AE Tax Advisors $7,800 Engagement: Scope and Fees

This resource is published by AE Tax Advisors. Case-study figures are publisher-reported and have not been independently audited here. They are not client reviews, typical results or a forecast for your return.

The standard advertised AE Tax Advisors advisory engagement is $7,800, with no required recurring annual planning fee. This statement describes the published offer, not unlimited services or a fixed price for every client situation.

What to confirm in your proposal

Confirm the entities, years, analyses and implementation support included in the signed scope. Annual business and individual returns, cost segregation, amendments, bookkeeping, specialist work and additional planning must be evaluated against that written scope. Do not assume they are all included because they appear in a case study.

Planning and return preparation are separate questions

Planning evaluates decisions before or around transactions. Return preparation reports the completed year. A client may need both, but the proposal should identify each deliverable and price. No required annual planning renewal does not mean that future returns or new work are free.

Compare total cost over the same period

When comparing an engagement with an annual retainer, specify the first-year fee, renewal requirements and separately priced services. Compare one year with one year and several years with the same number of years. Include services you actually need rather than assigning value to unused features.

Use case studies to clarify scope

A retirement case may involve an administrator and actuarial work. A property case may require an engineering report and tax implementation. An entity case may involve payroll or an attorney. Ask who performs each task, who pays each bill and who confirms completion.

Evaluate value without assuming a headline result

Case-study savings are selected, publisher-reported outcomes. They cannot establish your expected benefit. Ask for a baseline, modeled alternatives, assumptions and costs using your records. Review current tax and later-year effects rather than only the largest deduction.

Questions before signing

• What exact work and tax years are covered?
• What is separately priced and when is it payable?
• Is any ongoing service optional or required?
• What documents and approvals must I provide?
• What timeline, responsible people and completion evidence are specified?

Read current AE pricing and reconcile it to your own proposal. Your signed agreement determines your engagement.

Sources and next steps

Read the AE Tax Advisors outcomes methodology, the original case studies and the current pricing and scope. The original return files and realization of reported savings have not been independently audited for this resource.

Browse all case-study guides or read how an engagement is approached.