Client Care Package

Tax notices happen. You don’t have to handle them alone.

Even when a tax return is prepared accurately, taxpayers can still receive notices from the IRS or state taxing authorities. A notice may be triggered by information matching, processing issues, missing documentation, payment discrepancies, or questions about an item reported on a return.

The Molen & Associates Client Care Package gives you an experienced tax team to turn to when that happens.

For a small fee added to your tax preparation engagement, you’ll receive notice assistance, limited representation services, tax consultations, and priority access to our team for qualifying matters related to the tax return we prepare.

Client Care Package

$59 per individual return | $189 per business return

Your package includes:

• Review and assistance with qualifying IRS correspondence related to the covered tax return
• Limited assistance with qualifying state income-tax correspondence
• Up to 2 hours of audit preparation and/or representation for qualifying matters
• Two 15-minute tax consultations during the 12 months following filing
• Priority response to phone and email inquiries, generally within one business day
• Expedited office appointments, when available

What happens if I receive an IRS notice?

Upload the complete notice to your client portal as soon as possible, preferably within 48 hours of receipt.

Our team will review the notice, determine whether it relates to a return covered by your Client Care Package, and recommend the appropriate next step.

Depending on the issue, we may respond to the notice, obtain transcripts, request authorization to communicate with the IRS, help gather supporting documentation, or communicate with the IRS on your behalf.

Many routine notices can be addressed within the services included in the package. More complicated matters may require additional services.

What does the two-hour representation benefit cover?

The Client Care Package includes up to two hours of Molen & Associates’ professional time for qualifying audit preparation and representation related to the covered return.

This may include:

• Reviewing the issue and relevant tax return
• Reviewing IRS or state correspondence
• Obtaining and reviewing transcripts
• Preparing a Power of Attorney when appropriate
• Organizing supporting documentation
• Communicating with the taxing authority
• Participating in telephone or in-person discussions when appropriate

The two-hour benefit is a limited representation benefit and is not unlimited audit defense or tax controversy representation.

If a matter requires more than the included time, we will discuss the recommended next steps and any additional fees with you before performing additional billable work.

What about state tax notices?

The Client Care Package is primarily designed for federal income-tax matters and provides limited assistance with state income-tax correspondence related to a covered return prepared by Molen & Associates.

State matters can vary significantly by jurisdiction and type of tax. Matters involving sales and use tax, payroll or employment tax, franchise or gross-receipts taxes, nexus, residency disputes, collections, administrative hearings, appeals, litigation, or other specialized state or local tax issues may fall outside the scope of the package.

Molen & Associates may provide an initial review of the matter and, when appropriate, recommend that you engage a professional who specializes in the applicable state or tax issue.

What if my audit or tax issue is more complicated?

Some matters require specialized tax controversy, legal, forensic, state/local, payroll, or other expertise.

Molen & Associates reserves the right to determine whether a matter is appropriate for our team to handle. We may recommend or require referral to another qualified professional at any point if we believe doing so is in the client’s best interest or the matter falls outside our scope of services.

When applicable, we will provide the initial services covered by your Client Care Package, subject to its limits, and help you understand the recommended next steps.

Fees charged by attorneys, tax controversy specialists, or other outside professionals are not included in the Client Care Package.

What isn’t included?

Unless specifically stated otherwise, the Client Care Package does not include:

• Preparation of amended tax returns
• Matters relating to returns prepared by another firm
• Tax years for which a Client Care Package was not purchased
• Issues arising from information that was not timely or accurately provided to Molen & Associates
• Tax Court or other judicial proceedings
• Criminal tax matters
• Collection representation, including Offers in Compromise or installment agreement representation
• Extensive audit or examination representation beyond the included two hours
• Specialized state or local tax matters
• Sales, payroll, employment, or excise tax examinations
• Third-party professional fees
• Taxes, penalties, or interest ultimately determined to be due

Additional services may be available under a separate engagement and fee.

What tax year is covered?

The Client Care Package applies only to the original tax return identified in your engagement with Molen & Associates.

Coverage generally continues for that return during the applicable IRS examination period, typically three years, subject to the terms and limitations of the package.

It does not automatically cover prior-year returns, amended returns, or returns prepared by another firm.

Can I opt out?

Yes. Clients are automatically enrolled in the Client Care Package but may opt out within the applicable enrollment period.

Clients who opt out may still engage Molen & Associates for notice assistance when capacity allows, but the work will be billed separately at our then-current rates.

Our current starting fee for a basic IRS notice response is $300 and includes initial review, communication regarding recommended next steps, and one response to the IRS when appropriate. More complex matters are quoted separately.

When can I enroll or cancel?

You may enroll from the beginning of your tax return engagement through 30 days after completion of your return.

You may cancel within 30 days following completion of the covered return, subject to the package terms.

Clients with an existing audit, notice, examination, collection matter, or other known tax controversy at the time of enrollment may be ineligible for coverage of that matter.

Molen & Associates reserves the right to determine eligibility for the Client Care Package.

How long do my consultations remain available?

The two included 15-minute consultations may be used during the 12 months following filing of the covered return.

Consultations are intended for brief tax questions or check-ins, such as a mid-year withholding review. More extensive tax planning, research, projections, entity analysis, or advisory services may require a separate engagement.

Important Terms

Send notices to us promptly

Please upload all pages of any IRS or state notice to your client portal as soon as possible, preferably within 48 hours of receipt. Delays may limit our ability to respond before applicable deadlines.

Taxes, penalties and interest remain the client’s responsibility

The Client Care Package provides professional assistance and limited representation. It does not insure or guarantee against additional tax, penalties, interest, or an unfavorable determination by a taxing authority.

Additional work requires your approval

If we believe a matter will exceed the services included in your Client Care Package, we will explain the recommended next steps and obtain your approval before beginning separately billable services.

Representation is subject to professional judgment

Molen & Associates does not guarantee that every matter can or should be handled internally. We may decline or discontinue representation and recommend another qualified professional when a matter requires expertise, licensing, resources, or representation outside the scope of our services.

Have a tax notice? Send it to us. We’ll help you understand what it means and what comes next.