Our processes have changed since the Covid Pandemic of 2020 and 2021. We are working remotely with more than half of the clients for which we prepare and file tax returns.
Knowledge, Technology & Resources
Making Your Tax Filing Experience the Best it Can Be
Securely upload your source documents to us. Then schedule your telephone or in-office appointment online. If you have any issues using the portal, Portal Tips or Use This Guide To Help You Use The Firm Portal.
Check the Status of Your Refund
Medicare premiums play a significant role in tax planning, particularly for retirees and individuals with higher incomes. These premiums, often deducted directly from Social Security benefits, can be considered a qualified medical expense, potentially making them deductible if total medical expenses exceed 7.5% of adjusted gross income (AGI). For higher-income earners, Medicare premiums may increase due to the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA), making it crucial to plan withdrawals, conversions, or other income sources carefully to manage AGI and avoid higher premium tiers. Incorporating Medicare premiums into tax planning helps optimize overall tax liability while ensuring healthcare costs are accounted for efficiently in retirement budgets.
Single Filers with Adjusted Gross Income less than $106,000, the standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees will be $185.00 for 2025.
| Single Adjusted Gross Income | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| 106,000 – 133,000 | $259.00 |
| 133,000 – 167,000 | $370.00 |
| 167,000 – 200,000 | $480.90 |
| 200,000 – 500,000 | $591.90 |
| Greater than 500,000 | $628.90 |
2024 Tax Filing Season Opens January 27, 2025
Married Filing Joint with Adjusted Gross Income less than $212,000, the standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees will be $185.00 for 2025.
| MFJ Adjusted Gross Income | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| 212,000 – 266,000 | $259.00 |
| 266,000 – 334,000 | $370.00 |
| 334,000 – 400,000 | $480.90 |
| 400,000 – 750,000 | $591.90 |
| Greater than 750,000 | $628.90 |
Use our online appointment scheduler to book your time as soon as possible. Visit our Tax Department for news, tax rate schedules and more. Upload your 2023 source documents to us as soon as you can.
Tax Advice
More than Tax Preparers...
We are Tax Advisors
We prepare and file tax returns for businesses, non-profits, estates, trusts and individuals. We provide tax planning and assist with tax problems. We pride ourselves on being very efficient, affordable and of course, discrete. In the review process, our Electronic Return Originator checks the returns for input accuracy, data integrity and correctness. The data keyed by the agent is compared to the digital copies of the source documents used in preparation.
Our Document Management Specialist, places our digital copies of all your tax documents, notes and information we use in preparing your tax returns in our highly secure database storage system. These documents are archived and available should they ever be needed.
We can share these digital documents with you through our secure portal. If you are refinancing your home and your banker asks for copies of your W-2s, we can send them to you in a matter of minutes.
We will always return the original documents to you in one of our portfolio pouches. Scanning and maintaining these documents is one way that we go a step beyond just preparing tax returns for our clients.
How Long Should I Keep Records?
Generally, you must keep your records that support an item of income or deductions on a tax return until...
Licensed by the U.S. Treasury Department
Enrolled Agents
Enrolled agents, like attorneys and certified public accountants (CPAs), have unlimited practice rights. This means they are unrestricted as to which taxpayers they can represent, what types of tax matters they can handle, and which IRS offices they can represent clients before.
An enrolled agent is a person who has earned the privilege of representing taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service by either passing a three-part comprehensive IRS test covering I. Individual Tax, II. Business Tax and III. Representation, Practices and Procedures, or through experience as a former IRS employee in a position regularly applying and interpreting the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Enrolled agent status is the highest credential the IRS awards. Individuals who obtain this elite status must adhere to ethical standards and complete 72 hours of continuing education courses every three years.
- Name: Buddy Fricke, EA
- email: buddy@bara.net
- Ext: 124
- Direct: (256) 586-4141
- Name: Mary Penton, EA
- email: mary@bara.net
- Ext: 122
- Direct: (256) 586-4135
- Name: Robert A. Mobley, Staff Accountant
- email: robert@bara.net
- Ext: 121
- VM: (256) 586-4157
- Name: Amanda Nichols
- email: amanda@bara.net
- Ext: 125
- Direct: (256) 586-4161
Tech Tools for Our Clients
Accredited Tax Advisor
Gregory J. Cook, EA, CPA
What Clients Are Saying
Wonderful company. They have my best interest in mind with every thought. I have decided as long as Cook is in business I will continue to have my taxes prepared there without question. It's worth the hour drive. See you next year!
client
I've been a customer since 1992 and wouldn't dream of going anywhere else. When I got a letter from the IRS trying to scare me into paying taxes I didn't owe, they wrote a response to the IRS and the issue was resolved.
client
Very professional, knowledgeable, and friendly. Always willing to talk and help me with any questions I may have. If you are looking for true expert tax advisors, look no further than Cook and Co. I cannot imagine using anyone else.
client
Retirement & Financial Planning
Tax Planning should be a Big Part of any Financial or Retirement Plan.
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