Where to File Your 2012 Taxes in Los Alamitos and Seal Beach

Clicking through your tax forms online using companies like TurboTax and TaxAct.com has its upsides, but if you'd rather go to a local tax professional, which Los Alamitos or Rossmoor company do you choose?

Here's a random assortment of local places from our listings. And if you have any suggestions of places you use, please leave 'em in the comments below. 

— Income Tax

• 134 3/4 Main Street, Seal Beach. Phone: 562-596-3415.

— Williams Tax & Financial Service

• 10421 Los Alamitos Boulevard, Los Alamitos. Phone: 562-493-1533.

— Lenning & Company

• 13924 Seal Beach Boulevard. Phone: 562-594-9729.

— Alamitos Tax Services

• 3700 Katella, Los Alamitos. Phone: 562-493-2525.

— Bill Griffith 

• 550 Pacific Coast Highway, Seal Beach. Phone: 562-493-3710.

— Trojan & Company 

• 10409 Los Alamitos Boulevard, Los Alamitos. Phone: 562-598-5600

You can find more tax professionals in the Los Alamitos Patch directory , but be sure to make an appointment soon because the April 15 deadline is approaching fast.

Tax Changes for 2013 Tax Year 

When you file your 2012 taxes, you might want to start planning for these tax changes that will affect your 2013 filings. Here are some highlights of what's different: 

• Beginning in tax year 2013 (generally for tax returns filed in 2014), a new tax rate of 39.6 percent has been added for individuals whose income exceeds $400,000 ($450,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return). The other marginal rates—10, 15, 25, 28, 33 and 35 percent—remain the same as in prior years. The guidance contains the taxable income thresholds for each of the marginal rates.

• The standard deduction rises to $6,100 ($12,200 for married couples filing jointly), up from $5,950 ($11,900 for married couples filing jointly) for tax year 2012.

• The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 added a limitation for itemized deductions claimed on 2013 returns of individuals with incomes of $250,000 or more ($300,000 for married couples filing jointly).

• The personal exemption rises to $3,900, up from the 2012 exemption of $3,800. Beginning in 2013, however, the exemption is subject to a phaseout that begins with adjusted gross incomes of $150,000 ($300,000 for married couples filing jointly). It phases out completely at $211,250 ($422,500 for married couples filing jointly).

• The Alternative Minimum Tax exemption amount for tax year 2013 is $51,900 ($80,800, for married couples filing jointly), set by the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which indexes future amounts for inflation. The 2012 exemption amount was $50,600 ($78,750 for married couples filing jointly).

• The maximum Earned Income Credit amount is $6,044 for taxpayers filing jointly who have three or more qualifying children, up from a total of $5,891 for tax year 2012.

• Estates of descendents who die during 2013 have a basic exclusion amount of $5,250,000, up from a total of $5,120,000 for estates of decedents who died in 2012.

• For tax year 2013, the monthly limitation regarding the aggregate fringe benefit exclusion amount for transit passes and transportation in a commuter highway vehicle is $245, up from $240 for tax year 2012. The legislation provided a retroactive increase from the $125 limit that had been in place.

For more background on 2013 tax changes, check out this list from Business 2 Community.

Do you have a local tax professional you'd recommend? Share your tips in the comments. (No advertisements please.)

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