Otero talks taxes and how to get prepared

In honor of Women’s History Month, we take a look at another female-forward business in Socorro.

With the deadline to file your taxes less than a month away, Wendi Otero, owner of Bookkeeping and Taxes LLC, is surrounded by piles of papers in her Socorro office. Otero is a federally authorized tax practitioner, also known as an enrolled agent, whose business offers bookkeeping, payroll services, tax preparation and planning, estate and trust tax preparation, IRS representation and more. She enjoys working with small and agricultural businesses.

When it comes to unraveling the world of taxes, Otero said she and her team work for their clients’ best interests. She offers free consultations and said she doesn’t mind throwing out some free advice to help people steer clear of pitfalls and get on the right track.

Her advice to anyone looking for tax help is to make an appointment as soon as possible ahead of April 15, and arrive with receipt totals – not a collection of separate receipts – and organized records. She also reminds people that even if they apply for an extension to file, they still have to pay any taxes due on time.

“People think I work for the IRS,” Otero said. “I do not. I work for them, and my goal is to make sure they pay not a penny more than they have to.”

To become an enrolled agent, Otero had to take intensive classes followed by a stringent two-day test issued by the IRS. While working for a jewelry manufacturer named Ray- chester in Socorro, the company’s CPA, Harold Dotson JR, took Otero under his wing.

“When I passed the enrolled agents exam (Ray-chester) made me a partner, and I did that for almost 20 years,” Otero said.

In 2010 Ortero bought the business from retiring owner Jody McSmith. When the Fisher Avenue building it was housed in burned in 2012, Otero relocated to 508 California Street.

Otero describes taxes as getting a big box of puzzle pieces, and she examines each one to see exactly where it needs to go to complete the big picture. Tax laws are constantly changing, as well, so continuing education is mandatory, but it keeps the job exciting, Otero claims.

“One of my favorite sayings is that 40 years ago the instructions for the 1040 tax form were two pages long. They are now 180 pages long, and that was a few years ago,” she said.

Otero said that the majority of people who apply to work for Bookkeeping and Taxes LLC are women. Currently her permanent team consists of Veronica Alderete, who manages the front office, Daneisha Thornton who helps out during tax season, and bookkeepers Sandra Herrera and Carrie Anne Hanson.

“I get clients that say, ‘I love having a woman accountant.,’” Otero said. “It’s a full-female staff not by design, but just by luck.”

You can contact Bookkeeping and Taxes LLC at (575) 835-0963.