Terms of Service
Effective Date: January 1, 2026 | Last Updated: March 14, 2026
1 Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using the website, services, or client portal provided by Sparkle Tax Advisory ("Company," "we," "us," or "our"), you ("Client," "you," or "your") agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use our services.
These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Sparkle Tax Advisory. By engaging our services, submitting documents through our portal, or using our website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms, along with our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated herein by reference.
2 Description of Services
Sparkle Tax Advisory provides the following professional tax services:
- Tax Preparation: Preparation and electronic filing of federal and state individual income tax returns (Form 1040 and related schedules), including W-2 employees, self-employed individuals, freelancers, and gig workers
- Business Tax Services: Preparation of business returns (1120-S, 1065, 1120) for LLCs, S-Corps, partnerships, and C-Corporations, including entity structuring consultation
- Tax Planning & Advisory: Strategic tax planning, deduction optimization, estimated tax guidance, retirement contribution strategy, and life-event tax planning
- Tax Compliance: Multi-state filing, regulatory change monitoring, IRS compliance review, and amended return preparation
- IRS Representation: Through our network of IRS Enrolled Agents (EAs), we provide IRS notice response, audit representation, payment plan negotiation, penalty abatement, and offer in compromise assistance
- Year-Round Support: Ongoing access to tax professionals via our client portal, email support, quarterly check-ins, and mid-year tax projections
Services are provided using professional-grade software including Intuit ProSeries for tax preparation and Canopy Tax for practice management and client engagement.
3 Client Engagement & Responsibilities
Your Responsibilities
As a client of Sparkle Tax Advisory, you agree to:
- Provide Accurate Information: Furnish complete, accurate, and truthful information necessary for the preparation of your tax return. You are legally responsible for the accuracy of information provided to us
- Timely Document Submission: Upload all required documents through the secure client portal in a timely manner. Late document submission may result in delayed filing or the need for a filing extension
- Review & Approve: Carefully review your completed tax return before authorizing e-filing. Once you approve and we file, you are responsible for the contents of the return
- Respond Promptly: Respond to our requests for additional information or clarification within a reasonable timeframe to avoid delays
- Maintain Records: Retain copies of all tax documents and supporting records for a minimum of seven (7) years as recommended by IRS guidelines
- Disclose Material Changes: Promptly inform us of any material changes to your tax situation, including changes in income, marital status, dependents, or business structure
Our Responsibilities
Sparkle Tax Advisory agrees to:
- Prepare your tax return with professional care and diligence in accordance with applicable IRS regulations and tax law
- Maintain the confidentiality of all client information in accordance with our Privacy Policy and IRS Regulation § 7216
- File your return electronically with the IRS and applicable state agencies upon your approval
- Provide clear communication regarding the status of your return and any issues that arise
- Maintain appropriate professional liability insurance
4 Fees & Payment
Pricing Structure
Our fees are based on the complexity and scope of services provided. Published pricing tiers serve as starting points:
- Essential (from $175): Straightforward W-2 returns with standard deductions
- Full Service (from $375): Self-employed, freelancer, and complex individual returns
- Business & Advisory (from $650): Business entity returns with comprehensive advisory services
Final pricing is determined after an initial consultation and depends on the complexity of your situation, number of states, business entities, and additional services required. A custom quote will be provided before work begins.
Payment Terms
- Payment is due upon completion of services and before e-filing of your return, unless otherwise agreed in writing
- We accept payment via credit card, debit card, ACH transfer, and other methods available through our client portal
- A non-refundable consultation fee may apply for initial advisory sessions, as disclosed at the time of booking
- For business engagements and ongoing advisory services, a retainer or payment schedule may be established
Refund Policy
If we are unable to complete your return due to circumstances within our control, you will receive a full refund of fees paid for that engagement. Once a return has been filed, refunds are not available for preparation fees. Additional charges resulting from incomplete or inaccurate information provided by the client are non-refundable.
5 Client Portal & Account Security
Our secure client portal at sparkletax.clientportal.com is the primary method for document exchange and communication.
- Account Credentials: You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials. Do not share your username or password with any third party
- Unauthorized Access: Notify us immediately at ask@sparkletax.com if you suspect unauthorized access to your account
- Secure Upload: Always use the client portal to upload sensitive documents. We will never request sensitive tax documents via unencrypted email
- Session Security: Log out of your account after each session, especially on shared or public devices
- Supported Formats: We accept documents in PDF, JPEG, PNG, and other common formats. Password-protected files should have the password communicated separately through the portal messaging system
We reserve the right to temporarily suspend portal access for security purposes, including suspected unauthorized access or system maintenance, with reasonable notice when possible.
6 Accuracy & Compliance
Sparkle Tax Advisory prepares all tax returns in compliance with current IRS regulations, Internal Revenue Code provisions, and applicable state tax laws.
- Reasonable Basis Standard: All tax positions taken on your return will have a reasonable basis under applicable tax law. We will not take positions that lack substantial authority or that we believe to be frivolous
- Disclosure Requirements: Where required, we will include appropriate disclosures on your return for positions that may be subject to penalties
- E-Filing Authorization: By authorizing e-filing, you confirm that you have reviewed the return and that all information is accurate to the best of your knowledge
- Amendments: If an error is discovered after filing that was caused by our firm, we will prepare an amended return at no additional charge. Amendments required due to information not previously provided or errors in client-supplied data may be subject to additional fees
We are not responsible for penalties or interest resulting from inaccurate or incomplete information provided by the client, late filing due to delayed document submission, or tax law changes enacted after the return was filed.
7 Confidentiality & Data Protection
We treat all client information as strictly confidential in accordance with:
- IRS Regulation § 7216: We comply with all requirements regarding the use and disclosure of tax return information. Your tax return information will not be disclosed to third parties without your written consent, except as required by law
- Written Information Security Plan (WISP): We maintain a comprehensive WISP in compliance with IRS Publication 4557 and the FTC Safeguards Rule
- Industry-Standard Encryption: All data is encrypted using 256-bit AES encryption at rest and TLS 1.2+ in transit
- Privacy Policy: Our detailed data handling practices are described in our Privacy Policy
Our confidentiality obligations survive the termination of our professional relationship. We will continue to protect your information after our engagement ends.
8 Intellectual Property
- Website Content: All content on the Sparkle Tax Advisory website, including text, graphics, logos, the 4-diamond compass brand mark, design elements, and software, is the property of Sparkle Tax Advisory and is protected by copyright and trademark laws
- Limited License: You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use our website for personal, non-commercial purposes related to your tax service engagement
- Restrictions: You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, or lease any part of our website or services, nor may you reverse-engineer or attempt to extract our source code
- Client Documents: You retain ownership of all documents and information you provide to us. We retain a copy solely for record-keeping and compliance purposes as described in our data retention policy
9 Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law:
- Sparkle Tax Advisory's total liability for any claim arising from our services shall not exceed the total fees paid by you for the specific engagement giving rise to the claim
- We shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, data, or business opportunities
- We are not liable for penalties, interest, or additional taxes resulting from: (a) inaccurate or incomplete information provided by the client; (b) the client's failure to timely provide requested documents; (c) the client's failure to follow our tax planning recommendations; or (d) changes in tax law enacted after the return was filed
- We are not liable for any delays, errors, or service interruptions caused by third-party service providers, including the IRS, state tax agencies, e-filing transmission services, or software platforms
This limitation of liability applies regardless of the legal theory on which the claim is based, whether in contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, or otherwise.
10 Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Sparkle Tax Advisory, its owners, employees, contractors, and agents from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from or related to:
- Your provision of inaccurate, incomplete, or fraudulent information
- Your breach of these Terms of Service
- Your violation of any applicable law or regulation
- Any claim by a third party arising from your use of our services
- Your failure to comply with IRS or state tax authority requirements that were communicated to you
11 Termination
Termination by Client
You may terminate our engagement at any time by providing written notice via the client portal or email. If you terminate after work has begun, you are responsible for fees for services already performed. Upon termination, we will provide copies of any work product completed to date.
Termination by Sparkle Tax Advisory
We reserve the right to terminate our engagement if:
- You fail to provide required information after reasonable requests
- You request that we take a tax position that we believe to be fraudulent, illegal, or lacking reasonable basis
- You fail to pay fees due under our engagement
- Continued representation would create a conflict of interest
- You engage in conduct that is abusive, threatening, or harassing toward our staff
Effect of Termination
Upon termination, your client portal access will remain active for thirty (30) days to allow you to download your documents. After this period, access may be suspended, though we will retain your records in accordance with our data retention policy. Confidentiality obligations survive termination.
12 Dispute Resolution
- Informal Resolution: Before initiating any formal dispute resolution process, you agree to contact us at ask@sparkletax.com to attempt to resolve the dispute informally. We will make good-faith efforts to resolve any issues within thirty (30) days
- Mediation: If informal resolution is unsuccessful, the parties agree to participate in non-binding mediation before a mutually agreed-upon mediator before pursuing arbitration or litigation
- Arbitration: Any dispute not resolved through mediation shall be submitted to binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA). The arbitration shall take place in the state where Sparkle Tax Advisory maintains its principal office
- Class Action Waiver: You agree that any dispute resolution proceedings will be conducted on an individual basis and not as part of a class, consolidated, or representative action
13 Disclaimers
- Not a CPA Firm: Sparkle Tax Advisory is a professional tax services firm. We are not a Certified Public Accounting (CPA) firm. Our network includes access to IRS Enrolled Agents (EAs) — federally licensed tax practitioners authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service
- No Legal Advice: Our services do not constitute legal advice. For legal matters related to taxation, estate planning, or business formation, we recommend consulting with a qualified attorney
- No Investment Advice: We do not provide investment advisory services. Tax planning discussions related to investment income or retirement contributions do not constitute investment advice
- Tax Law Changes: Tax laws and IRS regulations are subject to change. Advice and strategies provided are based on the tax law in effect at the time of the engagement. We are not responsible for changes enacted after our engagement
- Website Information: Information on our website is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional tax advice. Individual circumstances vary, and you should consult directly with a tax professional before making decisions based on website content
- IRS Circular 230 Notice: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained on this website is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein
14 Modifications to Terms
We reserve the right to modify these Terms of Service at any time. When we make material changes:
- We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
- We will notify active clients via email or through the client portal
- Material changes will not apply retroactively to engagements already in progress unless required by law
- Continued use of our services after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms
We encourage you to review these Terms periodically. If you do not agree to the modified Terms, you may terminate your engagement as described in Section 11.
15 Governing Law
These Terms of Service shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state in which Sparkle Tax Advisory maintains its principal place of business, without regard to conflict of law principles. Federal tax matters are governed by the Internal Revenue Code and applicable Treasury Regulations.
Any provisions of these Terms that are found to be unenforceable shall be severed, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.