Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Getting Started
How do I get started?
If you already know which service you need, you can start with the inquiry form for that service. If you are not sure, the Discovery Call is designed to help our team understand your situation and point you toward the appropriate next step.
What happens after I submit an inquiry?
After you submit an inquiry (for your chosen service), our team reviews your information and follows up with the appropriate next step. Depending on your situation, we may request additional information, send a scheduling link, invite you to the secure client portal, route you to a different service path, recommend a paid consultation, or let you know if the service does not appear to be a fit.
What happens during the Discovery Call?
The Discovery Call is a short service-fit call with our team.
During the call, we will ask questions to understand what kind of help you are looking for, explain the appropriate service path, and determine the next step. If needed, our team may gather the information needed for the appropriate service inquiry during the call so your information is routed correctly. This call is not a free tax consultation. It does not include tax advice, tax planning recommendations, return review, notice analysis, business structure recommendations, projections, or strategy recommendations.
Does submitting a form or booking a call create a client relationship?
No. Submitting an inquiry, booking a Discovery Call, uploading information, or speaking with our team does not create a client relationship. A client relationship begins only after Allison Accounting accepts the engagement and the required engagement steps are completed.
Do you provide free tax advice during the Discovery Call?
No. The Discovery Call is for service fit, routing, and next steps. Tax advice, tax planning recommendations, return review, notice analysis, business structure recommendations, projections, and strategy recommendations require an accepted engagement or paid consultation.
Questions About Our Virtual Process
Do I need to come into an office?
No. Allison Accounting is designed around a secure virtual process. Most clients complete the process through secure document upload, online organizers, portal communication, electronic signatures, and online payment.
Do you work with clients outside Alabama?
Yes. Allison Accounting serves clients across Alabama and beyond through our secure virtual process. Because tax requirements can vary by state, we will review your situation to determine whether your needs are a good fit for our services.
Why do you require the client portal?
The secure client portal keeps documents, messages, invoices, signatures, organizers, and requests organized in one secure place. It also helps our team track work accurately, avoid missing important information, and keep communication connected to the correct client workflow.
How do I submit tax documents?
Tax documents should be uploaded through your secure client portal. This helps keep your information organized, protected, and connected to the correct tax return workflow.
Can I email or text tax documents?
For security and organization, we strongly prefer that all tax documents be uploaded through the secure client portal.
Please do not send sensitive tax documents by text message or regular email unless specifically instructed. Documents sent outside the portal may delay processing.
Questions About Tax Preparation
How long does it take to prepare my tax return?
Our standard individual tax return turnaround time is approximately 3-4 weeks once your organizer, required documents, and required deposit are received. Returns are generally completed in the order they are received after the file is ready to work. Turnaround may vary based on complexity, missing information, time of year, and firm capacity. Expedited processing may be available for qualifying individual tax returns as a paid add-on. Availability depends on return complexity, document readiness, time of year, and firm capacity.
What does "ready to work" mean?
A return is generally ready to work when the required organizer, tax documents, and required deposit or payment have been received. If key documents or answers are missing, the return may not enter the preparation queue or may be placed on hold until the missing information is provided.
When do you start working on my return?
We begin work after your tax organizer, required documents, and applicable deposit or payment have been received. Submitting an inquiry or starting the organizer does not start the preparation timeline. Your return enters the preparation queue once your file is complete enough to move forward and the required deposit has been paid.
Does the 3-4 week turnaround include time waiting on me?
No. The standard turnaround applies once your file is complete enough for preparation and the required deposit has been paid. If we request missing information, the timeline may pause until the requested information is received.
Will my return be delayed if I upload documents after submitting the organizer?
Possibly. Additional documents uploaded later may require additional review and may affect timing, especially if they change the return or require us to revisit work already performed. Please upload all available documents before submitting the organizer whenever possible.
What happens if you need more information from me?
If we need additional information, we will send a request through your client portal. This keeps the request organized and tied directly to your tax return workflow. Your return may remain on hold until the requested information is received.
What if I miss a request for information?
Your return may remain on hold until we receive your response. Please monitor your portal and email notifications during tax season so requests are not missed.
How do I check the status of my return?
Please check the automated status information inside your secure client portal for return status updates.
Calling, texting, emailing, or sending portal messages solely to ask for a status update does not move a return ahead of others already in process.
To keep returns moving efficiently, we ask clients to rely on the automated portal status during the normal turnaround window. Manual status requests require team time to research and respond, which can slow down the overall process for everyone.
What happens after my return is prepared?
Your return is reviewed internally before being released. After review, we upload the completed return to your secure client portal, issue the final invoice, collect required signatures, and provide payment or refund information as applicable.
Can I review my return before it is filed?
Yes. After your return is prepared, internally reviewed, paid for, and released in the portal, you will be able to review it before signing. You should review your return carefully and ask any questions before signing.
What do I need to do before my return can be filed?
Before e-filing, you must pay the final invoice, review the completed return, and complete all required signatures. Your return is not e-filed just because it has been prepared.
When will my return be e-filed?
Your return is e-filed after it has been paid for, reviewed by you, and signed. Once signed, the return moves into our e-file process.
How will I know my return was accepted?
After your return is transmitted, the IRS and/or state agency must accept it. If a return is rejected, our team will review the rejection and contact you if additional information is needed.
Questions About Pricing and Deposits
How much does individual tax preparation cost?
Most individual tax preparation engagements start around $400, with final pricing based on the complexity of the return. Final pricing may depend on items such as the number and type of tax forms, self-employment activity, rental property activity, investment activity, multiple states, prior-year filing, additional schedules, and advisory needs outside standard preparation.
The starting price is not a quote.
How much does business tax preparation cost?
Business tax returns generally start at $750. Final pricing depends on entity type, record quality, complexity, number of owners or partners, payroll issues, balance sheet complexity, prior-year issues, multiple states, cleanup needs, and related work.
The starting price is not a quote.
Do I need to pay a deposit for tax preparation?
Tax-only clients are generally required to pay a deposit before tax preparation begins. Monthly service clients may have different deposit treatment depending on their plan or account notes.
How much are tax preparation deposits?
Individual tax return deposits are generally $200. Business tax return deposits are generally $500.
Monthly clients and certain auto-pay clients may have different deposit treatment depending on their service plan or account notes.
Are tax preparation fees fixed?
No. Tax preparation fees depend on the scope and complexity of the return. Additional schedules, businesses, rental properties, multiple states, messy records, prior-year work, add-ons, or unexpected complexity may increase the final fee.
Are add-on services included in the starting price?
No. Add-on services such as audit protection, correspondence protection, video summaries, return walkthroughs, prior-year transcript requests, expedited processing, extra states, messy records, or additional work may increase the final fee. Add-on availability and pricing may vary by service, return type, time of year, and firm capacity.
Can I call to ask how much I owe or how much my refund is?
We do not disclose final refund or balance-due amounts before your return is finalized, paid for, and released in the client portal. Once your final invoice is paid, your completed return will be available for review.
Questions About Expedited Processing
and Review Options
Do you offer expedited processing?
Expedited processing may be available for qualifying individual tax returns as a paid add-on.
If available and selected, expedited processing provides a faster turnaround after the required invoice is paid and the file is complete. Availability depends on return complexity, document readiness, time of year, and firm capacity.
Can every return qualify for expedited processing?
No. Expedited processing may not be available for complex returns, business returns, missing-information files, prior-year work, cleanup issues, or files that are not ready to prepare.
Do you offer tax return review appointments?
Yes. Depending on the service selected, you may have the option to schedule a return walkthrough or review appointment after your return is prepared and released for review. A return review appointment may require an additional fee unless included in your engagement or service plan.
Do you offer video summaries of tax returns?
Yes. A video summary may be available as an add-on service. If selected, we will provide a recorded explanation of key items in your completed return.
What is audit protection?
Audit protection may provide representation support if you receive an IRS or state audit or qualifying correspondence related to a return prepared by our firm. Coverage depends on the option selected and may be limited by scope, issue type, year, and number of hours.
What is correspondence-only protection?
Correspondence-only protection may cover certain IRS or state notices that do not involve an audit. It does not include full audit representation unless specifically included in the selected protection option or engagement.
Questions About Extensions
Do you file extensions?
Yes, when appropriate. If an extension is needed and we are engaged to handle your return, our team will handle the extension according to our firm process.
Does filing an extension mean I have more time to pay?
No. An extension gives you more time to file the return, but it does not extend the time to pay tax due. If you may owe, you should make an estimated payment by the original filing deadline.
Will you automatically file an extension for me?
If an extension is needed and we are engaged to handle your return, our team will handle the extension according to our firm process.
We will let you know if additional information or action is needed from you. Filing an extension gives you more time to file the return, but it does not extend the time to pay any tax due.
Questions About Monthly CPA Support
Why would I choose Monthly CPA Support instead of just hiring you to do my taxes?
Monthly CPA Support is designed for business owners who want an ongoing relationship with a CPA firm instead of only getting help at tax time.
Depending on the package selected, Monthly CPA Support may include bookkeeping, payroll coordination, business and owner tax preparation, estimated tax support, scheduled CPA guidance, and help keeping your business financially organized throughout the year. The goal is to help you stay organized, understand your numbers, remain compliant, and make better business decisions throughout the year.
Is Monthly CPA Support the same as tax planning?
No. Monthly CPA Support and tax planning are related, but they are not the same service.
Monthly CPA Support is an ongoing relationship designed to help keep your business organized throughout the year. Tax Planning for Business Owners is a separate planning engagement that evaluates your specific tax situation and identifies strategies that may reduce future tax liability. For many profitable business owners, the two services can work together.
Questions About Tax Planning
Do you provide tax planning?
Yes. Allison Accounting provides tax planning for profitable business owners when the situation appears to have enough potential value to justify a separate paid review. Tax planning involves a more detailed review of income, business activity, records, goals, and planning opportunities.
Is tax planning included with tax preparation?
No. Tax preparation is focused on accurately preparing and filing tax returns based on what already happened.
Tax planning looks forward and evaluates steps that may reduce future tax exposure before important deadlines pass. Tax planning is a separate service from tax preparation.
How does the tax planning process begin?
Tax planning begins with a $750 Tax Savings Analysis.
This initial review helps us determine whether a full planning engagement is likely to produce meaningful tax savings. Projected savings and expected ROI are based on the information provided, including projected net income, and assumptions available at the time of review. They are not a guarantee of tax savings.
If we determine there is not enough projected tax savings to justify the cost of a full planning engagement, we will let you know and refund the $750 Tax Savings Analysis fee. If the analysis shows enough projected value to justify moving forward, we will present the projected savings opportunity, expected ROI, and the fee to proceed with the full tax plan.
How much does a full tax planning engagement cost?
Most full tax planning engagements range from $2,500 to $5,000.
Larger or more complex plans may be quoted separately based on the work involved, complexity, scope, and projected savings opportunity. The full planning fee is presented after the Tax Savings Analysis, along with the projected savings opportunity and expected ROI.
Does the Tax Savings Analysis include the full tax plan?
No. The $750 Tax Savings Analysis is not the full tax plan. It is the first step used to evaluate the projected opportunity, expected ROI, and whether it makes sense to proceed. The goal is for the projected tax savings to meaningfully exceed the cost of the planning work.
If we determine the projected tax savings do not justify the cost of moving forward, the $750 Tax Savings Analysis fee is refunded. If the analysis shows enough projected value to justify a full planning engagement, we will present the projected savings opportunity and the fee to proceed.
The detailed strategy blueprint, implementation steps, and written tax plan are provided only after the full planning engagement is approved and paid.
How long does the initial Tax Savings Analysis take?
The initial Tax Savings Analysis generally takes approximately 2-3 weeks after the tax planning organizer is completed and the required fee is paid. Timing may vary based on complexity, missing information, firm capacity, and time of year.
Do you work on tax planning during tax season?
Generally, no. If you complete a tax planning organizer and pay the Tax Savings Analysis fee during tax season, the review generally will not begin until after April 15.
Questions About Business Setup
Do you help with starting a new business?
Yes. Allison Accounting can help new business owners with the tax, accounting, and basic formation steps involved in getting started. This may include LLC formation assistance, EIN setup, tax registrations, accounting setup guidance, payroll considerations, estimated taxes, and ongoing compliance responsibilities.
Is business setup the same as Monthly CPA Support?
No. Business Setup helps with the initial tax and accounting steps involved in getting started. Monthly CPA Support is an ongoing service relationship designed to help keep the business organized after it is operating. Some business owners may start with Business Setup and later move into Monthly CPA Support.
Questions About Tax Resolution
Do you help with IRS or state tax notices?
Yes. Allison Accounting can help with IRS or state tax notices, unpaid taxes, penalties, unfiled returns, and other tax issues. The first step is understanding the notice or issue and determining the appropriate service path.
Should I upload the full notice?
Yes. If you receive an IRS or state notice, upload the full notice through the secure client portal or inquiry process. Include every page, front and back if applicable. Screenshots, summaries, or partial pages may not provide enough information to evaluate the issue.
Does submitting a notice mean you are representing me?
No. Submitting a notice does not create a client relationship and does not authorize Allison Accounting to contact the IRS or state agency on your behalf. Notice review, agency contact, representation, or resolution work requires an accepted engagement.
