CPA Platform Walkthrough — See What Your Tax Clients Experience

Feature 01

Client Dashboard

The first thing clients see after login. Tax return status, outstanding documents, upcoming deadlines, and balance due — eliminates the flood of "is my return done yet?" calls during tax season.

40–70% of staff time spent collecting data $0 per-user fees

Works for: Solo CPA · Small Firm · Regional Practice · Advisory

Replaces: TaxDome ($50–67/user/mo), Canopy ($150/mo + $32/user/mo) — all charge per-user. This doesn't.

2

Docs Needed

8

Received

Apr 15

Filing Deadline

In Prep

Return Status

Engagement Letter Signed

Complete · Jan 8

Tax Organizer Submitted

Complete · Feb 2

Document Collection

8 of 10 received

Return Preparation

Queued

Client Review & Sign

Pending

Filed with IRS

Pending

Feature 02

Secure Document Collection

The #1 most-requested feature across every CPA platform. Encrypted upload with auto-checklists for W-2s, 1099s, K-1s, and bank statements. Auto-reminds clients about missing items — not your staff.

#1 most-cited CPA portal feature 300% surge in firm cyberattacks since 2020

Works for: Solo CPA · Small Firm · Regional Practice

Replaces: SmartVault ($25–65/user/mo), Liscio ($49–99/user/mo), Suralink ($17–39/user/mo). FTC Safeguards Rule requires a Written Information Security Plan — email attachments violate it.

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Drop tax documents here or click to browse

PDF, JPG, PNG · 256-bit encrypted · FTC Safeguards compliant

2025 Tax Document Checklist

✓W-2 (Primary)

✓W-2 (Spouse)

✓1099-INT (Chase)

✓1099-DIV (Fidelity)

✓1098 Mortgage Interest

✓Property Tax Statement

○K-1 (Partnership)

○Charitable Donation Receipts

Feature 03

Secure Messaging

Encrypted in-portal messaging replaces the tax-season email avalanche. Clients ask questions, your team responds — with a full audit trail. No more hunting through inboxes for that one W-2 question.

43% of accounting firms attacked last year

Works for: Solo CPA · Small Firm · Regional Practice · Advisory

Email is the #1 attack vector for accounting firms. Every sensitive document and communication belongs inside an encrypted portal — not an inbox.

Hi — I just uploaded my W-2s and mortgage statement. My K-1 from the partnership won't be ready until mid-March. Can you start without it?

Jason & Lisa Park · Feb 18, 4:22 PM

Thanks Jason. Yes — we can start preparation with what you've sent and add the K-1 when it arrives. Most partnerships distribute K-1s by March 15. We'll flag it in your checklist.

Your Firm · Feb 18, 5:10 PM · ✓ Read

Perfect. Also, we donated a car to Goodwill this year. Do we need a special form for that?

Jason & Lisa Park · Feb 18, 5:25 PM

Yes — you'll need Form 1098-C or a written acknowledgment from Goodwill showing the sale price. Upload it to your Documents tab whenever you get it.

Your Firm · Feb 19, 9:08 AM · ✓ Read

Feature 04

Payments & Invoicing

86% of CPA firms cite difficulty collecting fees. This puts invoices in front of clients with one-click payment — credit card, ACH, or PayPal. Automated reminders chase balances, not your office manager.

86% of CPA firms cite collection difficulty

Works for: Solo CPA · Small Firm · Regional Practice

Integrates with Stripe and PayPal. Replaces CPACharge ($0 monthly + ~3% transaction) with a built-in portal that clients actually see and use.

Invoice	Service	Amount	Status
#2025-041	2024 Individual Return (1040)	$650.00	✓ PAID
#2025-042	2024 Schedule C (Business)	$450.00	✓ PAID
#2026-001	2025 Tax Preparation — Deposit	$400.00

Balance Due

$400.00

Feature 05

Appointment Scheduling

Tax planning meetings, quarterly check-ins, and year-end reviews — clients book from the portal. No phone tag during your busiest months. Automated confirmations and reminders.

Replaces Calendly ($12–20/user/mo)

Works for: Solo CPA · Small Firm · Regional Practice · Advisory

Built into the portal. During tax season, the last thing your staff needs is scheduling calls. Let clients self-serve.

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Meeting Types

Tax Return Review (30 min)

Tax Planning Session (60 min)

Quick Question (15 min)

Feature 06

E-Signatures

Engagement letters, Form 8879 (e-file authorization), and tax returns — clients sign from any device. Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA) for IRS identity verification.

Replaces SafeSend ($13–20/return)

Works for: Solo CPA · Small Firm · Regional Practice

SafeSend charges $13–20 per return. At 200 returns that's $2,600–$4,000/year — for signatures alone. This is unlimited signatures, built into the platform, no extra cost.

Form 8879 — IRS e-file Authorization

I consent to allow my tax preparer to electronically file my 2025 federal income tax return (Form 1040). I have reviewed the return and the amounts match my records. I authorize the IRS to communicate with my preparer about this return.

Taxpayer

Jason Park

Spouse

Lisa Park

Date

March 28, 2026 · 7:14 PM EST

ID: 9c7f-33ab · KBA verified · SHA-256 · Legally binding

Feature 07

Digital Tax Organizer

Replace paper organizers with smart digital versions. Pre-populated from prior-year data. Clients fill in income, deductions, and life changes — your team gets clean, structured data instead of shoebox receipts.

2–5 hrs saved per client in data collection

Works for: Solo CPA · Small Firm · Regional Practice

Compatible with Lacerte, ProSeries, Drake, and UltraTax workflows. Clients enter data once — it flows into your prep software. No double-entry.

2025 Tax Organizer

PRE-POPULATED FROM 2024 RETURN · REVIEW AND UPDATE

Personal Information

Confirmed · No changes

Wages & Salary (W-2)

Updated · $142,500

Interest & Dividends

Updated · $3,840

Business Income (Sched C)

In Progress

Deductions & Credits

Not Started

Life Changes

Not Started

Estimated Payments

Not Started

Feature 08

AI Chat Assistant

24/7 automated chat trained on your firm's services and tax FAQ. Answers common questions — "When will my return be ready?" "What documents do I need?" — without consuming staff time.

40%+ of inquiries arrive after hours

Works for: Solo CPA · Small Firm · Regional Practice · Advisory

During tax season, a chat that answers "What's the deadline?" and "Do I need my K-1 yet?" saves your team dozens of calls per week.

Hargrove & Associates — Support

Hi! I'm the virtual assistant for Hargrove & Associates. How can I help?

When will my tax return be ready?

I can see your return is currently in Document Collection — we're waiting on 2 items (K-1 and charitable receipts). Once those arrive, preparation typically takes 5–7 business days.

Is there a way to extend if I can't get the K-1 in time?

Yes — we can file Form 4868 for an automatic 6-month extension. This extends the filing deadline to October 15 but does not extend the payment deadline. Want me to have your preparer reach out to discuss?

Feature 09

Knowledge Base & Resources

Tax deadlines, deduction guides, estimated payment calculators, and downloadable forms. Positions your firm as a year-round resource — not just a tax-season vendor.

17% growth in advisory services revenue (2024)

Works for: Solo CPA · Small Firm · Regional Practice · Advisory

Client Advisory Services is the fastest-growing CPA revenue line — expected to grow 99% over three years. A knowledge base positions your firm for year-round engagement.

Client Resource Center

Guides, deadlines, and tools for your financial year.

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Tax Deadlines

Federal, state, and quarterly due dates

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Document Checklist

Everything needed by filing type

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Estimated Payments

Calculator and voucher forms

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Deduction Guide

Common deductions by category

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IRS Forms

Downloadable forms and instructions

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Contact Your CPA

Direct access to your preparer

See What Your Tax Clients Actually Experience

Every Feature. One Platform. Your Brand.