not guaranteed.

Before an advance is even considered, one thing has to happen first:
👉🏽 Your tax return must be fully and accurately prepared.

That means:
• Correct personal information
• All income reported
• All required tax documents attached

No shortcuts. No “we’ll fix it later.”

Here’s another important truth people misunderstand 👇🏽
Your tax preparer does NOT approve refund advances.
The bank does.

The preparer’s job is to prepare and submit a clean, accurate return.
The bank reviews the return and decides whether or not they want to lend against that expected refund.

If a refund advance is denied, that does NOT mean:
❌ Your taxes were denied
❌ Your refund is gone
❌ Something was done wrong

It simply means the bank chose not to issue the loan.
Your tax return still moves forward through normal IRS processing.

And for those thinking they can “try another preparer” once a return is filed —
🚫 That’s not how this works.

Once a return is submitted, it’s in the system. Switching preparers does not reset the decision.

The real key to a smooth tax season isn’t rushing, chasing promises, or believing TikTok tax myths.

It’s:
✔️ Accurate information
✔️ Proper preparation
✔️ Understanding the process from the start

That’s the real tea. ☕️
And now you know better.

08/13/2025

Did you know?

No Tax on Car Loan Interest!

Starting 2025 through 2028, you can deduct interest paid on loans for purchasing a qualified personal vehicle! 🚙💰 Here’s what you need to know:
Deduction Details: Maximum annual deduction of $10,000.

Income Limits: Phases out for those with modified adjusted gross income over $100,000 (or $200,000 for joint filers). 💼

Eligibility:
The loan originated after December 31, 2024. 📅
Applies only to new vehicles purchased for personal use (not business/commercial).
Vehicle must be secured by a lien and the original use starts with the taxpayer.

Note: Lease payments and used vehicles do not qualify. However, if you refinance your qualifying vehicle loan later, that interest is generally deductible too!

Stay informed and plan ahead to make the most of this opportunity for your clients! 😊👍

03/18/2025

02/24/2025

‼️ ATTENTION CLIENTS ‼️

We know everyone is excited about receiving their refunds today, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week, but let’s be clear if you took out a loan, you need to remember what you borrowed.

For Example: If you received a $7,000 loan and your total refund was $8,000 or $9,000, you will only be receiving the remaining balance minus your preparation fee. Your loan is NOT your prep fee.

Also, if you applied for a loan over $1,000, you WILL be charged interest by the bank. This does NOT include the tax preparation fee, which is separate.
That does not include the bank fee!

Check your paperwork throughly, Look at your loan amount, review the bank’s terms, and understand that your loan and preparation fees are deducted from your refund.

01/22/2025

If a client has taken out a loan from your company and failed to provide their protection PIN, here’s the step-by-step action plan you need to follow:

1. Contact the Client: Reach out via email and text. A formal letter can also be sent for documentation.
2. Set a Deadline: Give the client **72 hours to respond** to your communication.
3. Follow Up: If there’s no response after several attempts, it’s time to take further action.
4. File Theft of Services: You can proceed with filing for theft of services if necessary.
5. Local Filing (Memphis):Go to:
- 140 Adams, Room 106
6. Complete the Filing: Fill out the required form and pay the **$102.50 filing fee**.
7. Serve the Warrant: Contact a private processor to serve the warrant.

💪 Remember: We’re committed to not losing a dollar this year! Refunds are federal funds, so you will get the money back!

Let’s stay proactive and ensure our business remains secure!

01/12/2025

🚨 Attention! Don’t Risk Filing Your Taxes with Just a Check Stub 🚨

Using a check stub to file your taxes might seem quick, but it can lead to costly mistakes. Here’s why you should avoid it:

1️⃣ Check Stubs Aren’t Official Tax Documents
W-2s and 1099s include critical details like tax withholdings and employer info that stubs don’t provide. Filing without them can result in errors, audits, or delays.

2️⃣ You Could Miss Out on Deductions
Check stubs don’t show your full income or eligible expenses, which means you might lose out on valuable credits and deductions.

3️⃣ Avoid IRS Penalties
Filing with incomplete or incorrect information can lead to penalties, interest, and even IRS audits. Stay stress-free by filing correctly!

4️⃣ Delays in Your Refund
Errors from filing with a check stub can hold up your refund. Don’t let shortcuts cost you time and money.

👉 File the Right Way, Every Time
Wait for your W-2 or 1099, or let an expert handle your taxes for accuracy and peace of mind.

📲 Contact Mills' Tax Prep and Professional Services today! We specialize in accurate, hassle-free tax preparation, ensuring you get every deduction you deserve—no shortcuts, just results you can trust.

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