Help me prepare to evaluate or engage tax services for [TAX JURISDICTION AND TAX YEAR]. My situation is [TAXPAYER PROFILE], and the work I think I need is [REQUESTED TAX SERVICES]. The income, transactions, entities, or life events that may matter are [RELEVANT TAX FACTS]. I have these records already: [AVAILABLE DOCUMENTS]. My budget, timing, and service preferences are [BUDGET AND PREFERENCES]. Do not calculate a tax bill, decide my filing position, or give legal or tax advice. Instead, create a practical preparation package I can use with a credentialed tax professional. Clearly distinguish information I supplied from assumptions and from questions that need a professional answer. If a material input is missing, ask up to 3 clarifying questions only. Produce these sections: 1. A concise case summary for a tax preparer, using neutral facts and dates. 2. A document checklist grouped by income, deductions or credits, business or entity records, prior filings, and notices; mark each item “have,” “need,” or “confirm.” 3. A provider-comparison table for CPA, enrolled agent, tax attorney, and consumer tax-preparation service. Compare scope, credential verification, representation authority, expected pricing model, data security questions, and when each may be appropriate. Do not claim exact fees or eligibility without a source. 4. Ten questions to ask a prospective provider, including engagement scope, fee basis, filing and extension responsibility, notice support, data handling, and who reviews the return. 5. A red-flag list, including guarantees of refunds, missing engagement terms, requests to sign incomplete returns, unsupported deductions, or pressure to use their bank account. 6. A short list of issues to flag for a CPA, EA, attorney, or local authority. Before answering, check that every suggested document or question connects to a fact I provided, and flag any jurisdiction-specific rule that needs current professional confirmation.
Fill in
| Placeholder | What to enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| [TAX JURISDICTION AND TAX YEAR] | State the country, state or province if relevant, and the tax year involved. | United States, New York State, 2025 |
| [TAXPAYER PROFILE] | Describe your filing situation, household, residency, and business status at a high level. | Married couple filing jointly; both New York residents; one spouse has a sole-proprietor design business. |
| [REQUESTED TAX SERVICES] | State whether you need preparation, planning, notice response, business filing, representation, or another service. | Individual return preparation, Schedule C review, estimated-tax planning, and help responding if a notice arrives. |
| [RELEVANT TAX FACTS] | List income sources, sales, investments, moves, entity activity, and major events that may affect the work. | One W-2 job, freelance design revenue of about $84,000, home-office expenses, one brokerage account, and a move from Brooklyn to Queens in July. |
| [AVAILABLE DOCUMENTS] | List records you have, such as prior returns, W-2s, 1099s, bookkeeping reports, or notices. | 2024 federal and state returns, W-2, 1099-NECs, 1099-DIV, bank statements, invoices, and a spreadsheet of business expenses. |
| [BUDGET AND PREFERENCES] | State timing, budget range, preferred communication, and whether remote service is acceptable. | Prefer a credentialed provider who can meet by video; aim to file by March 15; budget $800 to $1,500. |
How to use
- Replace the brackets with facts and records, avoiding unnecessary account numbers or full identifying information.
- Take the case summary and document checklist to provider consultations.
- Verify credentials, engagement terms, and current jurisdiction-specific rules directly with the provider or official authority.
- Follow up with: “Turn the questions into a scoring sheet for comparing these two provider proposals: [PASTE PROPOSALS].”
Variations
Provider comparison
Use this when you already have several tax-service options.
Compare these tax-service providers for [JURISDICTION AND YEAR]: [PROVIDER DETAILS]. My needs are [TAX NEEDS], relevant complexity is [FACTS], and my priorities are [PRIORITIES]. Build a comparison table covering credentials to verify, scope, review level, representation support, communication, data handling, fees stated versus unknown, and questions for each provider. Do not rank a provider on claims that cannot be verified. End with the information I need before making a decision and note when a CPA, EA, or tax attorney may be appropriate.
Tax notice prep
Use this after receiving a tax notice and before speaking with a professional.
Help me organize this tax notice for a qualified professional: [NOTICE TEXT OR SUMMARY]. The jurisdiction and year are [JURISDICTION AND YEAR], filing facts are [FILING FACTS], and documents I have are [DOCUMENTS]. Do not interpret the notice as legal or tax advice or tell me to ignore deadlines. Create a dated fact timeline, document checklist, questions for a CPA, EA, or attorney, and a list of information to verify with the issuing authority. Flag any response deadline, missing page, or ambiguity for immediate professional attention.
Small business records
Use this to prepare records for a business return or Schedule C.
Create a tax-preparer-ready records checklist for [BUSINESS TYPE] in [JURISDICTION AND YEAR]. The business activities are [ACTIVITIES], income sources are [INCOME SOURCES], expenses and assets are [EXPENSE TYPES], and current records are [CURRENT RECORDS]. Group the checklist by revenue, expenses, payroll or contractors, assets, owner transactions, sales tax if relevant, and prior filings. Include reconciliation questions and records to retain. Do not classify deductions or determine tax treatment; mark questions for a qualified tax professional.
Tips
- A provider can work faster when your records reconcile: total invoice or sales-platform revenue should be traceable to deposits and bookkeeping reports.
- Ask who will prepare, review, and sign the return; a credentialed firm can still delegate most work, which affects cost and oversight.
- Get the engagement letter in writing before sharing complete records, especially scope, fixed versus hourly fees, extension responsibilities, and notice support.
- Never sign a blank or incomplete return, and use your own bank account for refunds and payments unless a professional explains an authorized arrangement you understand.
FAQ
Can AI tell me which deductions I qualify for?
It can help you prepare questions and records, but eligibility depends on current law and your specific facts. Confirm positions with a qualified professional or official tax authority.
Do I need a CPA, enrolled agent, or tax attorney?
Many preparation needs can be handled by a CPA or enrolled agent. A tax attorney may be appropriate for legal disputes, privilege-sensitive issues, or complex transactional matters.
Is it safe to paste my tax documents into AI?
Avoid full tax returns, Social Security numbers, account numbers, and unredacted notices unless your organization has approved the tool and data handling. Use summaries and redacted copies for planning.