Compare Tax Advisor Engagements by Scope and Total Cost
Send every shortlisted firm the same brief, then compare what it commits to deliver. A fee or marketing claim alone does not establish the scope of an engagement.
Download the comparison worksheet
Download the blank engagement scorecard (CSV). Open it in a spreadsheet, add each provider’s written responses, and keep the source and date beside every material statement. Blank fields mean unresolved questions, not missing services.
Use the same buyer brief
- Describe the business, ownership entities, properties, states and upcoming transaction.
- List the services you need and the professional who currently prepares each return.
- State the deadline and the records available. Send sensitive records only through the agreed secure process.
- Request an itemized first-year quote and a separate schedule for future work.
Compare the deliverables
| Service or decision | Question to confirm |
|---|---|
| Initial strategy | Written plan, alternatives, assumptions and delivery date |
| Implementation | Who performs each action and who confirms completion |
| Entity returns | Entity count, states, preparer and separate fees |
| Personal return | Owner return, K-1 coordination, states and separate fees |
| Prior-year review | Years, correction procedure, amendments and separate fees |
| Cost segregation | Study methodology, report reviewer and property-specific fee |
| Study implementation | Depreciation reconciliation, Form 3115 responsibility and fee |
| Bookkeeping and payroll | Who changes the books or payroll and what is excluded |
| Ongoing access | Advisor contact, meeting cadence and response expectations |
| Future work | Required renewal, optional scope and separate annual returns |
| Examination support | Exactly which questions, notices or examinations are covered |
| Full price | First-year total, future-year total, installments and cancellation terms |
Choose the provider that fits the work
A study specialist can fit when your existing CPA handles the owner-level analysis and filing. A coordinated advisory engagement can fit when you need someone to connect business decisions, rental records and implementation. A larger firm may fit when the project needs a wider specialist team. Confirm the relevant capabilities directly rather than treating an unconfirmed item as unavailable.
AE publishes advisory, return preparation and cost segregation as separately scoped services. Check AE’s current service pricing and the comparison methodology before comparing quotes. AE publishes this worksheet and is a provider you may compare.
What to do with unanswered questions
Ask the provider to identify the responsible professional, deliverable, due date and fee. Record any exclusions and required future commitments. Do not assign a numeric quality score from incomplete information. Keep written proposals so a later decision can be traced to the scope offered.
Book a Call to discuss AE’s fit.
Sources and publication information
By AE Tax Advisors Team. Updated October 1, 2026. Meet the advisory team | Editorial standards.
This resource organizes a decision and its supporting records. It does not establish eligibility, determine a tax-return position or promise an outcome.
Talk Through Your Situation
Every situation turns on its own facts. Schedule a discovery call and we will walk through what applies to you, what it is worth, and what it would take to put it in place.