Well, it's the new year and Arizona, much like most states, still hasn't found a way to conform to the federal tax law. And, it's not only impacting E-filers, but Certified Public Accountants as well.
Over the holidays, tax accountants had hoped Governor Doug Ducey and state lawmakers would agree on a way to conform Arizona's tax code.
Now that it hasn't, local CPAs said they'll either wait for the changes or file with the best information available, with a caveat.
"That they may be needing to amend these returns and pay monies back to the states," warned Sandy Abalos with the Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Tax preparers are hoping lawmakers will pick up tax conformity first thing in 2019, because each passing week builds frustration.
"The real panic attack is whether changes will be passed in time for programmers to get our software working," said Abalos. That way, she continued, "accountants will be in a position to begin preparing tax returns in early February."
As it stands, she predicted CPAs will have to file extensions, which will force taxpayers to wait if there is a refund.
