Mary Castillo Avalos

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Mary Castillo Avalos Business and Financial Svcs. | Credit Counseling | QuickBooks Training | Income Tax Prep Financial Counseling

The Importance of Helping One Another 💚On October 17, 1989, I experienced the devastating Loma Prieta earthquake as a li...
10/17/2026

The Importance of Helping One Another 💚

On October 17, 1989, I experienced the devastating Loma Prieta earthquake as a little girl. I witnessed firsthand how quickly life can change. With limited water, no electricity, and limited gasoline, even everyday necessities became a challenge.

Experiences like these remind us of the importance of being prepared, supporting our neighbors, and helping one another during difficult times.

Thirty-seven years later, I’m pleased to share that I’ve earned my first FEMA certificate:

IS-288.A — The Role of Voluntary Organizations in Emergency Management.

Although my professional background is in business, taxation, and financial education, I believe that being prepared to help others is equally important.

My goal is to continue learning and developing the skills needed to assist my community in the event of a natural disaster.

We may not be able to prevent natural disasters, but we can prepare for them and make a difference by looking out for one another.

After all, a strong community isn’t just about successful businesses. It’s about people helping people. 💚

Mary Castillo Avalos, EA

📊 October 15th — We made it! 🎉Today marks the end of another major tax filing season, with the October 15 extension dead...
10/15/2026

📊 October 15th — We made it! 🎉

Today marks the end of another major tax filing season, with the October 15 extension deadline finally here!

What a year it’s been! Between tax returns, bookkeeping, accounting, continuing education, deadlines, and a few unexpected surprises (including losing my internet during one of the busiest weeks of the year 🙄), there’s certainly never a dull moment. 😁

A heartfelt THANK YOU to my clients for their continued trust, patience, and support. I truly appreciate the opportunity to work with you and your businesses.

And to my fellow tax professionals, accountants, and bookkeepers—we made it! I hope you get a chance to slow down, recharge, and enjoy a little well-deserved time for yourselves.

Of course, the work doesn’t completely stop. There’s still bookkeeping, tax planning, business advising, and plenty to prepare for the next filing season. 😁

But today, let’s appreciate how much we’ve accomplished.

One deadline at a time. One client at a time. One tax season at a time. 💙

🏡 At home and feeling a little bummed today… 😐My internet company officially retired on Monday. Yes, MONDAY—during one o...
10/14/2026

🏡 At home and feeling a little bummed today… 😐

My internet company officially retired on Monday. Yes, MONDAY—during one of the busiest weeks of the year for me! 🙃🤦🏻‍♀️

Nothing against them. They provided me with great service over the years, and I truly appreciate everything they did for me.

Unfortunately, I have to wait a week to get internet service again, and my phone’s hotspot is moving at its own sweet little pace. 🐢🙂

So here I am, trying to stay positive and make the best of the situation.

The good news? It’s forcing me to get creative, think outside the box, and find different ways to get things done.

I may not be able to work at my usual speed, but I’m certainly not going to let that stop me from making progress.

Sometimes life rearranges your plans without asking for permission. 😁

A little patience, a little creativity, and a whole lot of flexibility. 💙

And yes, I’m counting the days until my internet is back! 😊

📞 A first for me today!Today I made my first phone call to the IRS representing one of my clients as an Enrolled Agent. ...
10/02/2026

📞 A first for me today!

Today I made my first phone call to the IRS representing one of my clients as an Enrolled Agent. 😁

And I have to say, it was a great experience!

The IRS Revenue Officer I spoke with was helpful, friendly, professional, and very clear about what was needed. I really appreciated how smoothly the conversation went.

This was also one of those moments when becoming an Enrolled Agent became very real for me. After all the studying, exams, paperwork, and continuing education, I was actually putting that credential to work for my client.

One of the things I value most about being an Enrolled Agent is that it is a federal credential. Enrolled Agents have unlimited practice rights before the IRS, allowing us to represent taxpayers before the IRS anywhere in the United States. 🇺🇸

I’m very happy to be able to represent my client and help communicate with the IRS on their behalf.

The power of being an Enrolled Agent. 📞📄💙

And today I got to experience it firsthand.

📱 Have you heard? The IRS has a NEW app!The IRS launched its new IRS mobile app on September 25, 2026, replacing the old...
10/02/2026

📱 Have you heard? The IRS has a NEW app!

The IRS launched its new IRS mobile app on September 25, 2026, replacing the old IRS2Go app.

And this one can actually be pretty useful! 😁

After securely signing in, you may be able to:

💰 View your balance and payment activity
💳 Make a payment
📄 Access tax records and transcripts
✉️ View certain IRS notices and letters
🔐 Access your IP PIN
💵 Check your refund or amended-return status

The app is free and available for Apple and Android devices. If you already had IRS2Go and have automatic updates turned on, it should update to the new IRS app automatically.

⚠️ One important reminder: Be careful with look-alike apps. Use the official IRS website or verified App Store/Google Play listing to make sure you’re downloading the real one.

I like seeing more tools that let taxpayers take care of simple things themselves without having to make a phone call or wait for assistance. 😊

The IRS is officially in your pocket now. 😂📱

😎 Too cool to file your taxes?⏰ Only 21 days until October 15!If you owe taxes, filing late can mean penalties + interes...
09/24/2026

😎 Too cool to file your taxes?

⏰ Only 21 days until October 15!

If you owe taxes, filing late can mean penalties + interest. 💸
More than 60 days late? The minimum failure-to-file penalty can be $525 (or 100% of the unpaid tax, if less).

💰 Getting a refund instead?
Generally, there’s no failure-to-file penalty when no tax is due — but you typically have 3 years to claim your refund before you risk losing it.

You can be cool. 😎
Just file your taxes. 😊🧾

📚 IRC §§ 6651 & 6511

💼 Who’s on your business team?Running a small business doesn’t mean you have to be an expert in everything. Having the r...
09/24/2026

💼 Who’s on your business team?

Running a small business doesn’t mean you have to be an expert in everything. Having the right professionals available when you need them can make business a whole lot easier.

Your team might include:

📊 Bookkeeper / Accountant
🧾 Tax Professional
📣 Marketing Professional
⚖️ Business Attorney
💻 IT / Technology Professional
🛡️ Insurance Professional
💰 Banker / Financial Professional
👥 Payroll / HR Professional

⭐ And here’s one more to consider:
If you already have a tax professional you know and trust, it doesn’t hurt to also have an Enrolled Agent in your network as a backup—especially if an IRS issue or representation need comes up.

And no, you don’t need all these people on payroll. 😊 Some may simply be trusted professionals you call when you need them.

The goal isn’t to build a huge team. It’s to know who to call when you need help. 💙

💳 When should you use CREDIT instead of DEBIT?I just purchased an item online, and it reminded me of something I often t...
09/23/2026

💳 When should you use CREDIT instead of DEBIT?

I just purchased an item online, and it reminded me of something I often talk about when it comes to managing credit—so I thought I’d share. 😊

There are certain situations where I personally prefer using a credit card instead of a debit card, especially:

Online purchases • Traveling • Hotels • Rental cars • Gas stations when traveling • Larger purchases

With a debit card, the money comes directly from your checking account. With a credit card, the transaction goes against your credit line, which can provide a little separation between the merchant and the money sitting in your checking account if there’s a dispute, fraudulent transaction, or temporary authorization hold.

But here’s the important part: using a credit card doesn’t mean carrying the balance.

Use it for the added protection and convenience, then pay the balance at your first opportunity. 💳

Good credit isn’t just about having it. It’s about knowing when and how to use it. 💙

The last two days = 8 hours of S Corporation tax return training! 📚💻A big thank you to NATP and my friend Larry Pon for ...
09/22/2026

The last two days = 8 hours of S Corporation tax return training! 📚💻

A big thank you to NATP and my friend Larry Pon for a great training on preparing S Corporation tax returns.

There is always more to learn, and over the last two days, I’ve added that much more to my S-Corp knowledge. 😊 I’m grateful for experienced professionals who are willing to share their knowledge and help the rest of us continue growing.

Eight hours well spent! 💙📊

Always learning, always growing, and feeling that much more prepared for the next S-Corp return that lands on my desk. 😁

Me and rushing don’t get along. 😂We live in a hurry, hurry, hurry world, and I’ve realized that’s just not for me.I’d ra...
09/22/2026

Me and rushing don’t get along. 😂

We live in a hurry, hurry, hurry world, and I’ve realized that’s just not for me.

I’d rather prepare ahead of time, wake up early, or work late if that means I don’t have to rush through something important. I like having time to think, organize, review my work, and double-check the details.

Not everything needs to be done as quickly as possible. Sometimes taking a little extra time is exactly what helps us do things better.

That applies to my work and honestly to my life in general. If something is important to me, I want to give it the time and attention it deserves.

I’m definitely a plan, do, double-check, repeat kind of person. 😂

No rushing here. 💙 Good things take time.

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Los Banos, CA
93635

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 7pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm

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