Client services are individually tailored to bring the best value at the lowest cost. Financial goals, operations, and accounting requirements vary widely. This checklist is designed to act as a prompt as to what is common and what is possible. Services fall into six categories:
- Planning (advisory and coaching)
- Compliance (formation and governance)
- Tax (filing and resolution)
- Accounting (bookkeeping)
- Documentation (recordkeeping)
- Advocacy (growth and investment)
Obviously
, not everyone needs all of these. But some are likely to provide important contributions to improved financial results. Please review the list below and then mark some things for follow-up discussion.Planning, coaching, and advisory
☐ discussion of financial goals
☐ forecasted results over time
☐ performance review of prior period
☐ discussion of risks and obstacles
☐ setting an automated review method and schedule
Business formation and compliance
☐ Discussion of Reasonable Compensation compliance requirements
☐ Check of your business filing status
☐ A check of social security numbers and employer identification numbers
☐ Foreign Bank and Financial Account filings
☐ Business Ownership Information filings
☐ 1099 and W2 filings
☐ Creation of a permanent secure electronic file of your documents
Tax filing and problem resolution
☐ Review of prior year tax return
☐ Confirmation of document inputs used to prepare the tax return
☐ Confirmation of the states and jurisdictions prepared
☐ Tax transcript monitoring
☐ Automated under-reporter penalty prevention/minimization checks
☐ Flexibility in paper or electronic communications
☐ Manual confirmation of filing acceptance
☐ Timeliness agreement, completion date can be specified
☐ Year-round access
☐ Audit response
☐ Audit representation
☐ Tax planning for next year
☐ Reliance on documented professional opinion for audit defense
☐ Separate tax return review process
☐ Video review
☐ Comparison of tax results with prior year(s)
☐ Discussion of overall and marginal tax rate
☐ Discussion of errors on filed tax returns
☐ Discussion of missed deductions or credits
☐ If a local tax return is required, not filed by a preparer, a PDF version for mailing or template for self-filing online
Accounting and bookkeeping
☐ Review of online and offline financial security protocols
☐ Calculating or checking investment portfolio allocation and rate of return
☐ Adaptation and training on AI-assisted accounting and bookkeeping tools
☐ Integrated bookkeeping for small business, real estate, investments, and cryptocurrency
☐ “Book-to-tax” accounting proposed journal entry adjustments
☐ Cleanup of bookkeeping
☐ Preparation of financial statements
☐ Compilation or review of financial statements for a third party
☐ Agreed procedures reports for a third party
Documentation and Recordkeeping
☐ Personalized review video
☐ Document upload from computer or cell phone photo
☐ “Click to sign” electronic signatures on all documents
☐ Financial planning discussion stemming from tax return items
☐ Secure records storage
☐ Multiple versions of tax return available for different purposes
Advocacy
☐ CPA’s manual signature on paper copy of tax return for third parties and lenders
☐ CPA cover letter available to third parties
☐ Negotiate financing
☐ Evaluate and choose a technology platform
☐ Implement and provide training on a technology