AE-owned buyer information | Published 9 October 2026
Tax Advisory Engagement Boundaries: Questions Before You Sign
Define the work and the follow-up process before committing to an advisory engagement. This page is published by AE and should be evaluated alongside the actual proposal and agreement.
Confirm what the engagement covers
Specify entities, owners, tax years and the planning decisions included. Ask whether the fee covers a written plan, meetings, implementation assistance and subsequent revisions. Record exclusions in writing rather than relying on a sales conversation.
Assign implementation tasks
Identify who obtains records, updates payroll, makes elections, prepares amended returns and coordinates with other professionals. If you retain your current preparer, clarify how recommendations and supporting documents will reach that person.
Understand ongoing support
Ask how to request a clarification, what response process applies and when a new engagement is needed. Define handling for major changes in facts. A plan developed before a transaction may need another review after the transaction terms change.
Keep the decision file
Save the signed agreement, scope clarifications, payment schedule and contact details. Use a secure intake channel for documents. Maintain a list of open tasks and evidence of completion so both sides know what remains outstanding.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Entities and tax years | ________________ | ________________ |
| Written plan and meeting deliverables | ________________ | ________________ |
| Return preparation and amendment exclusions | ________________ | ________________ |
| Implementation owners | ________________ | ________________ |
| Follow-up and change-of-scope 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 Proposal Scorecard: Compare Scope Before Price
- Tax Advisor Results Evidence Checklist: Projections, Deductions and Outcomes
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.
- Tax advisory recurring fee comparison: A monthly package lists access to advisers without defining recurring tasks.
- Amended return engagement scope: A buyer asks for a lookback review covering several years and entities.