Find of the Week: Tax Consultant Gary L. Anderson

Nobody likes doing their income tax. It is stressful, confusing, and for many people, deeply boring. But ignoring it or getting it wrong costs money — sometimes a lot of it.

That's why this week's Find of the Week is a practical one: Gary L. Anderson, CPA, a Chicago-area tax preparer (G L Anderson & Associates Inc, Schaumburg) who has handled tax work for our editors. When your return gets complicated, a specialist is worth the investment — and this is the one we point friends to.

Why a specialist at all? Because the parts of the tax code that bite hardest are the ones general preparers rarely touch. For Indian-Americans with income or assets in more than one country — overseas property, foreign bank accounts, or income from India — filings like the FBAR (FinCEN Report 114) and FATCA disclosures come with steep penalties for mistakes. Most general tax preparers simply aren't set up to handle them.

The same goes for Schedule C filings for self-employed consultants and small business owners — a common situation in the Indian-American professional community, where many people do contract or freelance work alongside regular jobs.

If your taxes involve complexity — international income, rental properties, stock options, or multiple income streams — talk to a preparer who deals with those filings every day. Getting it right the first time saves far more than the fee.

This is general information, not tax or financial advice. Always verify a preparer's credentials (CPA license, IRS registration) before hiring one.