The Statue of Liberty costume-clad sign holders that mark tax season will soon be waving at everyone who passes by Jeremy and Beth Kniffen’s Liberty Tax franchise in the Safeway shopping center in Falcon. Jeremy Kniffen is a certified public accountant and Falcon resident, and he will provide tax preparation and accounting services year-round.ìI was born and raised in Colorado and went to Ellicott Elementary,î Jeremy Kniffen said. ìI got my accounting degree from Montana State and have been a CPA for 15 years.î Kniffen was a Colorado Springs Police Department officer until he medically retired from the police force and decided to go back to his roots in accounting.Beth Kniffen works for Academy School District 20. ìWe’re very customer service and family oriented,î Beth Kniffen said. She said Liberty Tax will have a ìkid areaî so parents can keep the little ones occupied, and they will also serve refreshments. ìThe Kniffens live in Falcon and intend to make sure they are available to help residents with their questions about accounting and tax issues. ìI’ll be here Monday to Friday all year round,î Jeremy Kniffen said. ìYou get 18 plus years of professional tax prep experience just from my perspective, and we’re going to offer notary services and a full service accounting business.î The Kniffens also opened their doors early to people who had questions about open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act, in the wake of Colorado HealthOP’s decertification as a Colorado ACA exchange health insurance provider.People who want to become tax preparers themselves can take a tax prep course that Liberty Tax offers. A twice per week class starts Nov. 9. ìIt covers the basis of tax preparation for general understanding of tax preparation and sets them up for success in the early part of the season,î Jeremy Kniffen said. ìIt’s an IRS approved course, if people wanted to maintain the level of proficiency.îThe family run tax franchise also hopes to be part of the community in other ways. ìWe had a custom mural done in our kid area, which was painted by a local high school graduate, who just started his own business for outdoor art,î Beth Kniffen said. ìIt is absolutely amazing. He’ll be here at our grand opening event, which is Nov 7, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.îOf course, the Statue of Liberty sign-waving people will be on hand as well. ìAbsolutely ó weíll have the wavers out there; that’s a huge draw,î Kniffen said. About 25 percent of our business comes from the wavers out on the corners.îLiberty Tax is at 7685 McLaughlin Road and can be reached at 719-495-4259.
