Engagement Letter

We appreciate the opportunity you have given us to work with you and advise you regarding your income tax. This letter will confirm our understanding of the terms of our engagement and the nature and extent of the tax services we will provide.

We will prepare your Federal and REQUESTED State returns from information that you will furnish us. We do not prepare trust or estate returns. We also do not prepare Sales Tax Returns. We are not responsible for any omissions based on information that you failed to provide to us. We do prepare 1099-NEC forms. If you hire AFTAX to prepare 1099-NEC forms, your data is due to us by January 12th, as these forms need to be efiled by January 31st. If required, we will also prepare estimated tax vouchers for filing next year. We will not audit or make other verifications of the data you submit, although we may need to ask for clarification of some information. We will not make any bookkeeping or accounting changes to your data. However, we may ask you to reclassify data you have submitted to us, if we deem it erroneous or inconsistent with other data you submitted. We will scan some of the original information which you submit into a PDF file. We will return your information and documents with your completed return(s) either via hard copy or, if requested, via PDF file in an e-mail.

Any information received after March 18th may cause your return(s) to be put on extension. Corporate and Partnership returns, which are due by March 15th, will AUTOMATICALLY be put on extension, unless your completed P&L, Balance Sheet and payroll records are provided to us by February 12th. Otherwise and your initial appointment will be scheduled after April 15th. Since you get a K-1 from your Corporation or Partnership, it means your personal return will also be extended. An extension is only an extension to file; not an extension to pay. It's your responsibility to have adequate tax withholdings or estimated payments. If you owe taxes and your return is filed after April 15th, you will incur interest/penalties.

We e-file all permitted returns. If you want yours to be mailed in, you need to request that. You will have final responsibility for your income tax returns and, therefore, you should review them carefully before you sign the e-file permission forms. Our work does not include any procedures designed to disclose defalcations or other irregularities, should any exist.

Our fees for these services are based on the time required to perform the work, plus any direct expenses. You authorize AFTAX and its employees and subcontractors to disclose and obtain any information provided to the extent necessary, within the discretion of Karen or Mike Fitzgerald, to complete the engagement. Accordingly, if your information is not complete or if irregularities are discovered in your information, our fee will reflect the additional time required to complete, analyze and/or correct your information.

You agree to provide us with an e-mail address and or phone number(s) to contact you. You should NOT call us for a status. When your return is complete, your e-file forms, summary of the return, comparison of the return versus prior year return (for continuing clients) and invoice will be e-mailed to you which is normally within 2 weeks of receiving your complete data. You should bring your signed e-file forms and a check with you when you pick up your tax returns, or you should mail back a check with your signed e-file forms. Your invoice is due and payable at the time your return is complete and your invoice is presented to you. If your account requires rebilling, your discounts will be removed and there will be a $30 rebilling fee and interest from the date your return was completed at the rate of 18% added to your bill. If you still do not pay and your invoice is sent to the collection agency, you will be responsible for court costs and collection fees incurred.

Your returns are subject to review by the taxing authorities. In the event of correspondence or an examination, we will be available to respond or represent you at an additional fee. There is an audit protection product available called Protection Plus - website myprotectionplus.com, offered through our software provider, CCH Small Firm Services. It pays up to $2,500 in the event you are audited by the IRS, at an additional cost to the taxpayer of $39.00 above the normal tax preparation fee. The default for AFTAX customers is to NOT participate in this program. If you want to participate and pay for Protection Plus, you must contact AFTAX about it prior to the completion of your return.

If the forgoing sets forth your understanding, please sign this letter and present it to us at your initial appointment or with your data, if your return is mailed in.

Tax Return Year _________

Signature ______________________________________________ 

Date ________________