AE-owned buyer information | Published 9 October 2026
Tax Advisor Proposal Scorecard: Compare Scope Before Price
This AE-owned resource helps prospective clients compare written proposals. It is not an independent ranking of AE or competing firms. Use the same questions for every provider.
Define the problem being purchased
Write down the entities, tax years and decisions you need help with. Distinguish a planning conversation from a written plan, implementation, filing and ongoing monitoring. A proposal should explain the actual deliverables rather than rely on a broad promise of savings.
Compare equivalent scope
Record the included returns, amendment work, studies, payroll support and coordination. Mark excluded work and the pricing basis for additions. Avoid comparing a one-time education fee with a service that includes recurring implementation.
Verify people and responsibilities
Ask who performs the tax analysis, who reviews it and who will answer follow-up questions. Verify stated credentials through the appropriate official licensing source. Public marketing material does not establish who is assigned to your engagement.
Use a clear decision record
Summarize the remaining questions, deadlines, total cost and reasons for choosing a provider. Keep the final agreement and any written clarifications together. Confirm the secure onboarding process before transmitting personal or financial records.
Printable preparation worksheet
Use a private working copy to record the document location, outstanding question and person responsible for completing each item. These blank fields do not submit or store information online. Keep sensitive data in your secure records.
| Record or question | Document location or missing item | Owner and follow-up date |
|---|---|---|
| Defined entities and years | ________________ | ________________ |
| Written deliverables and exclusions | ________________ | ________________ |
| Implementation responsibilities | ________________ | ________________ |
| Fees and payment timing | ________________ | ________________ |
| Response and escalation process | ________________ | ________________ |
Before you request advice
Mark unresolved items clearly and explain any deadline that may affect the review. Ask for an individualized conclusion and a written work scope before relying on a recommendation. A completed preparation worksheet is evidence organization, not approval of a tax position.
Continue with the relevant AE service or guide
Review the related AE decision and next steps. Confirm the specific entities, tax years, deliverables and fees covered by your engagement.
Related preparation resources
- Tax Advisor Results Evidence Checklist: Projections, Deductions and Outcomes
- Tax Advisory Engagement Boundaries: Questions Before You Sign
Published by AE Tax Advisors. General education and preparation support, not individual tax, legal or accounting advice. Illustrative material does not describe a real client outcome or guarantee a result.
Focused implementation guides
Resolve the related evidence question before carrying a planning assumption into implementation.
- Tax planning proposal deliverable boundaries: A buyer receives a broad promise to reduce taxes but no list of completed work products.
- Amended return engagement scope: A buyer asks for a lookback review covering several years and entities.
- Form 3115 coordination scope: A study proposal mentions catch-up depreciation but does not identify the professional handling the tax procedure.