Clarify coordination when the buyer retains another return preparer. Clarify the role of the advisor, administrator, actuary and payroll team.
Published by AE Tax Advisors. This is an AE-owned proposal comparison resource, not an independent rating or customer review.
What this file should establish
Identify what the new provider supplies and what the existing preparer must evaluate or implement. Ask for the transfer format, communication process and follow-up responsibilities. Neither side's silence establishes acceptance of the work.
Clarify the role of the advisor, administrator, actuary and payroll team.
A situation to work through
A tax proposal models a contribution but does not include plan administration.
For this situation, start with employee census. Identify the period and legal owner before combining it with the other records. Keep the original source and explain any adjustments in a separate reconciliation.
Review point
Compare the whole implementation chain and recurring costs.
Each professional assumes the other will implement the recommendation.
Question for the reviewer
Who accepts the implementation task and how will disagreements be resolved?
Expected handoff
A two-provider responsibility map.
Separate facts supported by documents from estimates and unresolved assumptions. Assign each missing item to a responsible person and a date. Send the reconciliation alongside the source references so the reviewer can trace each conclusion.
Your preparation worksheet
Enter a reference to the document, the person who can supply it and the unresolved question. Use file names or locations rather than account numbers or other sensitive information. Entries stay in this page until you close or refresh it. They are not sent to us or saved automatically. Export before leaving.
Record or decision
Source reference
Status
Responsible person
Open question
employee census
compensation
plan documents
funding dates
provider responsibilities
provider task
preparer task
transfer method
open question
completion owner
Mark not applicable only after noting why. A collected record can still require correction. Review the exported file before sharing it with your adviser.
Use the following primary guidance to frame the questions. The worksheet organizes facts; it does not replace analysis of the relevant year, ownership, elections or state treatment. Record the applicable period, confirm the source version and retain the preparer's written conclusions with the supporting documents.