If you have not set up a client portal with our office, please contact a member of our admin team on (310) 450-8875 to assist you with activating your client portal.

Once your portal is activated, be on the lookout for an email from no-reply@firmportal.com. Follow the directions provided in setting up your access. This portal will enable you to securely upload and download documents directly from our office for both personal and business.

If you cannot find the email in your inbox, please check your spam and junk folders. In case you still can’t locate the email, feel free to reach out to us by phone, and we’ll be happy to assist you further.

Due to updated Cybersecurity and Identity Protection requirements, sending documents or sensitive information via email is no longer a secure option. We have provided a secure option of transferring tax documentation to our office via our client portal. As of Jan 1st, 2025 we will no longer support tax documents sent to us via email. We urge all clients to begin using the client portal for all sensitive information and documents.

If you are unable to scan and upload your documents, you can schedule a scanning appointment. Call (310) 450-8875 to schedule a time.

You must bring all your tax documents with you and we will scan while you wait. The original documents MUST leave with you.

You can reset your client portal password by accessing the client portal login page. Click on “Forgot your password” and follow the instructions to reset.

If you have never accessed the portal, we will need to activate it prior to accessing. If you are having difficulty accessing the portal with your email, call us on (310) 450-8875 and someone from our admin or support team will assist you.

Log into your portal. Go to Settings > Multi-Factor Authentication (on the left of your screen)> Enable. Follow the instructions to set up this feature.

Yes, you can. Although for a user friendly experience we suggest using a computer to upload or drag and drop documents easily.

If you have support staff, business managers, or bookkeepers that need to submit documents on your behalf, they will need to create their own unique portal login credentials. This ensures secure, traceable access while maintaining the confidentiality of your information. Please contact our office to set up their portal access.

Security Reminder: If any staff member with portal access leaves your employment or engagement, please notify us immediately so we can deactivate their access. This step is crucial for maintaining the security of your financial information.

The IRS is experiencing unprecedented operational challenges that are causing significant delays across all aspects of tax processing and customer service.

Understanding the Staffing Crisis

Over the past decade, the IRS workforce has been substantially reduced. The agency is currently operating with approximately 17% fewer employees than it had ten years ago, despite processing a similar volume of tax returns each year. This means fewer people are available to:

• Process paper and electronic returns
• Answer taxpayer phone calls
• Respond to mailed correspondence
• Review and resolve account issues
• Handle amended returns and adjustments

The Compounding Backlog

Each tax season, the IRS begins with a backlog carried over from the previous year. When combined with the current year’s returns, this creates a processing bottleneck that gets worse as the filing deadline approaches. Peak filing season (March and April) sees the longest delays because the IRS receives the highest volume of returns during these months.

Security & Fraud Prevention

The IRS has implemented enhanced security measures to combat identity theft and fraudulent refund claims. While these measures protect taxpayers, they also add additional review time to the processing of legitimate returns, particularly those with:

• Large refunds
• Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) claims
• First-time filers
• Significant changes from prior years

Paper versus Electronic Filing

Electronic returns are processed much faster than paper returns because they require minimal manual intervention. However, millions of taxpayers still file paper returns, which must be:

• Physically opened and sorted
• Manually data-entered into IRS systems
• Reviewed for completeness and accuracy
• Processed through multiple quality control steps

This manual processing can take 3-6 months compared to 2-3 weeks for electronic returns.

How Delays Affect Different Areas

Refund Processing
Early e-filers: 2-3 weeks
Late e-filers: 4-8 weeks or more
Paper filers: 3-6 months

Correspondence
Mailed inquiries: 3-6 months for response
Phone calls: 30-60+ minute wait times
Online tools: Often the fastest option

Amended Returns
Processing time: 16-20 weeks or longer
Complexity: Requires manual review in most cases

Account Issues
Resolution time: Several months
Payment plans: Delays in setup and processing
Notices: May arrive later than expected

What This Means For a Tax Refund

If you’re expecting a refund, the timing of when you file can make a significant difference:

• File in January → Likely refund by early February
• File in February → Likely refund by early March
• File in March → Refund may not arrive until May
• File in April → Refund may not arrive until June or later
• File on paper → Refund may not arrive for 3-6 months or longer

Protecting yourself from delays

File Early
The single most important action you can take is filing your return in January or February. This ensures your return is processed before the peak season backlog begins.

E-File Your Return
Electronic filing is processed exponentially faster than paper filing. Wheeler BICPA e-files all returns to ensure the quickest possible processing.

Use Direct Deposit
Direct deposit refunds arrive 1-2 weeks faster than paper checks. Always provide your bank account information for refund delivery.

Ensure Accuracy
Returns with errors or missing information are flagged for manual review, causing weeks or months of additional delay. Working with a professional ensures your return is accurate and complete from the start.

Avoid Paper When Possible
Only file a paper return if absolutely necessary. Electronic filing should be used whenever possible.

Track Your Refund Online
Instead of calling the IRS (and waiting on hold for an hour), use the “Where’s My Refund?” tool at IRS.gov to check your refund status.

Annual IRS Tax Return Filing Deadlines

LOS ANGELES COUNTY RESIDENTS: Taxpayers in Los Angeles County have been granted significant tax relief by both federal and state authorities. The IRS and California Franchise Tax Board have extended the deadline for filing and paying various taxes to October 15, 2025. This extension applies to individual income tax returns, quarterly estimated payments, business returns, and other tax obligations originally due  on April 15, 2025.

• March 15: Business and Corporations
• April 15; Individual/Joint
• April 15: Fiduciary/Trusts
• May 15: Not for Profit Organizations

Annual IRS Tax Return Filing Extension Deadlines
(Only if an extension has been filed prior to the above deadline dates)

• September 15: Business and Corporations
• September 30: Fiduciary/Trusts
• October 15: Individual/Joint
• November 15: Not for Profit Organizations

Please be advised:

• These deadlines are subject to change. Typically the dates may vary by a day or two if a deadline falls on a weekend or a holiday.
• In order to file your taxes by the April/March deadlines above, we will require all your documents to be uploaded to the portal 45 days prior to an IRS deadline. Alternatively we may be required to file an extension on your behalf.

For the most accurate information on IRS tax deadlines visit: https://www.irs.gov/filing/individuals/when-to-file

Visit

1. 1.  IRS – https://sa.www4.irs.gov/wmr/ (you can check prior 3 year refund statuses here)
   2. CA – https://webapp.ftb.ca.gov/refund/login?Submit=Check+refund&Lang=en-us (you can check only prior year refund status)

Visit IRS website: https://sa.www4.irs.gov/wmar/login

1. To view or make a payment to the IRSand  log in or create an account. https://www.irs.gov/your-account

Take a deep breath! When dealing with IRS or state govt. agaency notice, its best to deal with them immediately. Ignoring them will create more stress for you.

1. Review what the notice is stating (change in refund/balance due, change in income reporting etc.)
2. Compare the changes to your tax return and verify if information being changed is accurate.
3. For further clarification call IRS 1-800-829-1040 or FTB 1-800-852-5711 or the local agency in your state.

If you need assistance we are here to help!

No, tax organizers are provided complimentary to all our personal tax preparation clients.

No, the tax organizer is optional. However, we highly recommend using it as it helps ensure complete and accurate information, which leads to a more efficient tax preparation process.

Your tax organizer is provided as a PDF document. If you’d like to complete it electronically, you can use PDF editing software such as Adobe Acrobat, Preview (Mac), or other PDF applications to add your information. Alternatively, you can print the organizer and fill it in by hand. Once completed, upload it through your secure client portal.

⚠️Please Be Advised: Many online PDF editors and third-party applications require documents to be uploaded to their servers and may retain copies of your information for a period of time. For maximum security when handling sensitive tax information, we recommend using desktop software (not web-based tools) or printing and completing the organizer by hand.

Once completed, upload it through your secure client portal.

That’s exactly why the organizer is helpful! Note any changes in the “Additional Information” section, and we’ll ensure your organizer and return reflect your current situation or circumstances.