Yearly running cost Assuming 600 returns a year
By hand $20.3K / year 450 hours of work
Hosted service $29.4K+ / year
This workflow $281 / year Machine usage only; setup, hosting and review are extra. Should it enter figures into your tax software? Prepare an entry worksheet, or also import approved figures into your tax software.
One return includes up to 25 source documents and 60 pages.
Prepare entries and workpapers Get source-linked figures and prior-year differences. $1,296 – 3,840 setup Import approved entries Also save approved figures and workpapers to your systems. $1,944 – 5,880 setup
Which tax software do you use?CCH Axcess Tax UltraTax CS Lacerte Drake Tax ProConnect Tax Other Your preparers and reviewers decide tax treatment, complete the return and sign. It never takes a tax position, files a return or contacts a client.
What is included Read the figures from the supported forms, place each one in the matching tax software input with its document and page, flag differences from last year and missing recurring payers, and draft the workpaper.
Start with the forms you want covered, your tax software’s input fields, your workpaper layout and past returns with their source documents. The connected option imports the approved entries into your tax software and files the workpaper in your document system.
How reliable should the entries be? Set targets for reading figures correctly, mapping them to the right inputs and flagging prior-year differences.
Standard Correct figures and fields on clear documents, with unreadable or unusual items left for the preparer. Figures read correctly: ≥98% Figures in the right input field: ≥97% Included Strict A second independent read of each figure and more tests on past returns. Figures read correctly: ≥99% Figures in the right input field: ≥99% Setup +$288 – 840 My own targets Agree your own acceptance requirements with the provider. Quote separately
How these standards are measured Test on held-out past returns with their source documents and the figures your preparers entered, including corrected forms, consolidated brokerage statements, several payers of the same kind, joint returns and poor scans. Measure figure reading, field placement and prior-year flags separately. A figure without a document and page counts as a failure.
Targets for your selected standard What is checked Target Figures read correctlyFigures such as wages, withholding, interest, dividends, proceeds, basis and partnership amounts that match the labelled value on the document, divided by all labelled figures in the test returns. A figure marked unreadable for the preparer is not counted as wrong. ≥98% Figures in the right input fieldCorrectly read figures that are placed in the right tax software input field for the right taxpayer, form and payer, divided by all labelled figures. ≥97% Prior-year differences flaggedLabelled differences from last year’s return above your threshold, and recurring payers missing this year, that are flagged, divided by all such labelled items. ≥95% Figures with document and pageEvery figure in the worksheet must cite the source document and page it came from. ≥100%
Prepared entries are work for a preparer to check, not a completed return. Your preparers and reviewers still decide tax treatment, complete the return and sign it.
How quickly should a return’s entries be ready? Choose how soon after the documents are ready the entry worksheet and workpaper are available. Preparer and reviewer time is separate.
Within 10 minutes Included Within 5 minutes Setup +$144 – 480 Within 2 minutes Setup +$288 – 840
Timing details Time from a complete document set to the drafted worksheet and workpaper, including reading pages, mapping, prior-year comparison, queueing and retries. Very large packets may need agreed limits. Confirm peak-season volume and hardware with your provider.
The target applies to at least 95% of agreed test runs, with 4 in progress at a time.
How much do you want to spend per return? Set the AI processing budget for preparing one return's entries.
Up to $2.00 Included Up to $1.00 Setup +$72 – 360 Up to $0.60 Setup +$216 – 600
Cost details Includes model calls, retries and a shared hosting allocation. Tax software licences, your preparers’ and reviewers’ time and the calling agent are separate. Re-running a return after new documents arrive is another run.
Reference machine cost: $0.87 – 1.67 per return at 50 returns a month. The selected cap is a target to test, not a replacement for this estimate.
Where do you want it to run? Run it in your cloud or on your own server. Choose whether document pages may go to an approved AI service.
Run it onYour cloud Local environment AI model accessApproved model API Private model only
Data and access details Runs in a cloud account your firm controls, with access by staff role and access logs.
Only the document pages for a return go to the selected external model. Agree retention and confirm this fits your security plan and client consent.
Keep client documents, prior returns and workpapers inside your environment, in line with your written information security plan. Send only the pages needed for a return to the approved model, under agreed retention terms. Private model only keeps taxpayer data on your hardware; the connected option still reaches your own tax software.
How do you want to use it? Choose where you want to use it. You can select more than one.
A review web page Upload a client’s source documents and last year’s return, check each figure next to its page and download the import file and workpaper. Included My existing AI agent Let your current agent prepare the entry worksheet for a client and read back the figures and flagged differences. Setup +$72 – 240 A dedicated agent Use a dedicated agent that your preparers ask to prepare a client’s entries or explain where a figure came from. Setup +$144 – 480