Our process

Using AET is easy, convenient, and secure

Here’s exactly what to expect—from your first appointment through a filed return.

The tax preparation process

Step 1

Book your intake

Ready to file? Schedule a 30-minute intake appointment with an AET tax professional. There’s a $100 booking fee, and if you move forward with us, $50 is credited toward your filing.
Step 2

Talk to a specialist

During your intake call, an AET Expat Tax Pro walks through your personal tax situation to understand exactly what you need, and gives you the chance to see if we’re the right fit.
Step 3

Receive your proposal

After the call, we'll email you a secure link to your personalized proposal. It lays out your fee quote, scope of work, and the specific services we'll prepare. We quote all fees before any work begins.
Step 4

Sign and make a deposit

Open your proposal to review the terms and included services, then sign electronically. We'll collect a 50% deposit at signing, with the balance due at completion.
Step 5

Send us your documents

We’ll tell you exactly what we need. Upload everything securely through your encrypted client portal, access is limited to you, AET, and anyone you designate, like a spouse or advisor.
Step 6

We file. You relax.

Before your return is delivered, an additional IRS Enrolled Agent (EA) will check your return for tax theory and computational accuracy. You'll receive your completed return with everything you need for your records.

Returning client?

If you’ve filed with AET before, getting started for the new tax season is straightforward. To ensure you are routed to the correct next step for the upcoming tax season, please select the option that best describes your situation.

  • Got married or divorced
  • Started, sold, or closed a business or trust
  • Moved to a different country, state, or province
  • Had a retirement or pension rollover
  • Stock benefits vested or exercised
  • Had a child
  • Bought, sold, or co-signed on a property
  • Paid off a mortgage, loan, or debt
  • Had significant expenditures — tuition, renovations, medical
  • Received or made large gifts

Frequently asked questions

An intake appointment is for clients who are ready to file — it leads to a proposal and engagement. A consultation is for clients who have questions or need advice without committing to filing. Both are 30 minutes and paid upfront. The $100 intake fee is partially credited toward your filing if you proceed. The $250 consultation fee is a flat charge with no further obligation.

Timing depends on the complexity of your situation and how quickly documents are provided. Most returns are completed within four to six weeks of receiving all required documents. During peak season, timelines may be longer — your Tax Specialist will keep you updated throughout.

It depends on what you need — different questions go to different members of your team. See our Contact page for a full breakdown of who handles what at each stage of your engagement.

Your document checklist is included in your engagement package after your intake appointment. For a general overview of what most expat filers need to provide, see our Tax Preparation Checklist.

No — returning clients use the re-engagement path above rather than the intake process. If nothing has changed in your tax situation, the returning client form is all you need. If something has changed, a brief returning client appointment is available at no charge.

An Enrolled Agent is a federally licensed tax practitioner authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to represent taxpayers before the IRS. EAs must pass a rigorous three-part exam covering individual and business tax law, or have qualifying IRS experience, and are required to complete continuing education every year to maintain their license. They are the only tax professionals whose credentials are issued directly by the federal government rather than a state licensing board.

A Certified Public Accountant is a licensed accounting professional who has passed the Uniform CPA Examination and met state-specific education and experience requirements. CPAs can prepare tax returns, provide financial planning advice, and represent clients before the IRS in many circumstances.

A U.S. Tax Court Practitioner is a non-attorney licensed to represent taxpayers in U.S. Tax Court — one of the most specialized designations in the tax profession. The qualifying exam has a pass rate under 10%, and fewer than 300 practitioners hold this credential nationwide. AET’s team includes USTCPs, which means we can represent clients in formal tax disputes at the highest level.

Have foreign accounts and
 need to file?

Your intake appointment is the right first step — a 30-minute call with an AET Tax Specialist who will confirm exactly what you need and quote all fees before any work begins.
$100
USD
Start your tax preparation
Select
$250
USD
Book a consultation
Select