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Becker Tax Services

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    Need help?

    I’m a tax accountant and I’ve been preparing personal and small business taxes professionally since 2010. I’m located in the Eastgate area of Clermont County and serve clients in Batavia, Milford, Loveland, Cincinnati, and throughout Ohio. I also have a client in Kentucky. I can prepare returns for any state with my professional-grade tax software.
    (Although I focus on 1040s, I can do others such as 1041, 1065, 1120, 1120S, and 990. However, my experience with those is limited.)

    Fees

    “How much do you charge?” That’s a hard question to answer until the work is done. My minimum charge is $100, and that includes e-filing for both federal and state returns. However, I’m willing to accept whatever the client believes is fair and reasonable. Not happy? Don’t pay. No problem. (That’s never happened, but I suppose anything’s possible.)

    Ohio Marriage Penalty

    In previous years, I’ve saved multiple clients hundreds of dollars by filing “Married Filing Separately” to avoid the Ohio Marriage Penalty. After my fee, many have “profited” (came out ahead) compared to filing “Married Filing Jointly.”

    With movement toward Ohio’s so-called “flat tax” for tax year 2026, the Ohio Marriage Penalty is becoming less problematic.

    Process

    I don’t always meet personally with clients. That said, I’m happy to make arrangements to meet with any client anywhere. The customer is the boss.  I prefer doing business via email. Just send your tax documents to John@BeckerTaxServices.com.

    If the client prefers, I will travel to their home or office, or they can come to mine. Again, the client is the boss. (Hey, I’m easy to work with.)

    Below “Contact” and “Credentials” is a form that I give to new clients to help me get started. I usually followup for clarification or additional information.

    Contact

    John Becker, CTP, MBA – Taxation
    Principal Tax Consultant
    513-753-6440 (Landline) – 24/7 Voicemail
    BeckerTaxServices.com
    email: John@BeckerTaxServices.com

    Credentials

    Professional Tax Preparer since 2010.
    Both EFIN and PTIN credentialed by the IRS.
    Xavier University MBA with an emphasis in Taxation.
    Certified Treasury Professional (CTP).

Becker’s Tax Tips

Tax Tip #1: Maximize Tax-Advantaged Accounts

Reduce your federal and Ohio income taxes by investing in tax-advantaged accounts, such as:

  • Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
  • 401(k) or 403(b) plans
  • Traditional IRAs

These lower your taxable income and boost future savings. Your future self will thank you!

Bonus Tip: Younger taxpayers may benefit more from Roth IRAs or Roth 401(k)s, as contributions grow tax-free.

Tax Tip #2: Ohio Marriage Penalty

Beware of the Ohio Marriage Penalty. If you file jointly, consider filing separately to potentially reduce your tax liability. To determine if the Ohio Marriage Penalty applies, prepare and analyze six tax returns:

  1. Federal joint
  2. Ohio joint
  3. Federal – husband
  4. Federal – wife
  5. Ohio – husband
  6. Ohio – wife

Bonus Tip: The closer you and your spouse’s incomes are, the higher the likelihood of incurring the Ohio Marriage Penalty.

Tax Tip #3: State of Ohio Tax Credits

Don’t overlook valuable dollar-for-dollar tax credits on your State of Ohio income tax return. Examples include:

  • $750 per person for donations to certain private or religious schools
  • $750 per person for donations to certain pro-life organizations
  • $50 per person for donations to candidates for certain political offices

Bonus Tip: Like an IRA, the deadlines for donations to schools and pro-life organizations are generally April 15 of the following year.

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New Client Questionnaire

General Info 

  • Name?
  • Home address?
  • Phone? (Cell or landline?)
  • Email address?
  • SSN?
  • DOB?
  • Occupation?
  • Blind or disabled? Yes/No
  • Full-time student? Yes/No
  • Can be claimed as dependent on another return? Yes/No

Spouse

  • Name?
  • Home address?
  • Phone? (Cell or landline?)
  • Email address?
  • SSN?
  • DOB?
  • Occupation?
  • Blind or disabled? Yes/No
  • Full-time student? Yes/No
  • Can be claimed as dependent on another return? Yes/No

Dependents

  • Names and addresses?
  • SSN?
  • DOB?
  • Relationship?

Direct Deposit/Direct Debit Yes/No?

  • Bank name?
  • Routing #?
  • Account #?
  • Checking or savings?
  • Do you want me to e-file? Yes/No?
  • Is it okay to email your tax return to you? Yes/No?

Driver’s License Information (for you)

  • License #?
  • Issue date?
  • Exp date?
  • State?

Driver’s License Information (for your spouse)

  • License #?
  • Issue date?
  • Exp date?
  • State?
  • Cryptocurrency? Yes/No
  • Foreign bank account? Yes/No
  • Marketplace healthcare? Yes/No

I might need your previous year’s tax return. Regardless, it will be helpful.

Any additional information?

Anything else I should know?