Engagement Letter
Tax Preparation Checklist
Please provide the following documentation:
Checklist for Claiming Credits:
1. Determine Filing Status & Dependents:
• HOH: Must be unmarried (or considered unmarried) and paid more than half the cost to keep up a home for a qualifying child (CTC/ACTC) or other dependent (ODC).
• Qualifying Child (CTC/ACTC): Under 17, related, lived with you > half year, supported by you, has SSN, U.S. Citizen/National/Resident.
Other Dependent (ODC): Not a qualifying child, but a dependent (e.g., older child, relative), has SSN/ITIN, U.S. Citizen/National/Resident.
2. Gather Documents:
• Income: W-2s, 1099s, etc., for yourself and dependents (if applicable).
SSNs/ITINs: For you and all claimed dependents (must be issued by return due date).
• Relationship/Residency Proof: Birth certificates, adoption decrees, custody orders, school records, utility bills.
• HOH Proof: Lease, mortgage statement, or other proof you paid more than half the home's cost of keeping it up.
• All Forms W-2 (wages), 1099-INT (interest), 1099-DIV (dividends), 1099-B (proceeds from broker or barter transactions), 1099-R (pensions and IRA distributions), Schedules K-1 from partnerships, S corporations, estates and trusts, and other income reporting statements, including all copies provided from the payer.
• Form 1095-A (for health insurance purchased through a public exchange), Form 1095-B (for health insurance purchased outside of a public exchange), or Form 1095-C (for employer-provided health insurance coverage).
• If you are a new client, provide copies of the last 2 years of tax returns.
• Copy of the closing statement if you bought or sold real estate.
• Mileage figures for any automobile expenses claimed, including total mileage, commuting mileage, and business mileage.
• Detail of estimated tax payments made, if any.
• Income and deductions categorized on a separate sheet for business or rental activities.
• List of itemized deductions categorized on a separate sheet for medical, taxes, interest, charitable, and miscellaneous deductions.
• Copy of all acknowledgement letters received from charitable organizations for contributions made.
Taxpayer Responsibilities:
• You agree to provide us with all income and deductible expense information. If you receive additional information after we begin working on your return, you will contact us immediately to ensure your completed tax returns contains all relevant information.
• You affirm that all expenses or other deduction amounts are accurate and that you have all required supporting written records. In some cases, we will ask to review your documentation.
• You must be able to provide written records of all items included on your return if audited by either the IRS and/or State Tax Authority. If audited, there is a retainer fee for assistance.
• You must review the return carefully before signing to make sure the information is correct.
• Fees must be paid before your tax return is delivered to you or filed for you. If you terminate this engagement before completion, you agree to pay a fee for work completed. A retainer is required for preparation of late returns.
• You should keep a copy of your tax return and any related tax documents. You will be assessed a fee if you request a copy in the future.
Privacy Policy:
The nature of our work requires us to collect certain nonpublic information. We collect financial and personal information from applications, worksheets, reporting statements, and other forms, as well as interviews and conversations with our clients and affiliates. We may also review banking and credit card information about our clients in the performance of receipt of payment. Under our policy, all information we obtain about you will be provided by you or obtained with your permission. Our office has procedures and policies in place to protect your
confidential information. We restrict access to your confidential information to those within our office who need to know in order to provide you with services. We will not disclose your personal information, except where required by law or third party vendors that we have hired or partnered with for services. We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards in compliance with federal and state regulations that protect your personal information from unauthorized access.
Consent Use:
Federal law requires this consent form to be provided to you. Unless authorized by law, we cannot use your tax return information for purposes other than the preparation and filing of your tax return without your consent.
2026 Communication Release:
Erica Cooper DBA D & S Tax Service respects your privacy, and we will not sell your e-mail address, physical address, phone number, or any other personal and financial information with any outside source. In connection with this engagement, we may communicate with you via text, phone call, email transmission, and/or through our secure client portal. We may also share your contact information with a
third-party company hired by Erica Cooper DBA D & S Tax Service to communicate with you regarding appointment times, open files, etc. As these can be intercepted and read, disclosed, or otherwise used or communicated by an unintended third party or may not be delivered to each of the parties to whom they are directed and only to such parties, we cannot guarantee or warrant that emails and texts from us will be properly delivered and read only by the addressee. Therefore, we
specifically disclaim and waive any liability or responsibility whatsoever for interception or unintentional disclosure of emails transmitted by us. All email attachments will be encrypted as much as our software allows. Your signature below approves the noted email and designates that we shall have no liability for
any loss or damage to any person or entity resulting from the use of email transmission including any consequential, incidental, direct, indirect, or special damages, such as loss of revenues or anticipated profits or disclosure or communication of confidential or proprietary information. We appreciate your confidence in us. Please call if you have questions.
- I confirm that all information I entered on all forms are accurate and true to the best of my knowledge.
- I allow Erica Cooper DBA D & S Tax Service to capture my sensitive data like personal identification, government identification, social security number (SSN), and other information.
- I have read the terms and conditions for the tax preparation check list, checklist for claiming credits, taypayer responsibilities, privacy policy, consent use, and 2026 communication release from Erica Cooper DBA D & S Tax Service.
- By signing below, you acknowledge that you have read and understand your responsibilities and our responsibilities in doing your tax return.