Fiala CPA

Individual tax returns for Arizona taxpayers

Certified public accountants make up this Arizona practice, and the service its website puts first is the preparation of individual income tax returns. The site is aimed at individual taxpayers, and rather than a long list of services it carries explanatory tax articles, a page about the practice and a run of recent work.

How scholarships and grants are taxed

The article given most space explains how scholarships, fellowship grants and other grants are treated. A scholarship is generally an amount paid to a student for the purpose of study, while a fellowship grant is paid for study or research. Need-based grants such as Pell Grants and Fulbright grants fall in the same group.

All or part of such an award can be tax-free. The article gives two conditions: the recipient must be a degree candidate at an educational institution with a regular faculty and curriculum, and the money must be used to pay tuition and required fees, or fees, books, supplies and equipment required for courses.

Other parts are taxable and have to be counted as gross income. These include amounts spent on incidental costs such as room and board, travel and optional equipment, and amounts received as payment for teaching, research or other services required as a condition of the award. Awards connected with service required by two federal health scholarship programs are an exception. If part of an award is taxable, the article warns that estimated tax payments may be needed.

Other topics on the site

The site has also carried material on refund tracking, charitable giving at year end, and warnings about scams aimed at disaster victims, reproduced from the Internal Revenue Service. Items such as mileage rates and relief announcements are dated, so a reader should check current figures with the firm.

Who it is for

Students on grants, farmers and people who give to charity are the groups the tax guidance speaks to. The firm's practice is based in Arizona, and its credential is certified public accountant.

Fiala CPA is a firm of certified public accountants serving clients in Arizona, with a focus on individual income tax returns.

What Fiala CPA offers

• Individual income tax returns: preparation of individual income tax returns.
• Tax guidance: articles on tax topics such as scholarships, fellowship grants, farm income and gifts to charity.
• Tax relief updates: news on IRS tax relief for people in disaster areas.

Customers and markets

The firm's site is aimed at individual taxpayers. Its guidance covers students receiving grants, farmers and people giving to charity. The website also has an About Us page and a list of recent work, alongside its tax articles, so visitors can see how the firm presents its services and past engagements.

Key facts

• Serves: Arizona
• Credential: Certified public accountants (CPA)