| Q. |
How many years have you been preparing taxes? |
| A. |
8 Years |
|
| Q. |
What is your business name, where is it located? Do you own it? How many additional staff members do you employ? |
| A. |
JM Taxes, 213 Clements Bridge Road, Barrington, NJ 08007
I own my business and am also the sole employee.
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|
| Q. |
Approximately how many returns do you file each year? What type of returns do you file? |
| A. |
I file just under 100 returns in my own business. That includes about 95% personal and 5% estates and trusts. I
have also worked part time for other tax businesses. Including my other work, I prepare about 250 returns each tax season.
|
|
| Q. |
Were you in another line of business before doing taxes? |
| A. |
No, but simultaneously I have been working as a professional singer for the same amount of time. |
|
| Q. |
Did you have a mentor early in your career? Do you mentor others? |
| A. |
Yes, Sherry Diamond has definitely been a mentor to me. I started preparing taxes and working for her in 1999. I
learned a lot about taxes and running a business by her side. After I opened my own business, I continued to work
for her part time as I grew my own business and still do.
Colette Taylor has been a great support for me in building my own successful practice. She helped me believe that
I could do it. We have been sharing an office space for the past few years. We are a great resource to each during
tax season for information, as well as for laughs.
|
|
| Q. |
Are you involved in other tax-related activities? |
| A. |
I have been on the NJ NATP Board of Directors for 3 years. |
|
| Q. |
What brought you to NATP and what keeps you as a member? |
| A. |
I was a member of other organizations first, but when I joined NATP, at the recommendation of other tax preparers,
I found that it was the best organization out there.
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|
| Q. |
What types of NATP activities have you participated in? |
| A. |
I have been at every local symposium and update seminar since I joined. I have attended National Conference for the last two years. |
|
| Q. |
Why do you recommend NATP to others? What member benefits do you find most beneficial? |
| A. |
I find that the education opportunities are the best available to tax professionals. I have also enjoyed the
professional support that comes with networking at conferences and being involved with my local chapter's board of directors.
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|
| Q. |
What are the biggest challenges facing tax preparers today and is there anything you can see that NATP could do to better prepare them?
|
| A. |
The possibility of mandatory licensing of tax professionals is growing ever closer. This issue has many pros and cons. I know
that NATP supports us as both licensed and unlicensed practitioners. I feel confident that NATP will provide resources to
guide members to passing any kind of licensing test that may become required in the future.
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| Q. |
Can you give a little background on your family, spouse, children, community involvement, hobbies, favorite activities, etc.? |
| A. |
I have been married since January 2006.
I work as a professional singer all year round. I work at the casinos in Atlantic City, as well as at private events
such as corporate parties and weddings. I love what I do and it keeps me pretty busy!
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|
| Q. |
What are your goals for the future personally and for your career? |
| A. |
I am excited to grow professionally as my family grows. I would like to see my business reach 500 clients. I
already provide a small amount of payroll and bookkeeping services to my clients. I would like to expand that.
|
|
| Q. |
What kinds of things are important to you in life? |
| A. |
There is nothing more important to me than family and friends. I feel a lot of pride in my career as a tax professional
as well as a singer, but love is what makes life rich.
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|
| Q. |
Did you ever have a "defining moment," an embarrassing moment, or another memorable experience related to your career as a tax preparer?
|
| A. |
Early in my career as a tax professional, I was attending an IRS forum in Atlantic City. I was also performing in one
of the casinos that week. When one of the exhibitors in the hall overheard that I was a singer, he insisted that I
sing for him. He represented a tax organization. I bargained with him and said I would sing in the middle of the
exhibitor hall if he gave me one year's membership free. He agreed, and I sang. The room went silent and heads
turned. I got a free membership. It was definitely memorable!
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