The short version
Four steps, and you know the fee before we start
A complimentary introductory call
Fifteen minutes about your situation and whether we are a good fit. No tax advice is given on this call.
A quote
We scope the work and give you the number before anyone begins. What things start at.
Prepared and reviewed
Built in-house and checked against prior years. Nobody signs a return they have not read.
Walked through
We go through it with you before you sign, then file. The phone still works in August.
Step one — a conversation, before anything else
A complimentary 15-minute introductory call. We talk about your situation and whether we are a good fit for it. No tax advice is given on this call — that starts once you are a client. If we are not the right firm for you, we will say so then rather than after taking your money.
Step two — documents, on a list built for you
You get a checklist tailored to your situation, not a generic list of forty items. Documents come to us through secure upload, or you can drop them at either office. We will tell you what is missing rather than waiting for you to notice.
- Secure electronic exchange — never plain email attachments for anything with an SSN on it
- Physical drop-off at Clackamas or The Dalles
- A document checklist you can work through in advance
Step three — preparation and review
Your return is prepared in-house. Nothing is sent offshore. It is then reviewed against prior years, because the most useful signal in a tax return is a number that moved when nothing should have moved it. Returns carrying tax figures on number-bearing pages get a second set of eyes.
Step four — the walk-through
Before you sign anything, we show you what changed and why. Not just the refund figure — the reasons. If something in the return is a judgement call, you will know it is a judgement call and why we made it the way we did.
Step five — filing, and afterwards
- 1E-filing, with confirmations sent to you.
- 2Estimated payment vouchers set up for next year where they are needed.
- 3A short note on anything worth doing before the next year closes.
- 4Availability in August. Notices do not arrive in April. Whoever prepared your return should be the person who reads the letter.
How we handle your information
- Secure electronic document exchange for anything containing personal information
- Records retained per professional and legal requirements, then disposed of securely
- We will never ask for your bank login, and we will never move money on your behalf
- Nothing is shared with third parties except as required to file your return or as you direct in writing
How long does a return take?
Once we have complete documents, most individual returns are a matter of days rather than weeks. Business returns depend on the state of the books.
Do I have to come to an office?
No. A large share of our clients — particularly in Vancouver, Camas and the Gorge — are fully remote.
What if I am missing something?
Tell us. Missing documents are normal and we can often work out what is needed from transcripts or prior returns.
When should I get in touch?
For a return, as early in the season as you can. For planning, October or November — that is when the decisions are still open.
Schedule an appointment
A complimentary fifteen minutes, last year’s return, and whatever changed. Call 503-785-3200 or use the contact page.
Written by
Enrolled Agent, Oregon Licensed Tax Consultant
License number: Enrolled Agent 00160070-EA · Oregon Licensed Tax Consultant 35746-C
Heather has spent more than a decade preparing individual and business returns across the Portland metro and the Columbia Gorge, and holds unlimited rights to represent taxpayers before the IRS.
Last reviewed
This page is general information about Oregon, Washington and federal tax rules, not advice about your own return. Thresholds and rates change every year. Figures were verified as of August 2026 — check the linked official sources, or talk to us about your situation.