A tax preparer client intake form allows an accountant or bookkeeper to understand their tax obligations before starting work. This saves time for both parties and gives insight into how a preparer can meet their client’s needs.

How to Make (6 parts) Personal Information Income Investments Dependents Deductions Liability Disclosure Consent

1. Personal Information

In order for the preparer to file a tax return on behalf of the client, they will need their personal information consisting of:

• Full Name
• Date of Birth
• Social Security Number
• Marital Status
• Address (residency)
• Phone (cell)
• Citizenship

2. Income

How the client earns the majority of their income should be mentioned to give the preparer an idea of the best tax strategy. The preparer will need to know if the client generated income through the following:

• Salaries or wages (W2’s);
• Misc. income (1099);
• 401(k);
• Self-employment;
• Alimony;
• Bank interest;
• Rental property;
• Dividends;
• Social security / retirement income (pensions);
• Unemployment / disability income; and
• Any other income.

3. Investments

If the client has investments, the income generated can possibly be under a different tax classification. The sale of any investment types should be disclosed:

• IRA
• 401(k)
• Digital assets
• Real estate
• Stocks

4. Dependents

Dependents are children, earning less than $1,150 per year, that fall under a client’s household and contribute to tax benefits.

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5. Deductions

Deductions are amounts that are qualified under the tax code that can be subtracted from a client’s gross income. For example, real estate owned by a client has depreciation which can be written off as a deduction. Other deductions include:

• Mortgage interest;
• Real estate taxes;
• Vehicle taxes;
• Alimony payments;
• Childcare expenses (daycare);
• Contributions to retirement (IRA, 401(k), etc.);
• Charitable contributions;
• Medical expenses; and
• Any other qualifying deductions.

6. Liability Disclosure

According to the IRS, “Taxpayers are ultimately responsible for all the information on their income tax return.” Although, this doesn’t mean that a client cannot hold their accountant or bookkeeper liable if they should file an inaccurate tax return.

Therefore, it is recommended to have an intake form include the following statement:

“The client acknowledges, as a taxpayer, to be ultimately responsible for their return and holds the preparer harmless from any wrongdoing or misrepresentation of information received.”

7. Consent to Third Parties

Federal law (26 U.S. Code § 7216) requires that consent be given to a client if their information is to be used for any matter other than preparing and filing their taxes.

If a client does not consent, the provider cannot disclose the client’s return to third parties or use their information internally for marketing or other purposes.

If a client gives consent, federal law will not protect the client from sharing their tax returns with third parties or using them for marketing purposes.

Related Forms

Accountant Engagement Letter – After reviewing the information on the intake form, an engagement letter is commonly written to outline the scope of work for the tax preparer’s services and hourly rates.

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