Engagement Letter
We've updated our Engagement Letter for 2026.
This document outlines the terms and conditions
associated with engaging Rockland Pros.
As a reminder,
ALL Clients are required to sign our current Engagement Letter
prior to commencing and/or continuing ANY of our services in 2026.
Income Tax Preparation Process
In the interest of transparency, below you will find an outline of our income tax preparation process, which is used for business and personal returns...
- Engagement Letter: Our annual services agreement, sent to Clients through Canopy for their review and electronic signature.
- Tax Organizer: A questionnaire, sent to Clients through Canopy as a checklist to minimize the risk of overlooking important tax information. Rockland Pros will review the Client's Tax Organizer beginning on their respective Start Dates.
- Tax Documentation: A Client Request will be sent through Canopy, after Clients submit their Tax Organizer, to begin uploading their files. Rockland Pros will beginning reviewing our Clients' tax information on their Start Dates.
- Reconciliation: Performed by Rockland Pros. During this step, we will review our Clients' Tax Organizers together with their tax documentation to confirm that we have all the information necessary to prepare and file our Clients' income tax returns.
- Draft Income Tax Returns: Performed by Rockland Pros staff or ERO based on nature or complexity of each income tax return.
- Review Income Tax Returns: Performed exclusively by an ERO (e.g., Brian Campbell).
- Summary & Administration: Sent to Clients through the Canopy Client Portal.
- e-File Authorization Forms: Sent to Clients through the Canopy Client Portal. [Note: For Married Filing Jointly (MFJ) income tax returns, Rockland Pros must receive the electronic signatures of BOTH taxpayers.]
- Invoice: Sent to Clients through Canopy.
- e-File: Upon receipt of the e-File Authorization Forms and payment of our invoice, Rockland Pros will electronically file Client's income tax returns.
This process aligns 100% to the automated workflow that we designed and implemented in Canopy.
Scheduled Work Model
Rockalnd Pros uses a "Scheduled Work" model.
Using this model, Clients RESERVE specific Start Dates
for the the preparation and filing their income tax returns.
This finite window promotes transparency and enables better resource allocation, helping us to meet the filing deadlines.
The links to reserve Start Dates will be sent to Clients
upon signing of our Engagement Letter.
Clients can use these links to schedule "On-Time Filings"
or "Extended Filings"
The Start Dates are NOT "appointments".
They are the dates that our team will begin
preparing your income tax returns.
Canopy: Client Portal
The Canopy Client Portal is used for...
- Engagement Letter: Upon the signing of the Engagement Letter, Canopy will automatically create the income tax preparation workflow for each Client - beginning with creation of a Communication Hub that will be available within your Client Portal.
- Workflow: We've designed a workflow within Canopy that aligns with our income tax preparation process to help facilitate the preparation and filing of your income tax returns.
- Communication Hub: The Communication Hubis used to communicate with us throughout the income tax preparation process.
- Tax Organizer: The Tax Organizer is used as a general "checklist" to minimize the risk that our Clients may forget to provide us with important tax information.
- Status Updates: As part of the workflow, our Clients will receive automated updates upon the completion of each step within the income tax preparation process. This will provide more transparency throughout the process.
- Invoices: All invoices will be sent through Canopy with two payment options: Direct Debit/ACH or Credit Card.
- Payment: We still accept other payment methods outside of Canopy, which will be listed with payment instructions at the bottom of each invoice.
Appointments
With the significant increase in the complexity of the tax codes, the limited time available to file tax returns and lack of experienced Accounting professionals (industry-wide), we discontinued the use of our online scheduling tool for income tax appointments.
A formal appointment is NOT required to drop off your tax information. You may drop off your tax information,
consistent with prior years, at our office
between 9am and 5pm from Monday through Friday.
Feel free to contact our office to coordinate a day and time with our Office Manager so that we are available to receive your tax information.
Pricing Model
Rockland Pros uses an "Hourly Rate" billing model for all services.
Hourly rates are billed in 15-minute increments as follows:
- Administrative Staff (Non-Accounting Staff) = $50 per hour
- Accounting Staff (Non-Filers) = $150 per hour
- Managing Partner/Electronic Returns Originators (ERO's) = $300 per hour
Minimum Rates
The minimum rate per income tax return type is as follows:
- Individual/Personal Income Tax Returns (Form 1040) = $500 per return
- Partnership Income Tax Returns (Form 1065) = $2,000 per return
- S Corporation Income Tax Returns (Form 1120-S) = $2,000 per return
- C Corporation Income Tax Returns (Form 1120) = $2,000 per return
- Not-For-Profit/Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax Returns = $1,200 per return
- Estates & Trusts = $500 per return
Our invoices may also include any out-of-pocket expenses (e.g., postage and delivery, filing fees, technology fees), where applicable.
Payment Methods
We accept the following payment methods:
Cash, Goldbacks, Check, Electronic Check, Zelle/Chase QuickPay,
Venmo, and Credit Cards.
All invoices are due upon receipt. Income tax returns will not be filed until invoices are paid in full.
Estimated Tax Payments
An Extension allows you additional time to FILE of your income tax returns; Extensions do not allow additional time to PAY your taxes.
All income tax payments are due by April 15th,
with or without an extension.
If you make an Estimated Tax Payment through the IRS website and/or the website of the State tax authorities, please upload confirmation of your payments to Canopy so that we can include the payment(s) on your income tax returns.
Office Location
We are happy to report that we renewed our lease with
Office Evolution,
a Corporate suite within
1 Blue Hill Plaza, Lobby Level, Suite 1509
(across from the Security Desk)
For those who are not familiar with Blue Hill Plaza, we are in the skyscraper located across from the Pearl River Hilton
(as depicted in the picture).
We welcome visitors by appointment only - no walk-ins.
Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Tax Preparers
Tax preparers must display taxpayers’ rights and meet standards to ensure ethical service to customers
The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance encourages taxpayers to know their rights when hiring a tax preparer. New York State’s Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Tax Preparers establishes standards to help protect the public from dishonest tax preparers.
“Before hiring a tax preparer, taxpayers can review the state’s Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Tax Preparers to make sure their preparer follows ethical practices and standards,” said New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Acting Commissioner Amanda Hiller. “While most tax return preparers are honest professionals, some take advantage of their position of trust and access to sensitive information to scam customers out of their hard-earned money.”