The following guidelines provide a clear understanding of our process and expectations when you engage us to prepare your tax return.
Step 1 — Know your responsibilities and deadlines
- Taxes are pay-as-you-go. Avoid interest and penalties by paying throughout the tax year as you receive income. A good rule of thumb is to pay 90% of your tax during the year.
- File your return on time. The due date is usually April 15th. You may request an extension to file by October 15th — but the last day to pay your tax balance remains April 15th.
- Provide complete and accurate information. You are responsible for keeping organized records and accurately reporting worldwide income.
Step 2 — Log in to the Fintacs Client Portal
All services are managed through the Fintacs Client Portal — the primary system for communication, document exchange, task tracking, and service status.
- Existing clients already have an account. Accept services from the annual confirmation email, or log in and start a new service from your dashboard.
- New clients must first complete new client onboarding. Once complete, you’ll be able to log in and begin services.
Step 3 — Start your individual tax return
- Select Start New Service from the dashboard.
- Choose Tax Return Service.
- Indicate whether you consent to the use of our secure offshore preparation team.
- Confirm your filing status (such as filing jointly or separately).
- Review and confirm taxpayer and spouse information.
After these steps, an engagement letter is sent electronically for signature. Tax preparation does not begin until the engagement letter is fully signed.
Step 4 — Complete client action items and upload documents
After the engagement letter is signed, your dashboard will display an active service along with any action items pending on you. Clients are responsible for logging in regularly to review their dashboard. Automated email notifications are sent when action is required, but the portal dashboard is the authoritative source for service status.
If additional time is needed, update the due date for specific action items in the portal to pause reminders while keeping the service active.
All documents must be provided exclusively through the Fintacs Client Portal. We no longer accept documents via ShareFile, email, or other external systems.
- Upload all tax documents using the Upload Files option within the service.
- Complete the annual tax questionnaire.
- Review and confirm requested information.
- Indicate when all documents have been uploaded.
Tax preparation begins only after all required documents and action items are completed.
Step 5 — Preparation, review, and filing
Once all required information has been received, we begin preparing your return. You’ll be notified through the portal and email when your return is ready for review.
- Review the prepared return in the Client Portal.
- Schedule a review appointment if you’d like to discuss it.
- Approve the final return.
Once you’ve confirmed the draft return, we’ll send a signature and invoice payment request. Sign the e-filing authorization forms (or, for paper filing, print, sign, and mail). Pay our invoice so we can electronically submit your return. We file only after approval, payment, and signatures are complete.
If the IRS or state rejects the return, we will notify you and coordinate next steps. Once accepted, your individual tax return service for the year is complete. Final copies remain available in the Client Portal.
Extensions
If you can’t provide all required information by the filing deadline, you may request a tax extension directly from within the Client Portal.
- Extension requests must be submitted before the filing deadline.
- An extension provides additional time to file, not additional time to pay.
- Required payments will be discussed and coordinated through the portal.
Step 6 — Post-filing
You’ll receive a confirmation from us once we electronically file your return. Please collect a Submission ID from us as proof of filing.
Keep an eye on your bank account to ensure tax payments have gone out as scheduled, or that the correct refund has been received.
If more than three weeks have passed and you still haven’t received a refund, please track its status here.
If you have any questions or need to resolve a notice or file an amendment, please contact us.
Your feedback is important — it helps us improve your experience. We’re grateful for the opportunity to serve you and thank you for choosing Etax Corporation.