We guarantee the biggest, fastest tax refunds allowed by law.

Welcome » Resources » FAQs »

Print This Page

Frequently Asked Questions

Check below for some of our most frequently asked questions. Is your question not in this list? Click here to ask one of our tax professionals.

How do I get a copy of my tax return?

If you filed your tax return with PRO-TAX, you can get a copy of your return from the office where you originally filed. If you did not file with PRO-TAX you will need to request a copy or a transcript from the IRS. To request a copy of your original return you will need to complete IRS Form 4506 and mail it to the IRS along with a Fee for each year requested. A tax return transcript shows most line items from your tax return as it was originally filed, including any accompanying forms and schedules. You can request a FREE transcript by calling 1-800-829-1040, or order by mail using IRS Form 4506T (Request for Transcript of Tax Return). The IRS does not charge a fee for transcripts. You should allow two weeks for delivery.

How do I get a copy of my W-2?

All employers are required to mail your W-2 by January 31. If you don’t receive your W-2 by that date, you should contact your employer to find out when the form was mailed and confirm they have the correct address. If you still don’t receive the form by February 16 you should notify the IRS by calling 1-800-829-1040 (you will need to have the employer’s name and address ready). When you reach an operator, you will need to tell them that you contacted your employer and that you still have not received your W-2. They will take your information and ask you some questions. The IRS will send a letter to your employer notifying them that they must send you the W-2 or they’ll be fined. The IRS will also send you Form 4852 – Substitute W-2 Form – so you can complete your return.

How do I locate a PRO-TAX office?

We have offices in Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. To find a PRO-TAX office near you, click here. From this page, you can search for a location by zip code or you can browse a list of all our offices. Our friendly staff will answer any questions you have right over the phone, and they can tell you about our other services.

What do I need to bring with me?

We created a checklist of items you will need, along with a brief explanation of each. To access the checklist click here.

How much does PRO-TAX charge?

How much will PRO-TAX charge to do my taxes?

This is the most commonly asked question for our offices. Unfortunately it is also one of the most difficult to answer over the phone or through the internet.

PRO-TAX charges by the form and not the hour, and many customers don’t truly understand the complexity of their tax situation which can cause us to misquote our prices. For example, if we give a price over the phone but the customer forgets to tell us about a small, part-time business they own ( which would require a Schedule C) or that they lived in another state for part of the year (which would require a State non-resident form), we will be giving them an inaccurate quote.

PRO-TAX is happy to provide FREE price quotes, but we want them to be as accurate as you do. To be sure we are quoting the right price we prefer you bring all your tax information by our office so we know exactly which forms the IRS requires for you to complete.

Our prices start at $59* for a basic 1040 and go up the more schedules, forms and services your situation requires. Since we charge by the form and not by the hour, you can rest assured you are only paying for the services you want.

*Prices may vary by location.

How much do you charge to electronically file my return?

It’s free! In fact, for all returns prepared by PRO-TAX, we provide:

         Free Electronic Filing
         Free Direct Deposit
         Free Paper Check

Does it cost extra to get a PRO-TAX Lightning refund ?

Yes Republic Bank, our lending institution, does charge additional fees for our Lightning Refund Options which include Instant Refund Anticipation Loans, Refund Anticipation Loans and Refund Anticipation Checks . These fees are based on the speed and amount of your loan. For example, an Instant Refund Anticipation Loan, will have higher fees than a Refund Anticipation Check which you pick up in two weeks. Republic Bank’s fee structure is one of the most competitive in the tax industry. For more information, please ask your preparer about tax refund loan fees and options.

Can PRO-TAX prepare my state return also?

Yes. PRO-TAX can prepare any state returns (resident and non-resident) when you file your Federal return for a small additional fee.

How do PRO-TAX’s prices compare with other national chains?

PRO-TAX’s prices usually are less than the major chains for the entire return, but occasionally a national chain may beat our price on a specific form. However they will never match our customer service and professionally trained preparers.

In addition to our reasonable prices, a great advantage of using PRO-TAX over any of the national chains is that our local offices are open year round. With many of our competitors most offices are closed after April and you may need to drive to a central location which may not be convenient to where you live. Or you may have to deal with an office and staff other than where you filed your return. At PRO-TAX you will always be working with the office where you filed.

Is PRO-TAX the least expensive preparer?

PRO-TAX will never be the rock-bottom lowest price service in town. We don’t lure you into our offices with an initially low rate the first year, only to “sock it to you” when you come back the next year. We charge a fair price for a superior service.

Unlike our competition, we spend a great deal of time and money training our preparers to be the best in the nation. We pride ourselves on being the “best value” in the tax business with top-notch preparers, unbeatable customer service, and an unmatched accuracy guarantee.

Be careful when comparing companies based only on price. Do you want to save a couple bucks on preparation fees or do you want to be absolutely SURE you got the largest refund allowed by the IRS? Remember…PRO-TAX GUARANTEES THE BIGGEST, FASTEST REFUND ALLOWED BY LAW…PLUS: ”IRS-PROTECTED” ACCURACY!

Why shouldn’t I just file on my computer?

Some taxpayers decide to file on their own and you of course have this option. The major problem with filing on your own is that 100% of the responsibility rests on your shoulders. If the IRS comes back to you with a problem with your return you have no one to protect you. PRO-TAX gives you our “IRS-Protected” Accuracy Guarantee that if we made any errors with your return due to our negligence, we will correct the mistake PLUS pay all IRS penalties and interest you may incur. PRO-TAX is willing to give this strong guarantee because we have the best trained preparers in the nation.

Think about it this way. Would you want trust your car (and your safety) to a part-time mechanic who will only work on ONE car this year, or to the professionally trained mechanic who deals with repairing cars every day and has been in business over 35 years?

Come to PRO-TAX if you want to be taken care of by a professional!

I don’t have a bank account, so how can I cash a check and how much will that cost?

We have made special arrangements with various retail stores and regional banks to enable our customers without accounts to cash checks for a very low fee.

What are PRO-TAX’s local office hours?

Our offices have evening and weekend hours so you can come in at a time that's convenient for you. To see the hours for a specific location click here to find your office. Once you find your office, scroll down to the section labeled “Hours” to see when the office is open.

How FAST can I get my refund money?

With PRO-TAX’s NEW Lightning Refund Combo Options (Loan or Advance Check) you now have more ways to receive your refund than ever before! If approved, you may get some of your refund now, and receive the balance later.

With all our Lightning Refund Options, you can have your preparation fees deducted from your refund check so you have no money out of pocket. The Loans and Advance checks are provided by Republic Bank.

If you don’t mind waiting several weeks for your refund and paying your PRO-TAX fees up front, you can receive your money directly from the IRS.

Visit your local PRO-TAX office to discuss which of the following options is right for you:

Instant Refund Anticipation Loan (NOW RAL) – You may be eligible to receive up to $1,500 in 29 Minutes or Less (if approved). All fees are deducted from the loan proceeds, so no payment is required up front. (Available thru 2/29/08)

Refund Anticipation Loan (RAL) – You may be eligible to receive your full refund the next day via a Refund Anticipation Loan. In some instances, you might be able to get your refund the same day. All fees are deducted from the loan proceeds, so no payment is required up front.

Electronic Refund Check (ERC) – Your refund is typically ready in 7-14 days. You will pick up your check at your local PRO-TAX office. All fees are deducted from the check, so no payment is required at the time of service.

What kind of Guarantees do you have?

With PRO-TAX you always get our “IRS-PROTECTED” Accuracy Guarantee at No Extra Charge. If we make an error on your tax return and it is discovered after the return has been filed, PRO-TAX will pay all penalties and interest that result from that mistake. However, PRO-TAX is NOT responsible for additional taxes that may be required due to an error.

In addition to our Accuracy Guarantee, you may want the added IRS protection of PRO-TAX’s “Worry Free Guarantee®”. With this additional protection, PRO-TAX agrees to pay not only penalties and interest for any mistakes, but we will also pay any TAXES YOU MAY OWE (up to $4,000) due to an error on our part! You have the option of choosing either the Basic Plan (three years of coverage) or the Deluxe Plan (five years of coverage).

You can rest easy with the combination of our Accuracy Guarantee and Worry Free Guarantee protecting you from the IRS and an unexpected tax bill!

(*Not all offices offer the Worry Free Guarantee. Please refer to the PRO-TAX Worry Free Guarantee contract for specific exclusions and guarantees.)

What is the Earned Income Credit and do I qualify?

The Earned Income Credit (EIC) is a refundable federal income tax credit for low-income working individuals and families. When the EIC exceeds the amount of taxes owed, it results in a tax refund to those who claim and qualify for the credit. To qualify, taxpayers must meet certain requirements and file a tax return, even if they did not earn enough money to be obligated to file a tax return. To find out if you are eligible for the EIC click here to access the IRS’s EIC Assistant.

How can I participate in the Tell-A-Friend® program?

We will pay you $23 CASH for every new customer you refer to PRO-TAX. You will be given client-specific Tell-A-Friend coupons at the time of your tax preparation, and again when you pick up your copies. You can also click here to visit our Tell-A-Friend web page, where you can download coupons.

How do I join PRO-TAX?

PRO-TAX is always looking for friendly, motivated people to join our fast growing company. If you are looking for a great place to work or if you want to own your own business, PRO-TAX may be just the place for you.

PRO-TAX Jobs – As a growing, innovative company, PRO-TAX is always looking for friendly, energetic employees. If you would like to see what positions are currently available with our company, please go to www.protaxjobs.com.
FREE Tax School – If you have ever wanted to investigate a career in taxes, you should consider taking PRO-TAX’s Nationally-Recognized Tax School that is FREE! We offer a Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Tax School. PRO-TAX offers employment to a large percentage of Tax School graduates, so if you want to see if preparing taxes might be right for you, let one of our employees know your interest. You can also call 1-800-809-2829 x. 4481, or visit www.protaxschool.com to find out more information.
Franchising – PRO-TAX is now franchising our phenomenally successful business model to people just like you. If you have ever thought about owning your own business, a PRO-TAX franchise may offer a great opportunity for financial independence. If you would like to receive more information about being a part of PRO-TAX Franchising, call 1-800-809-2829 x. 4480, or go to www.protaxfranchising.com.

How can I check the status of my refund?

If you are receiving one of our Lightning Refund options you can check the status of your refund on the Republic Bank website. Click here to access that site. You can also check the status by calling 1-877-973-3863.

If you electronically filed your return, and did not choose a Lightning Refund option, you can check your refund status on the IRS Website. Click here to access their Refund Status page.

How do I cash a refund check I received from PRO-TAX?

You filed your taxes and received one of our Lightning Refund checks – either a refund anticipation loan check or an electronic refund check – from Republic Bank. Now you want to cash your check instead of depositing it to your bank account. To do this, there are a few things you’ll need to be aware of:

In most of our markets PRO-TAX has agreements with local BB&T branches to cash refund checks issued by us.
Republic Bank has an agreement with Wal-Mart to cash checks that are less than $3,000.
Your local PRO-TAX office will provide a check cashing identification sheet to take with you to either of these locations.
You will need to have valid photo identification when you cash your check. If the check is issued in two names (for example, you and your spouse), BOTH of you must be there to cash the check. BOTH of you will need to have photo identification (usually a driver’s license or state ID card).
There are two ways for Wal-Mart or BB&T to verify the authenticity of a check – by phone or by scan. We’ve spoken with managers at Wal-Mart and BB&T locations to ensure that these checks are scanned (not called in) prior to releasing funds. This process ensures a smoother and more pleasant check cashing experience. Cashiers at Wal-Mart can be directed to page FG303a on "the wire" for specific Wal-Mart instructions.
To further ensure a smooth process, we recommend that our clients ask the cashier to run the check through their scanner. If your check cashing location (Wal-Mart, our bank or your bank) calls the number printed on the top of the check, they will receive a notification when they try to scan the check stating the check has already been cashed. If your cashier receives the message that the check has already been cashed, you should do the following:

Bring the check back to the PRO-TAX office that issued you the check.
If you received a RAL check, the office manager will be able to void the check and re-issue you a new check.
If you received an instant check (aka NOW RAL), our manager will forward a Check Re-issue form to Republic Bank. Republic Bank will then send you a new check via US Postal Service first class mail.

After reading all this, you may be thinking, “Why do I need to go through all this to cash a check?” It’s simple, really.

At PRO-TAX, we put our clients first. That means making certain that your funds are available to you even after you’ve left our office. If your check gets lost or stolen, the only legal way it can be cashed is with your identification – both the sheet we issue and your photo identification. So, if a check shows as “cleared”, even if it does so because of human error, you can be worry-free, knowing that we’re protecting YOU.