Preparing your tax returns can seem daunting, even if you don’t have many income sources or take a lot of deductions. Unfortunately, it’s not just you. According to the IRS, the average taxpayer spends approximately 13 hours preparing their returns, with a huge chunk of that time dedicated to record-keeping. Having a professional take care of your returns for you can save a great deal of time and money.

How Long Does It Take to Finish Your Tax Returns?

On average, individual taxpayers without complex investments who take the standard deduction spend between five and eight hours preparing their returns. The time commitment is longer for those who file the standard 1040, a more comprehensive form that usually takes 13 hours to fill out and submit correctly. The more deductions you take, the more complicated your tax returns will be, and the more time you’ll spend hunting for receipts.

Small business owners and self-employed workers have more work to do, spending an average of 22 hours on their taxes. With all the other responsibilities, the complexity of the code can make preparing returns a week-long project, especially if you also have investment income or a capital-intensive business.

How a Tax Preparation Professional Can Help

Having a professional prepare your taxes for you, on the other hand, can be as simple as dropping off your paperwork and answering a few questions. Thanks to their expertise and advanced tools, a certified accountant can power through your returns much faster than you could on your own. Even if it does take them several hours, that’s time you can spend on more rewarding projects.

Instead of devoting hours of your life to tax preparation, let the seasoned professionals at The Callen Accounting Group, PLLC in Mountain Home, AR, take care of it for you. With their deep understanding of the code, wide range of accounting services, and commitment to their clients, you can rely on them to take the pressure out of preparing your tax returns. Visit their website for an overview of their services, follow their Facebook for tax news and updates, and call (870) 425-6066 to make an appointment today.