When this guide is useful
A buyer considers an engagement with staged fees and work already begun.
The distinction that matters
Read the cancellation, earned-fee and refund provisions before signing. A marketing assurance may be narrower than the contract.
A worked situation to investigate
A client cancels after a discovery meeting and document review but before a written plan is delivered.
The example is illustrative. Begin with the underlying event and its source documents, then separate missing facts from disagreements about their treatment. Work through the checks below in the order that matches your file, rather than treating a completed checklist as a tax conclusion.
Build a traceable handoff
Identify the affected person, entity or property and the relevant period. Keep original evidence, corrections and the reviewer's written conclusion connected. If the facts change after review, preserve the earlier version and ask whether the change affects implementation.