Jessica Fitch CPA

03/17/2026

Closing day!

02/18/2026

Thinking about starting a business and want to know some of the basics. Check out the IRS publication 583 -Starting a Business and
Keeping Records

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-dft/p583--dft.pdf

02/12/2026

The IRS Individual Online Account is available to anyone who can verify their identity.

With the same convenience as online banking, taxpayers can use the IRS Individual Online Account to:

View key tax return information, such as their adjusted gross income.

Request an identity protection PIN and access it throughout the year.

Check the status of their refund.

Confirm the status of their amended return.

Get account transcripts, including wage and income records.

Approve power of attorney and tax information authorization.

Make and cancel payments.

Set up or modify payment plans and check their balance.

Access tax documents online

In early 2025, the IRS expanded the IRS Individual Online Account to allow taxpayers to view and download certain tax documents, including:

Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement.
Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement.
Form 1099-NEC, Nonemployee Compensation.
Form 1099-DIV, Dividends and Distributions.
Form 1099-INT, Interest Income.
Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Information.

02/10/2026

Tips for choosing a tax professional:

Availability: Choose a preparer that’s available after filing season in case questions come up after filing.
Service fees: Ask about the preparer’s service fees. Taxpayers should avoid tax return preparers who base their fees on a percentage of the refund.
IRS e-file: Ensure their preparer offers IRS e-file. The IRS issues most refunds in fewer than 21 days for taxpayers who file electronically and choose direct deposit and file a complete and accurate return.
Records and receipts: Good preparers ask to see these documents to complete the return accurately.
Qualifications: Understand the preparer's credentials and qualifications. Check their history for complaints or disciplinary actions.
Review before signing: Always review the tax return before signing it. Ask questions if something is unclear or appears incorrect. Never sign a blank or incomplete return.
Accurate account information: Make sure any refund goes directly into the taxpayer's bank account – not into the preparer's bank account. Review the routing and bank account number on the completed return to confirm it's accurate.
By law, anyone who is paid to prepare or assists in preparing federal tax returns must have a valid preparer tax identification number. Paid preparers must sign and include their PTIN on any tax return they prepare. Not signing a return, promising an unusually large refund or charging fees based on the size of the refund are red flags that the preparer may be looking to make a quick profit. Taxpayers should avoid these preparers.

02/10/2026

Tax credits for individuals

A tax credit reduces the amount a person owes in income taxes dollar-for-dollar. Some tax credits are even refundable, meaning if a person's tax bill is less than the amount of a refundable credit, they can get the difference back in their refund. The One, Big, Beautiful Bill has brought enhancements to some of these credits.

Here’s a quick overview of some of the more common credits:

Tax credits

Child Tax Credit helps families with qualifying children. For 2025, the amount is up to $2,200 per qualifying child.
Child and Dependent Care Credit can reduce federal income tax by claiming the credit for child and or dependent care expenses while the person worked or was looking for work.
Saver’s Credit may be available if a taxpayer made eligible contributions to their IRA or employer-sponsored retirement plan. The maximum credit is $1,000 ($2,000 if married filing jointly).
Refundable tax credits

Earned Income Tax Credit helps low to moderate-income workers and families get a tax break. The amount of the credit may vary based on income, family size and filing status.
Premium Tax Credit is available to taxpayers who buy their health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace and meet other criteria. It’s a refundable credit based on the taxpayer’s income and the cost of their healthcare plan.
Fuel Tax Credit may be claimed if fuel was purchased for use for off-highway business and farming purposes.
Partially refundable tax credits

Additional Child Tax Credit is a refundable portion of the CTC. For 2025, up to $1,700 per qualifying child may be refundable.
Adoption Tax Credit is available to taxpayers who finalized an adoption in 2025 or started the adoption process before 2025. The maximum amount, for 2025, is $17,280 per eligible child. The refundable amount is up to $5,000 per qualifying child. However, any nonrefundable amount carried forward can’t be used to calculate a refundable portion for future tax years.
American Opportunity Tax Credit helps offset qualifying education expenses for an eligible college student. The amount is up to $2,500 per year and up to $1,000 is refundable.

02/06/2026

As of September 30, 2025, the IRS has generally stopped issuing paper refund checks for individual taxpayers. This shift, mandated by Executive Order 14247, means that for the 2026 tax filing season (covering 2025 tax returns), the default delivery method for refunds is now electronic.

Payments to the IRS: While paper checks are being phased out for refunds, the IRS currently still accepts paper checks and money orders for balances due. However, officials are moving toward a fully electronic system for these payments as well.

02/06/2026

10/31/2024

A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.

10/29/2024

We have made the decision to embark on a new chapter in our careers. Brock and I have decided to relocate our family to a small town outside of Abilene and start a small CPA firm. We look forward to helping individuals with tax and financial planning.

[email protected]
[email protected]
Fitch-cpa.net
325-572-3120

Proactive tax planning and preparation for individuals and businesses