New Electronic Tax Return Delivery

System

As part of our effort to create a better client experience and streamline the e-signing and tax delivery process, DDK will now be using SafeSend Returns. SafeSend is a secure and easy program that allows our clients to receive, review, and e-sign their tax returns from their computer, tablet, and smartphone.

Easy 5-Step Electronic Tax Return Delivery Process

  1. You will receive an email from noreply@safesendreturns.com. The DDK logo will appear in this email. 
  2. Click on the secure access link contained in the e-mail.
  3. Verify your identity by entering the last four digits of your Social Security number.
  4. Check your email for a unique Access Code. If you don’t see it in your inbox, check your spam or junk folders.
  5. Congratulations! You now have access to your tax return. SafeSend Returns will walk you through the review and e-signature process with step-by-step instructions.

Video Walkthroughs of the Delivery Process:

Individual Client Tax Return Help

 

Entity Client Tax Return Help

  

Common Questions About our Tax Delivery System

Q: Is it safe to enter part of my Social Security Number?

A: Yes. SafeSend Returns offers a secure system to view and sign your e-file authorization form(s). Look for https:// at the beginning of the site URL and a locked padlock symbol in your browser’s URL bar to confirm you are on the secure site.

Q: What if I don’t receive an email with my access code?

A: Check your spam/junk email folder. You can also search your email for noreply@safesendreturns.com.      Some email clients hide items they’ve labeled spam or junk, making certain emails difficult to find. If you do not receive your code within the 10-minute time limit, please request another code.

Q: Will this work on any internet-connected device? Does SafeSend Returns offer an app for my smartphone?

A: There is currently no SafeSend Returns app available, but the signature process can be completed on any computer, smartphone or tablet via a web browser.

Q: I’d rather print and sign my e-file authorization form(s). Can I do that?

A: Yes - You can still print, sign and mail your e-file form(s) back to DDK if you’d prefer to do so.

Q: Will I have to print and mail anything to the government?

A: The only items you may need to print and mail out to government authorities is the tax and estimate payment vouchers. If forms need to be printed and mailed, you will receive clear instructions. You will also be provided options to make tax payments electronically if you prefer not to mail payments.

Q: My Spouse and I are filing our return jointly – How can we both sign the e-file authorization form(s)?

A: There are a couple of options:

If both spouses have an email address on file, both will receive an email with a link to view the return and sign the e-file authorization form(s). First, one spouse will receive the link with identity verification questions specific to him/her. He or she will sign the e-file authorization form(s), and an email link will be sent to the second spouse. The second spouse will answer identity verification questions specific to him/her, then sign the form(s).

If only one spouse has an email address on file, that spouse will first receive the link with identity verification questions specific to him/her. He or she will sign the e-file authorization form(s) and then enter an email address for the second spouse. The second spouse will then receive the email link with identity verification questions specific to him/her. Once the second spouse electronically signs the e-file authorization form(s), DDK will be notified that signing is complete.

If a couple shares an email address, the primary signer will first receive a link with identity verification questions specific to him/her. After the primary signer signs the e-file authorization form(s), he/she can then enter the shared email address again. A new link will be sent with identity verification questions specific to the second spouse.

Q: Where do the identity verification questions come from? What if I don’t remember the answers?

A: The questions SafeSend Returns asks are knowledge-based questions pulled from government and credit sources. You may be asked questions such as where you lived in a given year, or when you bought your car or home. In the event the questions do not apply to you, simply choose the answer that accurately reflects this. If you don’t remember the answers to the questions, or you answer incorrectly, you won't be able to electronically sign your e-file authorization form(s). You can instead print, sign and return your e-file authorization form(s) to DDK.

Q: How is this process different from e-filing?

A: SafeSend Returns allows you to electronically sign your e-file authorization form(s), but it won't submit your return to the IRS. Once signed, DDK is automatically notified, and we will then complete the filing process for you, including submission to the IRS.

Q: Can I sign my dependent's individual return electronically?

A: DDK will deliver your dependent’s return using SafeSend Returns. However, some dependents may not have sufficient government and financial data available to successfully complete the electronic signature process. If there is not enough data available, your dependent will be given the option to download and sign their forms.

Q: Can I set up reminders for my quarterly estimated payment?

A: If estimated payments are included in your review copy, you will automatically receive an email reminder seven days before your payment is due.

Q: Will I receive a notification when my individual return is ready to sign?

A: Yes. Email notifications will be sent from DDK at noreply@safesendreturns.com. We recommend adding this email address to your safe list to prevent the email from getting filtered to spam/junk.

Q: After signing my individual e-file authorization form(s), will I receive confirmation that it was successfully submitted?

A: Yes, once you sign your e-file authorization form(s), you will receive an email stating it was successful. The email will also include a link to download a copy of your tax return for your records.

 Client Portal Login           Secure File Exchange
   SafeSend Returns
Blog

Donating Vehicles to Charity

Donating your vehicle to charity may not be a taxwise decision
You’ve probably seen or heard ads urging you to donate your car to charity. “Make a difference and receive tax savings,” one organization states. But donating a vehicle may not result in a big tax deduction — or any deduction at all.
Trade in, sell or donate?
Let’s say you’re buying a new car and want to get rid of your old one. Among your options are trading in the vehicle to the dealer, selling it yourself or donating it to charity.
If you donate, the tax deduction depends on whether you itemize and what the charity does with the vehicle. For cars worth more than $500, the deduction is the amount for which the charity actually sells the car, if it sells without materially improving it. (This limit includes vans, trucks, boats and airplanes.)
Because many charities wind up selling the cars they receive, your donation will probably be limited to the sale price. Furthermore, these sales are often at auction, or even salvage, and typically result in sales below the Kelley Blue Book® value. To further complicate matters, you won’t know the amount of your deduction until the charity sells the car and reports the sale proceeds to you.
If the charity uses the car in its operations or materially improves it before selling, your deduction will be based on the car’s fair market value at the time of the donation. In that case, fair market value is usually set according to the Blue Book listings.
In these cases, the IRS will accept the Blue Book value or another established used car pricing guide for a car that’s the same make, model, and year, sold in the same area and in the same condition, as the car you donated. In some cases, this value may exceed the amount you could get on a sale.
However, if the car is in poor condition, needs substantial repairs or is unsafe to drive, and the pricing guide only lists prices for cars in average or better condition, the guide won’t set the car’s value for tax purposes. Instead, you must establish the car’s market value by any reasonable method. Many used car guides show how to adjust value for items such as accessories or mileage.
You must itemize
In any case, you must itemize your deductions to get the tax benefit. You can’t take a deduction for a car donation if you take the standard deduction. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, fewer people are itemizing because the law significantly increased the standard deduction amounts. So even if you donate a car to charity, you may not get any tax benefit, because you don’t have enough itemized deductions.
If you do donate a vehicle and itemize, be careful to substantiate your deduction. Make sure the charity qualifies for tax deductions. If it sells the car, you’ll need a written acknowledgment from the organization with your name, tax ID number, vehicle ID number, gross proceeds of sale and other information. The charity should provide you with this acknowledgment within 30 days of the sale.
If, instead, the charity uses (or materially improves) the car, the acknowledgment needs to certify the intended use (or improvement), along with other information. This acknowledgment should be provided within 30 days of the donation.
Consider all factors
Of course, a tax deduction isn’t the only reason for donating a vehicle to charity. You may want to support a worthwhile organization. Or you may like the convenience of having a charity pick up a car at your home on short notice. But if you’re donating in order to claim a tax deduction, make sure you understand all the ramifications. Contact us if you have questions.
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