Badlands Tax Solutions Inc. opens in Dickinson

• Deb Kerner

Press Photo by Katherine Grandstrand Badlands Tax Solutions Inc. Enrolled Agent Deb Kerner sits at her desk at her State Avenue office on Monday in Dickinson. Kerner has always enjoyed doing taxes and decided to branch out on her own after many years’ experience in bookkeeping and accounting and the Internal Revenue Service changed the way tax preparers are accredited.

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After preparing her own and her friends’ taxes for years, Deb Kerner decided to get into business for herself when the Internal Revenue Service changed the way tax preparers are accredited.

“As you do that and you enjoy it, you end up doing other people’s over the years,” she said.

Kerner completed all of the testing required of tax preparers in 2011 and became an enrolled agent.

She set up shop on State Avenue as Badlands Tax Solutions Inc. This will be her second tax season in that capacity, although she has been in accounting and book keeping her whole professional life.

“I’m excited,” Kerner said. “There’s definitely a lot of need for it because of these new requirements for tax professional.”

The biggest difference between Kerner and a chain tax preparation store is

consistency.

“It’s sometimes difficult to get that same person year after year,” she said. “This is more about building relationships.”

Temporary office mate Jerry Bastian, a landman for Almeda Petroleum, had Kerner do his taxes last year, and because she was available throughout the year, knows this tax season will be much easier to get through.

“My taxes are a bit complicated, I’m independent, so everything that I do is based on a 1099,” he said. “Deb has helped me get more prepared. … She’s very patient; you want her on your side.”

Because Kerner is in business all year long, she is available for counseling on large purchases or other business matters.

“I suppose, from the outside world’s view you think January to April is your busy season,” Kerner said. “Really, the other time of the year, you’re busy too. That’s when you’re doing your continuing education, because you have more time for it, but that’s also when you’re focusing on other things like, as an enrolled agent I’m able to represent people before the IRS.”

Kerner is available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and other times by appointment.

For more information call 701-483-6565, email badlandstaxsolutions@yahoo.com or stop in at 623 State Ave., Suite A.

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