Individual Tax Preparation in Burbank and the San Fernando Valley
We prepare Form 1040 individual tax returns for W-2 earners, freelancers, investors, landlords, and people who moved between states. Federal and California filings are handled together as one engagement, quoted as a fixed fee before we start, so the price never moves after you have said yes.
What individual tax preparation actually involves
A 1040 is not one job. It is a set of schedules, and which ones your return needs is what determines both the work and the fee. Someone with a single W-2 and the standard deduction is a genuinely simple return. Add a Schedule C for self-employment, a Schedule E for a rental, a handful of K-1s from partnerships, or a move across state lines, and the return starts carrying real judgment calls about basis, depreciation, residency, and which state gets to tax what.
We work out which schedules apply before quoting, then prepare the return, walk you through the draft, and file it. You get a person who understands your situation rather than a chat window and a progress bar.
W-2 earners with something extra
A salary plus a brokerage account, some vesting equity, a side project, or a first rental. The core return is straightforward; the extras are where people either overpay or file something they cannot support later.
Self-employed and 1099 filers
Schedule C preparation, home office and mileage, and quarterly estimates set up so April is not a surprise. Common for the creators and entertainment freelancers we work with across the Valley.
Investors, landlords, and movers
Schedule E and depreciation schedules, K-1 integration, capital gains reconciliation, and multi-state allocation with credits for taxes paid to other states.
Individual tax preparation pricing
These are our published tiers. The tier is set by the schedules your return needs, not by how much you earn. Every figure below also appears on our full fee schedule.
| Tier | Best for | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essentials | W-2 employee, simple deductions | $385 | Federal & CA state return, standard deduction, W-2 income, electronic filing, one revision |
| Freelancer / Creator | Schedule C, multiple 1099s, business expenses | $750 | Everything in Essentials plus Schedule C prep, quarterly estimate calculations, home office deduction, mileage tracking, multi-platform income |
| Investor / Multi-State | Rental properties, K-1s, multi-state income | $1,250 | Everything above plus Schedule E, multi-state returns, K-1 integration, depreciation schedules |
| Loan-Out / S-Corp Owner | Combined personal + business return | $1,950 | 1040 personal return + 1120-S business return + payroll review + reasonable comp analysis + quarterly planning calls |
If you own an S-corp, the combined tier is usually cheaper than buying an individual return and a business return separately. If your books need work before the return can be prepared, we quote that as a separate cleanup rather than hiding the hours in the return fee.
What we need from you
We send a short checklist built around your actual situation instead of a generic forty-item list. For most individual returns it comes down to:
- Income: W-2s, any 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC, 1099-INT and 1099-DIV, brokerage year-end summaries, and K-1s if you hold partnership or S-corp interests
- Deductions: mortgage interest and property tax statements, charitable receipts, student loan interest, and medical totals if they are likely to clear the threshold
- Self-employment: income and expense totals for the year, mileage log, and home office square footage
- Rentals: rent received, expenses by property, and the purchase documents if we have not set up depreciation before
- Last year's return: the fastest way for us to spot carryforwards, basis, and anything the prior preparer missed
Documents come in through a secure portal. We only ask for what changes the return.
Key dates for individual returns
Individual returns are generally due April 15 for the prior calendar year. Filing an extension moves that to October 15, but it does not move the payment deadline — anything you owe was still due in April, and interest runs from then. If you are on extension right now, our tax extension page covers what to do before the deadline.
Quarterly estimated payments matter for anyone with meaningful self-employment or investment income. We calculate them alongside the return and send reminders before each due date, which is the single most effective way to avoid an underpayment penalty and an unpleasant April.
Related services
Business Tax Returns
1120-S, 1065, and 1120 filings with K-1s for owners. The other half of the picture if you run an entity.
S-Corp Formation
Whether electing S-corp status actually saves you money once payroll and filing costs are counted.
All Tax Services
Planning, IRS notice resolution, sales tax, and the rest of what we handle beyond preparing the return.