COVID-19 Update
Notice to our clients:
Updated: 3/25/2020
Greetings Valued Clients,
As the COVID-19 outbreak worsens, we will be closing our office to the public until further notice. Your health and that of our employees has become our highest priority.
Communication with our Office:
Our office will continue to operate using alternative methods of communication. We will continue to be available by phone, e-mail, and postal mail. If you have not submitted your tax documents to us, yet, please mail them to us at your convenience. If you have already submitted your tax documents, we will continue to prepare your tax return and mail it to you when completed. We will remain available to answer all questions regarding your tax return via phone conferences upon request.
Special Accommodations:
Public Health officials have made it clear that older or immunocompromised individuals are at the greatest risk. We intend to do everything possible to make special accommodations for these clients. Please call the office at (509) 725-1117 if this applies to you.
Filing Deadline:
The treasury Department announced an automatic 90-Day extension for tax filings and payments that would otherwise be due on April 15. This will reprieve taxpayers of any penalties & interest for payments made during the 90-Day extension window. In addition, a six-month extension is still available for those who cannot file by April 15, but we encourage everyone to attempt to file on time if they have their information ready and they are able. The Treasury Department is currently issuing refunds at normal pace, but that could easily change if the outbreak worsens. Please contact us if you feel you need a six-month extension.
Resources Available:
Lastly, as the virus spreads across our region and the county, many individuals will become sick and businesses will be forced to close their doors. There is going to be a lot of panic and confusion for those affected. Here in Washington State, the Employment Security Department has already put emergency rules in place to address the extraordinary circumstances we are experiencing. There are excellent informational resources available at https://esd.wa.gov/newsroom/covid-19. Please click the easy-to-read comparison guide link for a very detailed analysis of various COVID-19 scenarios and the application of Paid Sick Leave, Unemployment Insurance, Paid Family Medical Leave, and Worker’s Compensation Insurance.
If you live or work in another state, please check your state unemployment website for more information.
As you can imagine, information, legislation, and localized situations are ever-changing and it will take some time for things to return to normal. We will try to stay up-to-date with any tax-related information or anything else we feel affects our clients.
We hope you and your families stay safe and healthy during the coming weeks and months, and, please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can help in any way.
Sincerely,
