L & M Tax Plus

Tax Preparation Engagement Agreement

Thank you for choosing L & M Tax Plus ("Firm," "we," "our," or "us") to prepare your tax returns. This Engagement Agreement outlines the services we will provide, your responsibilities, and the terms governing our professional relationship. By signing this agreement or providing your tax information for preparation, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these terms.

1. Scope of Services

We will prepare your federal income tax return and any applicable state or local income tax returns based solely on the information you provide.

Unless specifically agreed to in writing, this engagement does not include:

• Tax planning

• Bookkeeping

• Payroll services

• Financial statement preparation

• Business consulting

• Audit representation

• IRS or state notice responses

• Amended returns

• Estate, gift, or trust tax returns

• Sales tax returns

• Foreign reporting

• Legal advice

Any additional services requested will require a separate engagement and may incur additional fees.

2. Client Responsibilities

You agree to:

• Provide complete, accurate, and timely information.

• Inform us of all sources of income.

• Provide documentation supporting deductions, credits, and expenses.

• Maintain records required by tax law.

• Review your completed return carefully before signing.

• Notify us immediately if any information is inaccurate.

You understand that you remain legally responsible for the accuracy and completeness of your tax return even though we prepare it.

We rely entirely upon the information you provide and generally will not audit or independently verify that information.

3. Tax Positions and Professional Standards

We prepare returns in accordance with Internal Revenue Service regulations, applicable state laws, and professional standards.

We will not knowingly prepare returns containing false information or unsupported tax positions.

If sufficient documentation cannot be provided, we reserve the right to:

• decline a deduction,

• recommend additional documentation,

• withdraw from the engagement, or

• decline to prepare the return.

4. Deadlines

To ensure timely filing, requested documents should be submitted by our annual filing deadline.

Information received after this deadline may require filing an extension.

An extension extends the filing deadline only. It does not extend the deadline for paying taxes owed.

The client remains responsible for penalties and interest resulting from late filing or late payment.

5. Fees and Payment

Our fees are based on the complexity of your return, the time required, and the services provided.

Payment is due upon completion of the return unless other arrangements have been made.

Tax returns will not be electronically filed or released until all fees have been paid in full.

If a bank refund transfer product is used and your refund is reduced or denied by the IRS or state taxing authority, you remain responsible for payment of all preparation fees.

Balances unpaid after fifty (50) days may accrue interest at 5% together with any allowable collection costs and reasonable attorney's fees where permitted by law.

6. Electronic Filing

Federal and state returns will generally be electronically filed.

We cannot electronically file your return until all required authorization forms, including Form 8879 when applicable, have been signed.

You are responsible for reviewing your completed return before authorizing electronic filing.

7. Refunds, Taxes Owed, and Estimated Payments

We cannot guarantee:

• the amount of your refund,

• when your refund will be issued,

• or whether your refund will be offset for outstanding debts.

Refund timing is determined solely by the IRS and applicable taxing authorities.

Unless specifically engaged, we are not responsible for calculating or monitoring estimated tax payments.

8. Audits and Tax Notices

Tax returns may be selected for examination by the IRS or state taxing authorities.

Our preparation fee does not include responding to audits, notices, examinations, appeals, or collection matters.

If you receive any notice regarding a return we prepared, you should contact us promptly. Representation services are available under a separate engagement agreement and additional fees will apply.

9. Prior-Year Returns

If we become aware of information that may affect a previously filed return, we will notify you.

Unless separately engaged, we have no obligation to review prior-year returns or determine whether amended returns should be filed.

10. Foreign Assets and Digital Assets

You are responsible for informing us of:

• foreign bank accounts,

• foreign income,

• foreign corporations,

• foreign trusts,

• cryptocurrency,

• digital assets,

• NFTs,

• staking,

• mining,

• and any other reportable foreign or digital asset activity.

Failure to disclose these items may result in substantial penalties imposed by taxing authorities.

11. Identity Theft and Fraud

We rely upon the information you provide.

If we suspect fraud, identity theft, money laundering, or illegal activity, we reserve the right to suspend or terminate our services.

We are not responsible for delays resulting from IRS identity verification procedures.

12. Electronic Communications

You authorize us to communicate with you using email, text messaging, secure portals, DocuSign, and other electronic methods.

Although we employ reasonable security safeguards, electronic communications cannot be guaranteed to be completely secure.

You agree to notify us immediately if your email address or telephone number changes.

13. Privacy and Confidentiality

We maintain administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your confidential information.

We comply with applicable federal privacy requirements, including Internal Revenue Code Section 7216 regarding disclosure of taxpayer information.

Your personal information will not be sold or shared with third parties for marketing purposes.

Information will only be disclosed when authorized by you or required by law.

14. Record Retention

Original documents remain your property and should be retained for your records.

We recommend retaining tax records for at least seven (7) years.

We may retain electronic copies of your records in accordance with our document retention policy but are not obligated to maintain your records indefinitely.

15. Limitation of Liability

Our services are limited to preparing tax returns based upon information you provide.

We are not responsible for:

• penalties resulting from inaccurate or incomplete information,

• changes in tax law after preparation,

• IRS processing delays,

• refund delays,

• software or electronic filing interruptions,

• actions taken by taxing authorities.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, our liability shall not exceed the fees paid for the services giving rise to the claim.

We shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, punitive, or consequential damages.

16. Termination of Engagement

Either party may terminate this engagement at any time by written notice.

We may immediately terminate this engagement if:

• client withholds requested information,

• fees remain unpaid,

• illegal or unethical conduct is suspected,

• communication ceases,

• or continued representation would violate professional standards.

Any work performed before termination remains billable.

17. Dispute Resolution

The parties agree to make a good-faith effort to resolve any dispute informally.

If a dispute cannot be resolved, it shall be submitted to binding arbitration in accordance with applicable law unless prohibited by law or unless either party elects to pursue an eligible claim in small claims court.

​18. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

This Engagement Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with applicable federal law and the laws of the state governing the dispute, unless otherwise required by applicable law. Because L & M Tax Plus serves clients throughout the United States, certain provisions of this Agreement may be subject to the laws of the client's state of residence or the jurisdiction in which the services are performed.

If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be unenforceable under applicable state law, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

19. Entire Agreement

This Engagement Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties concerning the services described herein and supersedes all prior discussions or understandings.

Any modification must be made in writing and signed by both parties.

20. Acceptance of Engagement

By providing documents for preparation, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to the terms of this Engagement Agreement.