Frequently Asked Questions

Here’s what most people need:

• A photo ID for you, and for your spouse if you’re filing together
• Social Security cards or ITIN letters for everyone on the return
• Every W-2, 1099, and other income statement you received
• Last year’s tax return, if you have it
• Records for credits and deductions, like childcare costs, tuition (Form 1098-T), and mortgage interest (Form 1098)
• Your bank routing and account numbers if you want your refund by direct deposit

If you’re self-employed, also bring your income totals, expense records, and mileage log. Not sure whether something matters? Bring it anyway and we’ll sort it out together.

Filing online? Wait for our secure upload instructions before sending anything, and please don’t email Social Security cards or tax documents.

Either way works. You can sit down with us at the office, or handle everything virtually. If you file virtually, you send your documents through our secure process, talk with your tax professional, review your return, and approve it before we file.

Your return gets the same review either way.

It depends on your return and how complete your paperwork is. A simple return with every document ready moves quickly. Returns with business income, more than one state, or missing forms take longer, and we’ll tell you what’s holding things up.

Once your return is filed, the IRS controls when your refund arrives. The IRS says most e-filed refunds with direct deposit are issued in less than 21 days, but some returns take longer.

Your fee depends on how involved your return is, meaning the forms and schedules it needs. A W-2 return with nothing extra costs less than one with business income or rental property. We tell you the fee before we file, so there are no surprises.

Payment is due before we e-file your return. Optional bank products may be available that let you pay out of your refund. Their details and fees are explained before you choose, and you can always say no and pay us directly.

A Refund Advance is an optional tax refund-related loan provided by Pathward, N.A., Member FDIC, through Refund Advantage. It is not your actual tax refund. Approval and loan amount are subject to eligibility and underwriting and are not guaranteed. You can file with Carnival Tax whether or not you apply.

Yes. Don’t ignore it, and try not to panic. Many IRS letters simply ask for more information or explain a change to your return.

Bring or send us the letter and we’ll help you understand what it says, what the IRS is asking for, and what your next steps may be. If you owe, we can go over the payment options that fit your situation. Formal representation before the IRS is only available when a properly authorized practitioner is engaged.

Yes. If you didn’t file for a past year, we can help you catch up. If you spot a mistake or a missed credit on a return you already filed, we can look at whether an amended return makes sense.

Bring whatever documents you have for that year. If some forms are missing, we can talk about getting your income records from the IRS.

Yes. We work with 1099 workers, freelancers, rideshare and delivery drivers, beauty professionals, creatives, consultants, and small business owners.

Bring your income records (1099-NEC, 1099-K, or app summaries), your business expenses, and your mileage log. We’ll go over what you can deduct, talk through quarterly estimated payments, and help you get organized for next year.

Yes. We prepare business returns for LLCs, S corps, partnerships, and sole proprietors, and we coordinate your business filing with your personal return. Business deadlines land before personal deadlines, so book early. New business clients book a discovery call first so we can quote your scope and fee correctly.

Tax planning means reviewing your withholdings, estimated payments, and credits and deductions before the year ends, so there are fewer surprises at filing time. Planning is not filing, it does not guarantee a refund or any specific outcome, and it does not replace a CPA or attorney for complex legal structuring.

Basic tax preparation starts at $300. Your final fee depends on your return’s complexity, and your quote is given before filing and approved by you before anything is filed. See our Pricing page for details.

If you run a barbershop, salon, real estate office, or community organization, you can partner with us as a referral partner. You get a named contact, Dash, and co-branded referral materials on request. Reach out through our contact page to get started.

Once your return is accepted, you can check your federal refund with the IRS Where’s My Refund tool at irs.gov/refunds. You’ll need your Social Security number or ITIN, your filing status, and the exact refund amount shown on your return. For a state refund, check your state’s revenue department website.

We can’t speed up the IRS, but if your refund seems stuck, call us and we’ll look at it with you.

Please don’t send tax documents by regular email or text. After you book, we’ll send you instructions for our secure upload process, and that’s how we ask you to send documents online.

Our website forms never ask for your Social Security number. We use your information to prepare your return and serve you as a client, and we don’t sell it.

We use safeguards designed to protect your information, but no way of sending or storing information is completely secure.