In response to the current health concerns over COVID-19, we are suspending in person appointments for the foreseeable future until the immediate health threat subsides. We are most interested in doing our part to protect our community and our team during this unprecedented time. It is important to know we are monitoring the developing situation and have resources in place to provide you continued service. We will hold all client meetings by telephone or via ZOOM video conferencing.
We have closed the office to all clients coming to drop off or pick up of tax return or accounting information or to sign electronic filing forms. If possible, please provide your tax, accounting, and business documents through secure e-mail communication, regular mail, fax, or our secure portal system Onvio. If you wish to use Onvio and do not have an account, please email Lys@phocuscompanies.com and she can assist you with setting that up.
We will be providing clients with their tax return electronic filing forms via E-Mail, DocuSign, Onvio, or USPS Mail. All client source materials will be mailed at your request or will be held for pickup until after we restore our normal working hours and conditions.
In response to this pandemic, we are reducing our staff work hours to allow our team to manage their personal lives appropriately and get the proper rest necessary to maintain their immune systems during such a critical time. As a result, there will be more returns that are completed after the normal April 15, 2020 filing deadline. With the payment and filing relief provided by both the Internal Revenue Service and the State of AZ, there will be no detriment to any of our clients for doing so. We have plans in place for our entire team to work remotely so that we can continue to work for our great clients if we are asked to shelter at home by our local government.
We are extending the filing deadline internally until May 21, 2020 to allow our team 5 additional weeks while working at reduced hours to complete all the tax returns whose data was received by the deadline of March 13, 2020. We are committed to these being completed as timely as possible so that all our clients expecting refunds can receive them as soon as possible to help their own personal situation as much as possible.