This Tax Return Terms and Service Agreement (“Agreement”) sets forth the terms and conditions under which NorCal Tax and Bookkeeping (“we,” “us,” and related pronouns) will provide tax return preparation and/or related services to the undersigned Client (“you” and related pronouns).
Services: NorCal Tax and Bookkeeping will prepare your federal income tax return, and any state income tax returns in the way that your tax preparer deems the most advisable. We will prepare your return(s) based on information that you have provided. NorCal Tax and Bookkeeping does not audit or otherwise verify the data you submit, although we may seek clarification of the information.
New Clients: First time clients with NorCal Tax and Bookkeeping are subject to a $225 consultation fee which can be waived upon confirmation NorCal Tax and Bookkeeping will be providing tax services, bookkeeping services and or other related tax services for the signee.
Client Responsibilities: You are responsible for delivering to us your tax information that is required to deliver a true and accurate tax return(s). This includes, but is not limited to, tax forms received from employers, financial institutions, and investment vehicles, and valid information on income and expenses. NorCal Tax and Bookkeeping cannot and does not audit any information that is provided to us by you. We trust that you will allow us full disclosure on any income and expenses you will need to report. You are responsible for the trueness and validity of any income tax return(s) filed.
Errors, Misrepresentations, Fraud, Illegal Acts: NorCal Tax and Bookkeeping will put reasonable effort to ensure that any errors or omissions are avoided when providing services to our clients. We are not responsible for any information that was not provided to us should any exist, nor is it our responsibility to audit you for any information that has not been provided. NorCal Tax and Bookkeeping’s liability is solely to you, any advisement given is designed for you and no one else. Our liability for any errors or omissions is limited to the amount of fees paid for services rendered. Any claims for damage(s) will expire within two years of the date your return(s) were filed.
Filing Deadline, Extensions, and Penalties: The filing deadline for tax returns for most partnerships and S corporations is typically March 15th. The deadline for tax returns for most individuals and C corporations is typically April 15th. We require that you deliver to us the information required listed above in the client responsibilities, as well as in our what to bring page on our website, by the 20th of the month prior, if required information is not received by then we will file an extension for your return(s) and complete the filing of your return as time permits. Any return(s) for flow-through entities (e.g., S‑corporations, partnerships) that are not filed or extended by the filing deadline will result in penalties, even if there may not be a balance due. An extension to file does not mean it is an extension to pay. Any tax payments owed is due no later than the due dates stated above. Any amounts owed that are not paid by the filing deadline may result in penalties and interest. The law provides various penalties that may be imposed when taxpayers understate their tax liability. You acknowledge that any such understated tax, and any imposed interest and penalty thereon, are your responsibility, and that we have no responsibility in that regard.
Copy Policy and Review of Tax Returns and E-filing: To lower our environmental impact, we no longer provide hard copies of tax returns and instead we email them free of charge to the email address you have listed. The tax return will be password protected. If you still desire a hardcopy, we can provide them to you at a $50 fee for processing which is due at the time of your appointment. You are fully responsible to review your own tax returns and determine if you are satisfied with the results before we E-File. Under Federal and California law, we must electronically file your returns, if there are no exceptional circumstances. Once E-file authorization signature is received your tax return(s) will be considered final. If any additional information is delivered after receiving E-file authorization, this will result in having to amend your taxes resulting in additional fees.
Amended Taxes: If a previously filed tax return needs to be amended due to unreported income or expenses, we will attempt to complete your amendment within a reasonable timeline before the amended tax deadline, which is up to three years from the originally filed tax date. To prevent having to amend your taxes in the future, if you believe that you will be receiving tax documents after the deadline, we suggest that you allow us to file an extension which will allow us to complete your taxes after the deadline.
Confidentiality: We will not disclose any privileged information you have provided to us, unless required by law, without written instructions from you or a signed power of attorney.
Fees: We will charge you a fee for our services rendered based on the time required to prepare your return, as more thoroughly described on the attached Invoice. You agree to pay the fee charged. Whenever possible, your tax preparer will provide you with an estimate of the fees. You agree that this estimate is not a guarantee, and that the actual fee may vary from the estimate given. Until payment is made in full, or an installment agreement is in place, government tax returns will not be e-filed or released to the taxpayer. No exceptions.
Professional Judgement: NorCal Tax and Bookkeeping will provide professional judgement should there be any unclear tax law if there is reasonable justification for doing so. If there are any conflicting interpretations of tax law, we will advise you of the best possible courses of action for your tax return(s) and follow your judgement. We will never sign off any tax return(s) that have no reasonable basis. If the tax authority should later contest the position taken, there may be an assessment of additional tax plus interest and penalties. NorCal Tax and Bookkeeping assume no liability for any such additional penalties or assessments.
Clients with Balance Past Due: NorCal Tax & Bookkeeping Services cannot continue to do any new work including responding to IRS notices, tax consultation, e-file, and payroll taxes, etc. unless your account balance is fully paid.
Late and Finance Charges: Any account past due is subject to late charges and finance fees. Accounts past ninety (90) days are automatically sent to a Collection Agency and all business transactions with NorCal Tax & Bookkeeping will be terminated unless you communicate that payment will be made in a reasonable time from the date the invoice was issued. We charge $35.00 for insufficient check per transaction.
Original Documents: You acknowledge that any original documents entrusted to us will be returned upon request. These documents will be kept for up to four (4) years from the current tax year. Any documents entrusted to us will be shredded and purged once they pass the date 4-year time period. If you would like your documents returned, you must contact our office and your documents will be mailed to you within a reasonable timeline.
E-Documents: You are responsible for the security of any sensitive documentation and information when sent via email or shared via programs that use the Cloud. We do not claim any liability regarding the security of documents that have been sent to NorCal Tax and Bookkeeping through any means, such as mail or email, or any other methods.
NORCAL TAX AND BOOKKEEPING IS A TAX AND BOOKKEEPING PREPARATION SERVICE, WE DO NOT PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES. THERE IS NO ATTORNEY CLIENT RELATIONSHIP PROVIDED BY ASSOCIATING WITH NORCAL TAX AND BOOKKEEPING.
Cancellation of Work Policy: If you decide to cancel your services with our company when work has already been completed, there is a minimum charged of $175 to the maximum charge of the original preparation fee for our services. If you refuse to pay for our services, you will be placed in collections and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. No exceptions.
Termination: You may terminate this Agreement at any time. In the event that this agreement is cancelled you agree to pay for any services that have been rendered to the date of the termination. We reserve the right to terminate this agreement should you; fail to provide us with accurate documentation that has been requested by us in a timely manner, we advise you of the best course of action with your current tax position and you choose to take a tax position we cannot reasonably follow, repeatedly missed appointments without a cancellation 24 hours in advance. Furthermore, we reserve the right to terminate this agreement if we determine with our professional judgment that we are not competent enough to work with the complexity of your tax issues. In the event that we determine that we cannot cancel this agreement due to the complex issues revolving your taxes we will return any payments issued and you will not be responsible for any services rendered.
