Individual Tax Returns

 

         Individual Income Tax Preparation (Form 1040)

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We prepare federal and Wisconsin income tax returns for individuals and families at every income level, from straightforward W-2 filings to complex, multi-source returns. We take particular care with self-employed taxpayers and workers in the gig economy: rideshare and delivery drivers, freelancers, independent contractors, online sellers, and creators. If your income arrives on a 1099 instead of a W-2, you face questions most filers never see, deductible business expenses, quarterly estimated payments, self-employment tax, and recordkeeping that holds up if the IRS asks. We handle those questions every day, and we make sure you claim what the law allows and nothing you cannot defend.

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          Non-Resident Income Tax Preparation (Form 1040NR)

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Nonresidents with U.S. income including students, scholars, and workers on visas, often must file Form 1040-NR, which follows different rules than a standard return and may involve tax treaty benefits. We prepare nonresident returns and help you determine your correct filing status, because residency for tax purposes is not the same as immigration status and getting it wrong is expensive to fix.

Business Tax Returns

          Partnerships and Multi-Member LLCs (Form 1065)

Partnership returns are widely regarded as the most technically demanding returns in the tax code; special allocations, partner capital accounts, basis tracking, and distributions all interact in ways that can quietly create problems for years. This is where legal training and an LL.M. in Taxation earn their keep. We prepare partnership and multi-member LLC returns with the same attention an attorney brings to reading the operating agreement itself, because in a partnership, the tax return and the legal documents have to tell the same story.

         S Corporations (Form 1120-S)

 

The S corporation remains one of the most popular structures for self-employed taxpayers, and for good reason: with a properly structured salary and distribution approach, an S corporation may reduce the self-employment tax burden that sole proprietors carry on every dollar of profit. We prepare S corporation returns and the shareholder reporting that goes with them, and we advise on whether an S election makes sense for your situation, including the reasonable compensation requirements the IRS expects you to meet.

          C Corporations (Form 1120)

C corporation returns call for a different set of considerations, and we handle them: the flat corporate income tax rate, planning around the double taxation of dividends, deductible fringe benefits available to owner-employees, retained earnings strategy, estimated tax obligations, and Wisconsin corporate franchise and income tax compliance. Whether your C corporation is a legacy structure or a deliberate choice, the return should reflect a coherent plan,  not just last year's numbers.

 

Specialized Returns: Nonprofits, Trusts, and Estates

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          Trust and Estate Tax Preparation (Form 1041)

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We prepare fiduciary income tax returns (Form 1041) for trusts and estates. Trust taxation is where tax preparation and estate planning meet. It’s where siloed advice gets expensive. Trusts reach the highest federal tax bracket at a fraction of the income an individual can earn, and poorly coordinated planning can forfeit valuable benefits like the step-up in basis. Because Genzler Tax & Legal offers estate planning alongside tax compliance, we can help you plan for the future so the documents you sign today and the returns filed tomorrow work together instead of against each other.

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           Tax-Exempt Organization Tax Preparation (Form 990 Series)

 

We prepare annual information returns (Form 990 series) for tax-exempt organizations, including 501(c)(3) charities and foundations, 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations, 501(c)(5) labor and agricultural organizations, and 501(c)(6) business leagues and chambers of commerce. Depending on your organization's size and activities, that may mean Form 990, 990-EZ, or the 990-N postcard. If your organization earns unrelated business income, Form 990-T as well. The Form 990 is a public document that donors and grant makers actually read, so we prepare returns that are accurate, complete, and consistent with your organization's exempt purpose.

Examinations and Back Tax Resolution

Falling behind on filing, or owing years of back taxes, is one of the most stressful financial situations a person or business can face. It is also more common and more fixable than most people believe. Ms. Genzler has spent more than a decade helping individuals and businesses come back into compliance: preparing unfiled prior-year returns, correcting past filings, and resolving outstanding balances. As a Wisconsin-licensed attorney, we represents clients directly before the IRS and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, including in installment agreements, penalty abatement requests, and audit matters.

          Offers in Compromise

An Offer in Compromise is an IRS program that lets some taxpayers settle their tax debt for less than they owe. The IRS decides based on your income, expenses, and assets. Not everyone qualifies. No attorney can guarantee the IRS will accept an offer, and you should be wary of anyone who says otherwise. What we promise is a straight answer: before you spend money pursuing an offer, we will tell you whether you have a realistic chance. If you don't, we will point you to the option that fits, like a payment plan or penalty relief. 

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           Audit Representation

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Getting an audit notice from the IRS or the Wisconsin Department of Revenue is stressful but you don't have to handle it alone. We represent you from the first notice to the final decision: we explain what the auditor wants, prepare the records that answer it, handle all communication with the government, and attend meetings in your place. If the result is wrong, we can pursue an appeal. You focus on your life; we deal with the auditor.

          Tax Court Representation

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If the IRS sends you a Notice of Deficiency, the clock starts running and  you generally have just 90 days to petition the United States Tax Court. For most taxpayers, Tax Court is the only place to challenge the IRS's determination before paying the tax, and courts treat the deadline as strict. Miss it, and your options narrow considerably.

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We handle Tax Court matters from petition to resolution: protecting the deadline, negotiating with IRS counsel, and presenting your case if the matter goes to trial. Most Tax Court cases settle before trial — and in our experience, they tend to settle on better terms when the IRS knows the taxpayer's attorney is prepared to try the case.

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Already missed the 90-day window? Don't assume the fight is over. Depending on your situation, options like audit reconsideration, a collection due process hearing, or a refund claim may still be available. Call us either way.

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Tax Planning and Consulting

The best time to lower a tax bill is before the year ends not when the return is due. We offer tax planning consultations for individuals and businesses who want to look ahead: choosing or changing a business entity, timing income and deductions, planning for retirement contributions, preparing for a major sale or life change, and structuring decisions so the tax consequences are known before you act. Good planning does not require aggressive positions. It requires knowing the rules well enough to use them and that is exactly what an attorney-led tax practice is for.