American Taxnician operates tax business 100% virtually with clients and e-file all tax returns with the IRS. (This season, clients in Bangkok, Thailand may ask for in-person service – for an extra fee – where you can bring physical documents to scan and have an in-person interview. Please contact us.)
You need internet access (either via PC or smartphone) and a credit or debit card.
The process starts with:
(1) Clients click Contact Us button on the bottom of the page and notify us to request for the service. We need clients’ email address to setup a Client Portal, so the clients can send their tax documents securely.
Clients download the Tax Organizer from our homepage. Look for “Tax Organizer for Individuals” (or other type of organizer according to the form of the entity) at the bottom of the page. You can fill it out using your phone if you have a mobile pdf reader (such as Adobe Acrobat mobile pdf reader app) on your phone. For new clients, there are spaces in the organizer where you can put your personal information, including your SSN and birthdates, that we need to set up your new client account.
Fill the Tax Organizer form and save it with your answers. If you have access to a printer and scanner, print out the signature page of the engagement letter, sign, and scan it.
(2) Meanwhile, watch out for email from us for you to setup a Client Portal with us so you can upload your documents securely. For new clients, after we receive your email, we will set up a new client account for you. You will have your own personal client portal to exchange documents and messages with us securely. Existing clients can use their established accounts in the previous years.
(3) Upload the filled (and signed – if you printed and scanned it) form onto our Client Portals that we had setup. The Portals are safe.
(5) Upload prior year tax return(s) and all other tax documents any time you receive one (such as W-2 and 1099) through your Client Portals.
(6) Schedule a pre-preparation meeting by selecting a date and time (at least 7 days after you uploaded your documents) on the website (Appointment button). Pay $99 upfront to prevent spam and reserve your selected time for initial meeting. This amount will not be refunded but it will be discounted from your final preparation fee invoice.
(7) After payment is received and the appointment is confirmed, you will receive an email with a Zoom link. (If you do not make the upfront payment within the day, your appointment will not be approved and will be cancelled.)
(8) We then have pre-preparation meeting as scheduled. This process is crucial and necessary because our accountant must ask you the due diligence questions to comply with the IRS regulations. No exceptions. We cannot just look at your prior year return and prepare this year tax return. If it is not convenient for you to meet, we need your answers to all the questions we ask with your signature(s). We also need your ID (passport or diver’s license) next to your face selfie photo to ID you to comply to the Bank Act, in case you wish to have your tax refund transferred to your bank account. Blurry photos will not be accepted. We are unable to provide service to taxpayers who do not answer to the due diligence questions. This process is necessary for taxpayers’ own security and to comply with the IRS regulations.
(9) Next, you relax and we prepare your return. In the meantime,
(10) You select a date and time again to schedule a 30-minute (up to 50-minute, depends on your tax complexity) appointment to discuss your finished return.
(11) We virtually discuss your tax return and agree upon it. All meetings are video or audio recorded on file (as a part of contemporaneous document notes – for tax preparers’ due diligence requirements).
(12) We will send the final tax return to you to e-sign and an invoice to e-pay with your credit/debit card through your secured portal.
After we received your payment, we will e-file your tax return with the IRS and send an electronic copy to you through the Client Portals.