[ HAWAII AT WORK ]
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Tax preparer
is penny wiseManny Valin took a leap
to start his own firm,
and the decision paid off
These next few months are the busiest time of the year for me. I am an accountant who specializes in taxes with my own company, Tax Consultants. However, like most people, I started out working for others.After getting my degree in accounting, I worked for a few multinational corporations on the mainland until my last corporate job as a controller. Then I reached a point in my life where I did some soul-searching to re-examine my life's goals, and I decided to go into business for myself. That was not an easy decision to make with a growing family, a mortgage and everything else that comes with it. My wife, Myrna, was doing her residency in pediatrics at Kapiolani Medical Center at the time. She was very encouraging and supportive, making it easier for me and our family.
Although it may sound a little strange, tax preparation and consulting give me great joy because I am in the business of helping people with my expertise. It's rewarding to make people happy -- and my clients are happy people. They are my best advertising. Since we opened in 1980, we have grown to two busy locations.
Many of our clients were dissatisfied with other "independent" tax preparers who seemed inexpensive at the outset, but cost more in the long-run because of their inexperience and lack of understanding of current tax laws. Tax laws are complicated, intimidating and obviously not user-friendly.
We often get people coming to us for a consultation after receiving letters from the IRS about problems with returns prepared elsewhere. A letter from the IRS can be frightening, but we look upon it as an opportunity to find the problem and correct it.
We also hear of tax preparers who claim frivolous deductions or file fraudulent claims on behalf of their clients. That is something we would not even consider, and turn away any client who suggests it.
When you call us for a consultation, we ask you to bring certain records with you. Some people have very organized records, and others have receipts stuffed in a bag. Either way, we'll work with our customers. Tax time does not have to be a nightmare.
My greatest advice to everyone is, whoever you consider as a potential tax preparer, do your research, get referrals and make sure you are working with a tax professional. Don't be penny-wise and dollar-foolish, as they say.
Hawaii At Work features tells what people do for a living in their own words. Send submissions to: business@starbulletin.com
