Dedicated to Your Success
Richard Varnell
President
Richard Varnell has been an enrolled agent for more than thirty years and is the owner of Palm Desert Tax.
As a professional tax and financial planning consultant, Richard has had extensive experience in helping hundreds of people prepare and plan to have their wills and trusts prepared. He has B.A. Equivalent in Business Administration from California State University, San Bernardino, CA and has a D.Min. in Church Growth from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield Missouri.
Specialties:
Richard Varnell, EA, D.Min has been preparing ministers’ tax returns for more the 30 years. There are unique tax laws for ministers especially in the area of housing and professional expenses. He has made it a lifelong study and is able to assist ministers in the preparation of their income tax returns. Richard also has an exceptional ability to advise clients in the area of estate planning.
Norma Rae Hill
Enrolled Agent before the IRS, E.A.
Norma Rae Hill is an Enrolled Agent specializing in all facets of personal and business income tax preparation as well as non-profit exempt tax returns.
She has more than 20 years with Palm Desert Tax. She began her career as a bookkeeper and is a QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor. She is well-versed in small business tax strategies and can utilize her knowledge by providing timely, tax-saving directions for your business. Norma Rae can advise and take you through the steps to creating corporations and dissolving them when necessary. She is here year round for tax planning and questions as they arise.
She has a Bachelor of Science from Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA and an Accounting Certificate from College of the Desert, Palm Desert, CA.
Specialties:
Norma Rae Hill, EA specialty is in assisting clients select the best business entity. She will be able to illustrate and compare a sole proprietorship to a S-corporation. Norma Rae can assist clients in setting up or dissolving a corporation.
Jennifer Gomez
CPA
A Coachella Valley native, Jennifer joined Palm Desert Tax in 2012. She has 20 years of experience in accounting and finance.
Jennifer’s area of expertise covers accounting and tax preparation services for small family businesses, individuals, and non-profit organizations. She also provides bookkeeping and business consulting services to a variety of small businesses, charities and non-profit business associations. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Science in Administration from California State University San Bernardino and an Associate of Arts in Business Administration from College of the Desert. Jennifer’s professional affiliations include American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, California Society of Certified Public Accountants & Leadership Coachella Valley Alumni 2008 graduate. Jennifer’s community involvement includes Treasurer for the Humane Society of the Desert & Treasurer for Save A Pet, Inc.
Specialties:
Jennifer Gomez, CPA specialty is in two areas. First, if a person has income from outside the United States, Jennifer will research the tax treaty between the United States and the foreign country. Second, Jennifer is an expert in the accounting field. Not only does she prepare very understanding financial statements, but she uses the statements to advise client on how the make the best management decisions.
Ryan White
CPA
Ryan S. White has been a Certified Public Accountant for 18 years and started with Palm Desert Tax in January 2018.
He earned his CPA License in October of 2000 and attained his Bachelor of Science from California State University, Long Beach, CA. in 1996.
Specialties:
Ryan specializes in all areas of preparing both individual and business tax returns and assists companies with their books and records. He has been using Quickbooks since 1997 as a tool to provide the bookkeeping for various entities.
Ryan also holds a Personal Training License, is a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and has been playing golf since the age of 7.
Christy Durkee
Office Administrator
Christy Durkee serves as the Office Administrator and helps formulate future plans for Palm Desert Tax.
Christy has a B.A. in Liberal Studies, Vanguard University, Costa Mesa, CA and M.A. in Education, California State University, San Bernardino, CA
Maricela Garza
Administrative Assistant
Maricela has been employed at Palm Desert Tax since 2008. Maricela has a variety of duties but specializes in helping clients in the checking out process. She has also served as a tax consultant and uses that knowledge to help tax clients in the preparation of their tax returns.
Maricela has attended College of the Desert majoring in business administration.
Heather Varnell
Administrative Assistant
Heather has been helping clients with a friendly smile and an organized approach since 2006.
She has an Associates of Applied Science from Kent State University, and a healthy vibrant family to look after.
Sophia Palmieri
Tax Preparer
Sophia Palmieri is a licensed Tax Preparer certified by the California Tax Education Council. She joined Palm Desert Tax in October 2020.
Sophia Palmieri is the Chief Intern at Palm Desert Tax who supports various projects in our tax preparation division. Her strong background in data entry and her knowledge of accounting principles and procedures assists her to increase workplace efficiency and make a memorable experience for clientele. Her primary duties include tax research and tax preparation for individual income tax returns. Sophia attends University of California, Riverside pursuing a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting and Auditing. Once she graduates, she plans to pursue her Certified Public Account (CPA) Licensure.
Dan Richmond
Office Administrator
Dan Richmond joined Palm Desert Tax in January of 2020 after working as an engineer for Northrop Grumman for five years. He is a licensed CTEC tax preparer certified by the California Tax Education Council.
Dan uses his engineering background and 6S Lean Workplace training to maximize his and the overall office’s workplace efficiency. He is very analytical and performs in depth tax research and tax preparation for individual client tax returns. Some of his other primary responsibilities include performing client interviews for setting up new S-Corporations, C-Corporations & LLCs. While working at Palm Desert Tax, Dan is regularly aiming to expand his knowledge and expertise in tax preparation and is training with an emphasis of becoming an Enrolled Agent in the near future. He has a B.S. in Packaging Engineering from Indiana State University, which is in his hometown of Terre Haute, Indiana. Dan is a huge fan of sports and grew up playing many of them, including baseball, basketball, football, golf and soccer. Dan moved to California in the winter of 2014 and has called La Quinta his home ever since. He met his wife Cassie, a La Quinta native, in the fall of 2015. The two of them got married in July of 2018 at the Classic Club in Palm Desert. They are looking forward to purchasing a home and starting a family in the next couple years. Dan’s wife Cassie is a first grade teacher for Desert Sands School District and the children’s pastor at their home church, Shadow Rock Church. In addition to Cassie’s children’s pastor position, the two of them are both very involved in youth ministry at Shadow Rock Church. They are both very excited to see how God continues to direct their lives. Dan looks forward to getting to know you and helping with all of your tax needs.
Our Skills Include
Truly caring about every client we serve — and our personalized approach to business sets us apart in the industry. Focus on what you do best, and we’ll help you achieve financial success on your terms.