Cooke & Company, Licensed Tax Practitioners

We provide Federal Income Tax return preparation services to individuals and small businesses as well as IRS representation should you need it.  We also prepare state income tax returns for those not fortunate enough to live in Texas, and offer tax return preparation services for people who have moved between states.

We operate differently than many other tax return preparation services.  You don't just drop off your papers and pick up a completed tax return.  Nor do we expect you to do most of the work by filling in a lengthy "organizer" and then transcribe it into a tax return form for you. Instead, we sit down with you, face-to-face for an in-depth personal interview for best results. Our interviews include a minimum of 80-100 questions and take 60-90 minutes. We're thorough.  We hate leaving any of your money "on the table".

Our clients come from all walks of life from single people just starting their careers to retirees.  Notably, many of our clients work at Houston car dealerships (car salesmen, service technicians, Finance Managers, etc.), and others in a variety of sales positions (including real estate agents and new home salespeople).  

All of our tax preparers are Federally Authorized Tax Practitioners.  All of our tax preparers are either Enrolled Agents or Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). We do not employ unqualified individuals just looking to make a few bucks in the spring.

Not familiar with the term Licensed Tax Practitioner?  It refers to the three groups of professionals that the U.S. Treasury Dept. has "admitted to practice before the Internal Revenue Service".  These three groups are Enrolled Agents, Certified Public Accountants (CPA's), and Attorneys.  For more information, please see our "Enrolled Agents" page.

Our Philosophy

While taxpayers and tax return preparers have a legal, moral and ethical obligation to file complete, true and correct tax returns, there is absolutely no reason to overpay your taxes! 

We employ two strategies to minimize your tax burden.  First, we do our homework.  We actively participate in professional tax organizations at the national, state and local levels and attend classes and do our own independent study to keep up with the latest tax law changes.  Secondly, we get to know you.  By interviewing you every year, we learn about your occupation, family & financial situation, and plans for the future, all of which can affect your taxes. 

The Judge agrees... 

"Anyone may arrange his affairs so that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which best pays the treasury. There is not even a patriotic duty to increase one's taxes. Over and over again the Courts have said that there is nothing sinister in so arranging affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Everyone does it, rich and poor alike and all do right, for nobody owes any public duty to pay more than the law demands." --- Judge Learned Hand, famous American jurist.

SPECIAL NOTICE RE: HURRICANE IKE

The IRS and Congress have made several very significant changes regarding due dates and casualty losses (hurricane damage).  If you live in an affected area, it is important that you view our Hurricane Ike page as these changes greatly liberalize the rules for deducting Hurricane Ike losses.  Even taxpayers who take the Standard Deduction may qualify to deduct their hurricane damage.  Due to the nature of the event, IRS announcements have been staggered (Sept. 12, Sept. 18, Oct. 14) and the changes in how to deduct hurricane losses was part of the original "bailout bill" (Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008) passed on October 3, 2008.  So you should check either our Hurricane Ike page or Tax News page frequently.

CONFUSED ABOUT THE RECOVERY REBATE AND LAST YEAR'S STIMULUS PAYMENT?

You've got lots of company.  Many people are under the impression that the IRS is taking back last year's stimulus payment by reducing your 2008 refund.  It's not true.  See our new Rebates & Stimulus Payments page for details on how it works.