You can sum up how Desmond Hudson, of Hudson Tax Services, does business with his tagline: Get your taxes done right, not for a refund. It's something that Desmond, an Enrolled Agent located in Philadelphia, PA, constantly preaches, reminding taxpayers that it's important to look for an honest, accurate preparer and not merely one who promises you a fat refund check. How can you find a great preparer? Desmond says that referrals are an excellent way to find a great tax preparer: if you have a great tax preparer, refer him or her to friends and colleagues. Here's what else Desmond had to say:
1. Where are you now? Literally under the covers, so the light on my phone doesn't wake my wife... it's 4 am. That was probably a weird answer... I'm uh home, wait, you're probably just asking me my current location. Philadelphia, PA. (Geez, that was only the first question.)
2. What's your official title and what does it mean? Enrolled Agent. 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 individual and business tax returns or through experience as a former IRS employee. 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.
I am also a Senior Portfolio Manager at Reinvestment Fund (it'll be 17 years this year). I manage a ton of assets from construction to completion and I monitor their financial performance for the life of the loan.
3. What books are on your nightstand? Hmmm, let me see (without waking my wife), Hamilton the Revolution (it was a Christmas gift), The Richest Man In Babylon, and a Pub-4012.
(Author's note: For those of you who are dying to know, that's the VITA/TCE Volunteer Resource Guide.)
4. If you weren't working in the tax profession, what would your dream job be? Can I dream of not having a job? Maybe doing something travel related.
5. What's the last movie that you saw (DVD or in the theater)? Recently watched Primal Fear with my daughter (she was intrigued with split personalities).
6. Tax is a huge subject. What's your area of special interest? Individual and Sole Proprietors (I like to help the folks who can't afford a high-end tax professional but still wants and needs quality service). I also know a little about New Market Tax Credits structures from working at Reinvestment Fund.
7. What's the best tax or financial advice that anyone ever gave you? The one tax advice that always sticks in my head is that someone told me early in my career that nobody knows everything about taxes and if they say they do... run. (It has kept me humble.)
8. Coffee or tea? Tea.
9. Name five artists on your iPod or digital player. Hamilton Mixtape, Hamilton Original, Childish Gambino, The Lox, Redman
10. What would I be surprised to know about you? I went to boarding school for most of my youth.
11. What college did you attend (in what subject)? Started at Indiana University of PA, finished at Peirce College. Business and Accounting.
12. If you had the opportunity to make one change in the tax code tomorrow - an extra credit, a disallowed deduction, whatever - what would it be? Maybe something that could benefit individuals that pay child support where they can take some kind of deduction on their taxes if they meet certain qualifications (i.e. time spent with child) and the other person has to treat it as income. Similar to how alimony is currently treated in the tax code.
13. What's the best thing on TV right now? Blackish, Atlanta, Insecure, Spotless, Power... to name a few.
14. What do you think Congress will repeal first: estate tax or AMT? AMT
15. If Uncle Sam handed you a huge refund check right now, what would you do with it? My wife and I would go on a really nice and long vacation.
16. Biggest tax newsmaker: Trump, Ryan, identity thieves or the EU? I think Trump's tax plan has been one of the most vast proposed tax changes in years.
17. And, other than taxgirl for Forbes, what's your favorite tax related web site? I honestly only follow taxgirl's website...but there are tons of FB Tax Colleagues and Tax Groups Personalities whose posts I really enjoy reading.
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Thanks, Desmond! You can find Desmond on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MrIdotaxes and on Twitter @mridotaxes.
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If you’d like to recommend a tax pro to be featured send your suggestions to kelly (dot) erb (at) taxgirl (dot) com with the subject: Getting To Know You Tuesday (it's tax season: use anything else and it could get lost, you've been warned). Self-nominations are totally okay and, in fact, encouraged!
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