TAXES -- are you ready?

Have you found someone capable of doing them?

Well, Patricia Parks knows all the laws (including the new ones) required to properly and completely prepare your tax return. Located at 160 N. David St., Parks welcomes all clients and takes all the time needed to sit and review documents to ensure completeness.

Parks has been in Pahrump for two-and-a-half years but had not advertised her expertise until now due to the number of her clients.

However, she decided to offer her talents to the residents of Pahrump as she now has the time to do even more. She has clients all over the world, and her talents also include charities and non-profits.

Contractors who need payroll assistance can count on Parks.

She has 35 years of experience doing all forms of taxes. No one loves this time of year more than Parks, who has been called "Crusader Rabbit" due to her need to search out new clients and ensure proper returns.

Parks has many credentials, including her membership in the National Association of Enrolled Agents, an organization licensed by the U. S. Treasury Department. "It's not easy obtaining membership," she said. "You have to take a two-day, 16-hour test. No calculators allowed, so you have to be good at math."

She also held the position of editor of the National Tax Journal from 1983 to 1986, designed to provide information to all tax preparers. Parks advised that "this journal is sent to all tax preparers regardless of their location around the world. It is supposed to keep them informed of all changes in tax laws."

The 2008 set-up is no exception. Parks does not particularly like it when the laws change because it takes "a lot of time to put them into action properly. They can cause a lot of problems. You have no choice, though -- you have to do it, so you may as well do it right. You can't fight the government," she acknowledged.

Parks mentioned that "the hardest return to do is a new business one. Almost inevitably the owner or operator does not know how or what to keep as records for their tax return. It can take me weeks to do such a return because I have to go through all receipts and more."

Home businesses should also learn to operate properly by keeping receipts, tracking mileage, ensuring the space used is deducted and more.

Those filing a tax return should help their preparer by keeping receipts; tell the preparer about everything that may be remotely related to their taxes, even the trivial stuff, as it may be useful.

She also recommends that "all documents related to a home sale or purchase be kept forever in the event a question comes up later down the line. Tax returns should be kept for a minimum of seven years but no more than 10 is necessary. You should also keep business-related paperwork as well as any time or mileage given as a volunteer."

Confidentiality is essential. Make sure your tax preparer gives proper respect and strictly maintains confidentiality.

Parks advised that anyone interested in becoming a tax agent should "go to college and major in accounting or at least learn and understand accounting. Take the enrolled agent test. Work for a good accountant. Do an internship; become licensed by the Department of the Treasury to go before the IRS when needed."

Continuing education is a must. Laws change in some way every year so preparers must be informed. Education can be done online. "Believe me, I've virtually seen it all in my 35 years. Nothing scares me about taxes. I love my work -- I'm probably one of the few that does," she said.

She operates 365 days a year. Returns normally take an average of two or three days but depending on complexity may take up to 10 days in some instances.