How your firm does the work
The useful records in an accounting firm are rarely the returns themselves. They are the documents that show how a careful team reaches a finished file:
- Checklists for engagements and templates for workpapers
- Close procedures for each month and each year, in their real order
- Review notes and how preparers resolve them
- Internal guides that explain standards and positions to your own staff
- How requests get assigned, tracked and billed
Your methods remain yours
Your originals remain in your systems, and no one asks for logins or passwords. License Your Data handles the preparation, and buyers license nothing beyond what you approved. You can hold back any template, checklist or folder you consider part of what makes the firm distinctive.
Every identifier becomes a placeholder
In what remains, every client, person and company name is replaced with a placeholder, along with account numbers and addresses. This covers your partners and team as well. You review a sample of the copy and approve it before it goes anywhere, so your firm sees the outcome before anyone else.
Keeping client documents and taxpayer data out
Tax return information is covered by strict confidentiality rules. You can keep files from clients and taxpayer information away from the copy altogether, and many practices drop their tax application at the outset. Whether any tax related material belongs in scope is for your firm and its counsel to decide. We give no legal advice on that question.
How most firms get started
The estimate needs no documents and takes roughly a minute. On the first short call, it helps to say up front which systems are off the table, such as tax software or client portals, so the conversation stays on internal procedures and templates. If a partner or your counsel wants to review the sample, build that into the timeline. Asking for a range during busy season is fine, and so is waiting on the rest. Nothing goes forward without your approval.
Questions we hear from partners
Must client work be part of it?
No. You choose what is in scope, and client files can stay out entirely.
Who looks at our files before we sign off?
It all runs under NDA, and nothing goes out until a sample has your approval.
Is there a cost to the firm?
Nothing. You pay nothing.
Check my firm's estimate.
Years in business and firm size decide the range. It takes about a minute.
How many employees does your company have?
Indicative estimate based on your answers. Not an offer or guarantee.