211 N Olive St, Suite 109 · Media, PA 19063
(484) 339-4616 | Client Portal | Pay Invoice

Frequently Asked Questions

Straight answers to the questions we hear most.

Tax deadlines, pricing, how we work, and what to expect when you bring your file to Gemini. No jargon, no runaround.

Questions & Answers

Find what you need, fast.

Jump to the section that matches your question, or scroll through. Every answer comes from a CPA who handles this work every day.

General & Working With Us Tax Preparation & Planning Estate & Trust Bookkeeping & CFO Deadlines Pricing

General & Working With Us

Who will actually work on my account?
Saad Chaudhri, CPA handles every client file himself. He does the planning work, prepares or reviews the returns, and stays reachable throughout the year. For complex engagements that involve international tax or multi-entity reporting, he brings in specialists who work alongside him. But the lead never changes, and the context is never lost.
Where is your office located?
211 N Olive Street, Suite 109, Media, PA 19063. We serve clients across Delaware County and beyond. Many clients work with us remotely, but you are always welcome to come in for a review or planning session.
How quickly do you respond to calls and emails?
We are responsive on all calls and emails. You reach the person working on your file, not a call center, not a ticket queue. During the height of tax season (mid-March through April 15), responses may take up to 24 hours, but we do not let anything slip.
Do you work with clients outside of Pennsylvania?
Yes. We serve clients across multiple states. For multi-state returns, we handle the filings for each jurisdiction. Our team includes specialists in international tax for clients with cross-border activity.
What is the best way to get started?
Call us at (484) 339-4616 or fill out the contact form. Tell us what you need. We will outline what it takes, what it costs, and when it will be done. There is no charge for the initial conversation.

Tax Preparation & Planning

What types of tax returns do you prepare?
Individual (Form 1040), partnership (Form 1065), S-Corporation (Form 1120-S), C-Corporation (Form 1120), estate and trust (Form 1041), and Pennsylvania state returns. We also handle multi-state filings and international reporting requirements.
What is the difference between tax preparation and tax planning?
Tax preparation is filing the return for what already happened. Tax planning is looking ahead and making adjustments so the next return looks better. Most firms stop at preparation. We do both, and we stay available between filings so you can ask questions when decisions come up, not just when the deadline hits.
Do you handle IRS and state audit representation?
Yes. If the IRS or Pennsylvania Department of Revenue sends a notice, we respond on your behalf. Having a CPA who knows your file handle the correspondence is significantly better than trying to navigate an audit notice on your own.
Should I be an S-Corp or an LLC?
It depends on your revenue, your net income, how much you take out of the business, and what state you are in. There is no one-size answer. We look at your numbers, run the comparison, and show you the math. If a change makes sense, we help you execute it. If it does not, we tell you that too.
I am self-employed. What should I be tracking?
Income, expenses by category, estimated tax payments made, mileage if relevant, and any asset purchases. If you are not sure whether your system is capturing everything, we can review it and set you up properly. Good records reduce the hours we bill and lower the chance of an audit adjustment.

Estate & Trust

I was just named executor of an estate. What do I do first?
Call us. Most executors have never handled an estate before, and that is normal. We walk you through the process: obtaining the EIN, opening the estate bank account, filing the Pennsylvania inheritance tax return, and preparing the estate income tax returns for each year the estate remains open. We coordinate with the attorney and the financial institutions so you are not the one translating between them.
When is the Pennsylvania inheritance tax return due?
The Pennsylvania inheritance tax return (Form REV-1500) is due nine months from the date of death. A 5% discount applies if filed and paid within three months. Missing the nine-month deadline triggers interest and penalties, so it is important to start early.
What is the inheritance tax rate in Pennsylvania?
The rate depends on the relationship between the deceased and the beneficiary: 0% for spouses, 0% for charities, 4.5% for direct descendants (children, grandchildren), 12% for siblings, and 15% for everyone else. This is applied to the value of assets passing to each beneficiary, with certain deductions and exemptions available.
How long does an estate stay open?
It varies. A straightforward estate might close in 12 to 18 months. An estate with real property to sell, a business interest, or beneficiaries who disagree can stay open for several years. Every year the estate is open, a fiduciary income tax return (Form 1041) is due. We handle those until the estate closes.

Bookkeeping & Virtual CFO

I do my own bookkeeping. Why should I hire someone?
If your time is better spent running the business, the math usually favors hiring a bookkeeper. Beyond the hours saved, professional bookkeeping catches errors before they compound, keeps your tax return cleaner, and gives you numbers you can actually trust when making decisions. Most business owners who switch tell us they wish they had done it sooner.
Which accounting software do you work with?
QuickBooks (Online and Desktop), Xero, Bill.com, Fyle, TaxDome, and others. We connect to the platforms you already use. If you are not set up on anything yet, we will get you onto the right platform for your business.
My books are a year behind. Can you help?
Yes. Catch-up bookkeeping is something we do regularly. We get you current without judgment. The important thing is to start. The longer books sit unreconciled, the more expensive and complicated the cleanup becomes.
Do I really need a CFO, or is a bookkeeper enough?
A bookkeeper records what happened. A CFO interprets what it means and helps you decide what comes next. If your revenue is growing, you are considering a hire, or you have a significant decision ahead, a virtual CFO engagement gets you the forward-looking guidance a bookkeeper is not structured to provide, at a fraction of a full-time salary.

Key Tax Deadlines

These are the dates that matter most. Miss them, and penalties accrue. We track every deadline for every client so you do not have to.

January

January 15

Fourth-quarter estimated tax payment due for individuals. W-2s and 1099s must be issued by January 31.

March

March 15

S-Corporation (Form 1120-S) and partnership (Form 1065) returns due, or file for a six-month extension.

April

April 15

Individual returns (Form 1040), C-Corp returns, and first-quarter estimated taxes due. Pennsylvania returns follow the same date.

April

April 15

Estate and trust income tax returns (Form 1041) due, or file for a five-and-a-half-month extension.

June

June 15

Second-quarter estimated tax payment due for individuals. U.S. expats: individual return deadline (no extension without filing).

September

September 15

Extended S-Corp and partnership returns due. Third-quarter estimated tax payment due for individuals.

October

October 15

Extended individual returns due. Extended C-Corp returns due. Final deadline — no further extensions available.

December

December 31

Last day for most tax-year transactions: retirement contributions, charitable gifts, and business purchases for Section 179.

Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax

9 Months from Date of Death

5% discount if filed and paid within 3 months of death. Interest and penalties begin after 9 months. Do not wait.

Pricing Transparency

Every engagement is quoted upfront. No surprises, no hidden line items. Here is what you can expect.

Individual Tax Return

Quoted per engagement

Depends on complexity: number of states, schedules, rental properties, investments, and self-employment income. A simple W-2 return sits at the lower end; a multi-state return with rentals and a small business at the higher end. You will get a fixed quote before any work begins.

Business Tax Return

Quoted per engagement

S-Corp, partnership, and C-Corp returns vary based on transaction volume, number of owners, and state filings. We review your books first and give you a number. No hourly billing surprises.

Estate & Trust Accounting

Quoted per engagement

Every estate is different. The number of assets, the complexity of the distribution, and how long the estate stays open all affect the scope. We outline the full estimated cost during the initial consultation.

Monthly Bookkeeping

Quoted per engagement

Based on monthly transaction volume and number of accounts. Includes reconciliation, A/R and A/P tracking, and a clean handoff to tax preparation.

Virtual CFO

Quoted per engagement

Monthly financial review, cash flow forecasting, budget development, KPI tracking, and decision support. Scaled to your revenue and complexity. Less than a full-time CFO, more targeted than a bookkeeper.

Catch-Up Bookkeeping

Quoted per engagement

Price depends on how far behind you are and how many accounts need reconciliation. We assess the scope, quote a fixed price, and get you current. No hourly billing, no surprises.

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Gemini Accounting Services LLC | 211 N Olive St, Suite 109, Media, PA 19063 | (484) 339-4616