Step 1	Making Contact
You	Initiate contact by telephone, e-mail or online appointment.
Applied Advisor	Asks for a brief overview of your tax situation, personally or with an online form. Once an appointment has been made the following PDF attachments will be sent via two e-mails: the firm's privacy policy and disclosures, a sample Engagement Letter and the appropriate data gathering forms.

Step 2	Initial Meeting Part I
You	Fill-out the data gathering forms and gather your tax documents including tax returns from the previous two years. The time this takes depends on the complexity of your situation and how well organized your records are. Additional time is required to read the provided sample Engagement Letter and introductory materials. Tip: the best way to hold the cost of tax preparation down is to fully and legibly complete the provided forms.
Applied Advisor	Looks over your tax documents and completed questionnaire in order to provide an estimate of the cost to prepare your tax return. This will take approximately ten minutes.

Step 3	Signing the Engagement Letter
You	Sign an Engagement Letter and Service Agreement. It is important to read and understand both documents as they set-up the terms of our professional relationship.
Applied Advisor	Provides copies of your Engagement Letter and Service Agreement for your files.

Step 4	Initial Meeting Part II
You	Once the Engagement Letter is signed you have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss your tax situation in depth. At this time you will decide if you want to pick-up your return in person or have it delivered to your home or office for your signature. One half of the estimated fee is due at this time. Click here for a preview of the cost of tax preparation.
Applied Advisor	The initial meeting is our chance to discuss your tax situation, ask questions and discover if any information is missing. We will go over your income and deductions to be sure everything is accurate and properly reported. The entire meeting lasts thirty to sixty minutes.

Step 5	After the Meeting
You	Return any missing information as determined at the initial meeting then sit back, relax and think about something other then taxes.
Applied Advisor	Will use the forms you provide to prepare your tax return.  If any questions arise I will send you an e-mail.

Step 6a	Receive Your Return in Person
You	Carefully look over your completed return and ask any questions you may have. Once you understand everything on your return you will sign it. The balance of your bill is due at this time.
Applied Advisor	Will discuss the contents of your return and point out any tax saving strategies you may want to consider for the current year. You will receive a copy of your return and all of the original tax documents you provided. Your tax return will be submitted electronically to the tax authorities and you are done for another year!

Step 6b	Receive Your Return via UPS
You	If you chose to have your completed return delivered to your home or office you will receive via e-mail a password protected copy of the return. This provides an opportunity to look it over and ask questions. An invoice will be sent via PayPal (a PayPal account is not required). After payment has been received your file copy of the tax return and original tax documents will be returned via UPS. You will sign two signature pages and return them to Applied Advisor in the provided self addressed stamped envelope. You are responsible for returning these forms prior to the filling deadline.
Applied Advisor	Will electronically submit your tax returns to the tax authorities after receiving the two signature pages and you are done for another year!