# Tax preparation engagement letter

> What a tax engagement letter covers, what clients actually push back on, and how to get both spouses to sign from their phones.

Canonical page: https://bettrpdf.com/forms/engagement-letter  
This file: https://bettrpdf.com/forms/engagement-letter.md  
Site index for agents: https://bettrpdf.com/llms.txt

Fill, sign and send it back: https://bettrpdf.com/fill?form=engagement-letter (sample, not legal advice)

Updated 2026-10-24. Pages: 2. Signers: Client, spouse, preparer. When: Before you start the return. Usually with: Form 7216 consent, organizer.

## What a Tax engagement letter is

An engagement letter sets out what you will prepare, what you will not, what it costs, and what the client is responsible for. It is the document your insurer asks for first when a client disputes a fee or blames you for a penalty. Most firms send one every season, signed by both spouses on a joint return.

## Every field

| Field | What goes in it |
| --- | --- |
| Parties | Your firm and every client on the return. On a joint return, both spouses sign. |
| Services | The tax year and the exact returns: 1040, which states, any extensions. Anything not listed is not included. |
| Fees | The fee or how it is figured, any deposit, and when the balance is due. Clients dispute vague fees, not high ones. |
| Client responsibilities | Accurate, complete information, records that back up each item, and reviewing the return before it is filed. |
| Document deadline | The date you need everything by to file on time. Later than that means an extension. |
| Filing and records | E-filing after Form 8879 is signed, how long you keep copies, and that audit representation is a separate engagement. |

## Mistakes that get it sent back

- **Only one spouse signs.** On a joint return both spouses are your clients. Send it to both, in order or at once.
- **Scope that says "tax services".** List the returns. If a client later expects a state return, an amended return or audit help, the letter decides it.
- **Signed after the work starts.** Get it back before you prepare anything. A signature request link with reminders usually comes back the same day.
- **Bundling the 7216 consent into it.** Consent to use or disclose tax return information has to be its own signed form, and you cannot make the engagement conditional on it.

## Terms

- In the letter: Scope of services, Fee, Retainer, Client responsibilities, Record retention, Form 8879, Termination
- Related forms: Form 7216 consent, Form 8879, Form 2848, Form 8821, Tax organizer
- Who sends them: Enrolled agents, CPAs, Seasonal preparers, Bookkeepers

## FAQ

**Can both spouses sign from their phones?**

Yes. Fill in your part, choose Request signatures, add both spouses. They sign on their phones with no login and you get the signed copy with a certificate of completion.

**Can I use my own engagement letter?**

Yes. Open your own PDF or Word-to-PDF letter in Fill & Sign and send it the same way.

**Does this replace Form 8879?**

No. Form 8879 is the IRS e-file signature authorization and has its own rules, including identity checks for remote signing.

## Related guides

- [Section 7216 consent to use and disclose tax return information](https://bettrpdf.com/forms/irs-7216-consent.md)
- [How to fill out a W-9 in 2026](https://bettrpdf.com/forms/w-9.md)
- [How to fill out an invoice that gets paid](https://bettrpdf.com/forms/invoice.md)