Lately I use the term “bundled services” to describe how my tax service differs from some other professional providers. We also use the term ” old fashioned” and “relationship-based”. Whatever we call it, my standard accounting engagement agreement includes a bundle of basic and preliminary services and a bunch of advanced services to ensure a better and more profitable outcome over the long term. The list includes:
- A detailed written engagement agreement in clear plain language
- A discussion of the engagement agreement, privacy policy, and security provisions
- Organizer document for starting the tax filing or planning process
- A discussion focused on your financial goals
- A discussion of the goals of the tax return and the potential impact of any accounting weaknesses
- A discussion of your financial fears, struggles, and concerns
- Reading of your business organizational documents, bylaws and minutes
- Reading your trust agreements and organizational by-laws
- Reading any other documents you provide
- Discussion of Reasonable Compensation and additional support services for chosen compensation for corporate owners
- An online check of your business filing status
- A check of social security numbers and employer identification numbers
- Optional Foreign Bank and Financial Account filings
- Optional Business Ownership Information filings
- Optional 1099 and W2 filings
- Optional tax transcript monitoring and automated under-reporter penalty prevention/minimization checks.
- Creation of a permanent secure electronic file of your documents
- Review of prior year tax return
- Confirmation of document inputs used to prepare the tax return
- Confirmation of the states and jurisdictions prepared
- Extended access and mid-year review
- Flexibility in paper or electronic communications
- Document upload from computer or cell phone photo
- “Click to sign” electronic signatures
- Manual confirmation of filing acceptance
- Timeliness agreement , completion date can be specified
- Year-round access
- Audit response
- Audit representation available
- Tax planning for next year
- Reliance on professional opinion audit defense
- Confidence of having a CPA/MT preparer as signor on the tax returns
- Separate tax return review process
- Comparison of tax results with prior year(s)
- Discussion of overall and marginal tax rate
- If a local tax return is required, not filed by a preparer, a PDF version for mailing or template for self-filing online
- Review video of tax return, planning issues and potential weaknesses
- Financial planning discussion stemming from tax return issues
- Access to industry-leading compensation and employee benefits expertise
- Access to decades of real estate expertise
- Access to decades of portfolio management expertise
- Multiple year contracting available
- Secure records storage
- Multiple versions of tax return available for different purposes
- Integration with bookkeeping for small business, real estate, investments, and cryptocurrency
- “Book-to-tax” accounting proposed journal entry adjustments available
- CPA’s manual signature on paper copy of return for third parties and lenders
- CPA cover letter available to third parties
In general, all of these services are included in our basic tax services and pricing except those that are specified as “optional” or “available” services. Not all items apply in all cases. All services may not be available in the event that the engagement is provided at a lower price or specifically limits the services that we agree to perform.
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One response to “What’s included in tax services?”
[…] for audit protection, providing support throughout the year, and many other important functions. (See this longer list of included services). These other services are far more important and more expensive than just filing the tax return. […]