Fiduciary Tax Return Engagement Letter
Please fill out the signature form below and select your method of payment. After completing the process, you will receive a receipt by email with a link to the engagement letter for later reference.
Dear Client:
We look forward to providing you with tax return preparation services this year! The purpose of this letter and attached “Additional Engagement Terms” is to specify the terms of our engagement and clarify the nature and extent of the services we will provide. This way, you know what to expect from us, and we can endeavor to delight you with high-quality, seamless services.
We strive to make our tax return process as straightforward and convenient as possible for you. Our goal is to minimize any hassle on your end while also making things as efficient as possible on our end. This allows us to deliver your returns expediently, while also bringing to bear a high level of technical expertise and personal service. It also helps us keep our costs down for all clients.
Returns Covered under the Engagement
With this letter, you are engaging us to prepare your 2019 U.S. and resident state Fiduciary income tax returns. We will do so with the information you furnish to us in the process described below. If you have taxable income or loss in a state or locality other than your resident state, please let us know, and we would be pleased to prepare the required nonresident state tax return(s). In addition, you may have a filing requirement or tax liability in a foreign country. Generally, you are responsible to determine whether you must file and pay taxes in a foreign country; however, upon request, we would be pleased to assist you in making these determinations.
Information Gathering and Submittal Process
You are responsible for fully and accurately disclosing to us all relevant facts affecting your returns. To help you assemble the information needed for your returns, we will provide you with a questionnaire, organizer, and/or other document requesting specific information. Once your information is assembled and organizers/questionnaires are complete, you will submit your complete information to us. Please know that failure to provide information via completed questionnaires and organizers may require an extraordinary effort on our part, which may be reflected in our fee for service.
We will not audit or otherwise verify the information you provide us; however, we may ask for additional clarification of some information. You should maintain the documentation necessary to support the data used in the preparation of your tax returns should you be required to produce them upon examination by the taxing authorities.
Client Due Diligence
The filing deadline for the tax returns is April 15, 2020. It is your responsibility to provide your complete tax information to us in a timely manner so that we can prepare your tax returns in time for you to file them by the due dates. You also have the final responsibility for the tax returns, and therefore, once you receive them, you should carefully review the returns (to determine that there are no omissions or misstatements) before signing them and submitting them to the tax authorities. To meet these deadlines, you should send us your complete tax information no later than Monday, March 2, 2020.
If we do not receive your complete information by March 2nd and you have informed us that you want us to prepare your 2019 Fiduciary returns, we will prepare an extension for you. This will extend the due date of the return until September 30, 2020. However, extensions do not grant additional time for payment of any tax due. Amounts not paid by April 15th may be subject to interest and late payment penalties. Please be sure to let us know if we should prepare an extension for you.
Support for Examinations by Tax Authorities
Not every interpretation of promulgated tax rules is straightforward and/or without uncertainty. Accordingly, we will use our professional judgment in preparing your returns. If a tax authority should later contest a position taken, there may be an assessment of additional tax plus interest and/or penalties. We assume no liability for any such additional assessments. Any items resolved against you by the examining agent are subject to certain rights of appeal. In the event of an examination, we may be available to represent you. Since the selection of your return for review or examination is beyond our control, our fee to prepare your returns does not include responding to inquiries or examination by tax authorities, unless you have opted for, and are eligible to obtain, audit insurance as part of your tax return preparation services.
In the event we are required by law, government regulation, subpoena, or other legal process, to produce documents or testimony with respect to this engagement, so long as we are not a party to the proceeding in which the information is sought, you agree to reimburse us for our professional time and expenses, as well as the fees and expenses of our counsel incurred in responding to such demands.
Method of Communication
Our firm may utilize electronic communications (e.g., fax and e-mail) during this engagement. You consent to our firm’s use of electronic communications and recognize and accept the inherent risks related to these forms of communication (including the security risks of interception of or unauthorized access to such communications, the risks of corruption of such communications, and the risks of viruses or other harmful intrusions).
Fees
Fees for our services are based on the complexity of your returns, the tax forms and schedules prepared, and the amount of time required at our standard billing rates. Please note that the manner data is presented to us and any necessary tax research can affect the final fee. Our services will conclude upon delivery of the completed tax returns or upon our withdrawal from the engagement, if earlier. Fees are considered earned when payment is received, or services concluded, whichever is earlier. Invoices are due and payable on presentation. Past due balances may be subject to finance and collection charges.
Credit Card Payment Option
Many clients prefer to pay their tax preparation fees via credit card. We are now retaining credit card information on file so that you need not call us or separately log in to our website to pay your invoice. Instead, upon completion of your tax returns, your invoice can be charged directly to your credit card on file. If your returns qualify for e-filing (and we receive your signed e-file authorizations within 2 weeks of delivery), we will charge the balance of your invoice to your credit card upon receipt of your signed e-file authorization forms. If your returns must be paper filed or e-filed later, we will charge the balance of your invoice to your card upon delivery of your returns to you.
IMPORTANT
If you provide a personal credit card to pay the Fiduciary invoice, it is imperative that the Trust/Estate reimburses you for this expense. Failure to receive reimbursement creates a gift from you to the Trust/Estate. Such a gift may produce unintended consequences for gift, estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer (“GST”) tax purposes.
If you already have a credit card on file with us, kindly check the box on the attached Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Authorization Form to confirm that the information has not changed (or use the form to indicate any information that changed).
If you would like the convenience of having your credit card information on file with us and having your tax preparation fees charged to your card, please complete the attached EFT Authorization Form to authorize us to charge your tax preparation fees to your credit card upon completion of the returns.
If you authorize The Wolf Group, PC to prepare your 2019 Fiduciary income tax returns pursuant to the terms set forth above, please sign below and return the signed letter to our office. Retain a copy of this letter for your records. If we do not receive a signed original of this letter but receive a completed copy of the Tax Organizer and/or supporting documentation, then such receipt shall be deemed to evidence your acceptance of the terms set forth herein.
We want to express our appreciation for this opportunity to serve you.
Very truly yours,
The Wolf Group, PC
Additional Engagement Terms
Responsibilities of the Client
A fundamental term of this Agreement is that the Client will provide us with all information relevant to the services to be performed and to provide us with any reasonable assistance as may be required to properly perform the engagement. The Client agrees to bring to our attention any matters that may reasonably be expected to require further consideration to determine the proper treatment of any relevant item. The Client also agrees to bring to our attention any changes in the information as originally presented as soon as such information becomes available. Unless otherwise indicated, any deliverables are solely for Client’s internal use and benefit.
Responsibilities of The Wolf Group, PC (“The Wolf Group”)
We will perform our services on the basis of the information you have provided and in consideration of the applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations and associated interpretations relative to the appropriate jurisdiction as of the date the services are provided. Tax laws and regulations and/or their interpretation are subject to change at any time, and such changes may be retroactive in effect and may be applicable to advice given or other services rendered before their enactment dates. We do not assume responsibility (and will have no liability) for such changes occurring after the date we have completed our services.
Engagement Limitations
The services performed under this Agreement do not include the provision of legal advice and we make no representations regarding questions of legal interpretation. Client should consult with its attorneys with respect to any legal matters or items that require legal interpretation, under federal, state or other type of law or regulation.
As you may be aware, tax returns and other filings are subject to examination by taxing authorities. We will be available to assist the Client in the event of an audit or any issue for which we have provided services under this Agreement. However, unless otherwise indicated, our fees for these additional services are not included in our fee for the services covered by this Agreement.
Disassociation or Termination of Engagement
Either party may terminate this Agreement at any time upon written notice of termination to the other party. In the event of termination, Client will be responsible for fees earned and expenses incurred through the actual date of termination.
Except to the extent finally determined to have resulted from the gross negligence or other intentional misconduct of The Wolf Group, The Wolf Group’s liability to pay damages for any losses incurred by the client as a result of breach of conduct, negligence or other tort committed by The Wolf Group, is limited to the total amount of fees charged by The Wolf Group for the particular service provided under this Agreement to which such claim relates.
Other Provisions
Neither party shall be liable to the other for any delay or failure to perform any of the services or obligations set forth in this Agreement due to causes beyond its reasonable control.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Virginia, without giving effect to the provisions relating to conflict of laws.
The Wolf Group, PC is a member of Nexia International, an international network of independent accounting and consulting firms. Nexia International does not accept any responsibility for the commission of any act, or omission to act by, or the liabilities of, any of its members. Membership of Nexia International, or associated umbrella organizations, does not constitute any partnership between members, and members do not accept any responsibility for the commission of any act, or omission to act by, or the liabilities of, other members.
Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Authorization Form
THE UNDERSIGNED hereby authorizes The Wolf Group, PC, hereinafter referred to as “TWG” to initiate debit entries on my debit card or credit card on the basis provided in the “Fees” section of the 2019 Tax Returns Engagement Letter, which I have accepted. This authorization shall extend to services rendered by TWG for tax return preparation services provided by TWG for subsequent tax years if I so authorize such services.
THIS AUTHORITY is to remain in full force and effect until TWG and Depository have received written notice from the undersigned of its termination in such time and such manner as to afford TWG and Depository a reasonable opportunity to act upon such notice.
[2019 Fiduciary Tax Return Engagement Letter (pnr)]