Terms of service

Thank you for choosing Coastal Tax Specialist. These Terms of Service govern your use of our tax preparation and related services. By submitting an intake form, requesting services, uploading documents, signing engagement documents, authorizing filing, or making payment, you agree to these Terms of Service.

1. Services Provided

Coastal Tax Specialist is a Hawaii-based tax preparation business offering remote tax preparation, tax consultation, and electronic filing services for individuals, expatriates, and small businesses in the United States, except in states or jurisdictions where additional licensing, registration, or authorization is required and not held. Services may include federal and state income tax return preparation, e-filing, tax-related correspondence assistance, and related administrative support. Services do not include legal representation, litigation support, investment advice, financial planning, audit representation, or any other service not specifically agreed to in writing.

2. No Guarantee of Results

Coastal Tax Specialist does not guarantee any specific tax outcome, refund amount, processing time, acceptance by the IRS or state tax authority, or any financial result. Tax outcomes depend on current law and the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of the information provided by the client.

3. Client Responsibilities

You are responsible for providing complete, accurate, and timely information and documentation necessary for the preparation of your return. Coastal Tax Specialist may rely on the information and documents you provide without independent verification unless otherwise agreed in writing. You are responsible for reviewing your completed return carefully before signing any authorization forms or approving filing, and for confirming that all income, deductions, credits, elections, banking details, dependent information, and other return items are accurate and complete.

4. Preparer Reliance

Coastal Tax Specialist is not responsible for penalties, interest, additional tax, rejected filings, delays, or other consequences resulting from inaccurate, incomplete, inconsistent, or untimely information supplied by you. If additional work is required because corrected, missing, or supplemental information is later provided, additional fees may apply.

5. Fees and Payment

Fees are based on the scope and complexity of the services requested and may be listed on our website, quoted individually, or stated in a separate engagement, invoice, or payment request. Payment is due upon receipt unless otherwise stated in writing. Coastal Tax Specialist may require payment in full before final delivery of completed returns, filing copies, or other work product. We reserve the right to decline, suspend, or withhold services until payment has been received in full.

6. Refund Policy

Due to the nature of professional tax preparation services, fees are generally non-refundable once work has begun. Work begins when client information is reviewed, documents are organized, research begins, data entry starts, or tax preparation work otherwise commences. If you request cancellation before work begins, any refund will be at the sole discretion of Coastal Tax Specialist, less any nonrecoverable administrative or processing costs. No refund will be issued after a return has been filed or submitted to any taxing authority.

7. Confidentiality and Privacy

Coastal Tax Specialist is committed to protecting your personal and tax return information in accordance with applicable federal and Hawaii law. Federal law limits when a tax return preparer may use or disclose tax return information without client consent, including under Section 7216 rules. Our collection, use, storage, and disclosure of your information are described in our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms of Service by reference.

8. Secure Communication

We may communicate with clients through email, phone, secure portals, encrypted delivery systems, and approved third-party software providers. Standard email is not always a secure method of communication. You should not send Social Security numbers, tax returns, identification documents, banking information, or other highly sensitive information through unsecured email unless specifically instructed to do so. We may require the use of secure tools such as Encyro for document exchange and continued communication.

9. Third-Party Service Providers

Coastal Tax Specialist uses third-party software and service providers to operate the business and provide services, including tax preparation software, secure file exchange platforms, payment processors, e-signature tools, and communication systems. These third-party providers may have their own terms, privacy policies, and operational practices. While reasonable care is used in selecting service providers, Coastal Tax Specialist is not responsible for outages, delays, interruptions, or security failures caused solely by third-party systems beyond our reasonable control.

10. E-File Authorization

Before any return is electronically filed, you must review the completed return and sign all applicable authorization forms. IRS e-file authorization is generally completed through the applicable IRS signature authorization process, including Form 8879 when required, and the taxpayer must review the return before authorizing filing. Your authorization applies only to the specific return and tax year covered by that authorization. Hawaii also requires paid tax return preparers to have a valid PTIN when preparing returns for compensation.

11. Records Retention

You are responsible for maintaining your own copies of tax returns, source documents, and supporting records. Coastal Tax Specialist may retain copies of returns, workpapers, correspondence, and client-provided documentation for internal recordkeeping, compliance, legal protection, and service purposes for a period determined in our discretion, unless a longer period is required by law or regulation.

12. Post-Filing Assistance

Basic assistance with routine IRS or state tax notices relating directly to a return prepared by Coastal Tax Specialist may be provided for a limited period after filing, if included in your service package or otherwise agreed. This does not include audit representation, appeals, litigation, collection defense, in-person representation, or extended controversy services unless specifically agreed to in writing. Additional fees may apply for post-filing support beyond the original scope of work.

13. No Legal or Financial Advice

Unless expressly stated in writing, communications, consultations, website content, and services provided by Coastal Tax Specialist are limited to tax preparation and related tax information services only. Nothing provided by Coastal Tax Specialist shall be construed as legal advice, investment advice, financial planning advice, or securities advice.

14. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Coastal Tax Specialist’s total liability for any claim arising out of or relating to our services shall not exceed the amount of fees actually paid by you for the specific service giving rise to the claim. Coastal Tax Specialist shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, or punitive damages, including loss of profits, loss of opportunity, or loss of data, except where such limitation is prohibited by law.

15. Refusal or Withdrawal of Services

Coastal Tax Specialist reserves the right to refuse service, suspend work, or withdraw from an engagement where permitted by law, including when required information is not provided, fees are unpaid, a conflict arises, the requested tax position appears unsupported, the engagement presents unreasonable risk, or continued service would violate legal, ethical, or professional standards.

16. Governing Law

These Terms of Service shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Hawaii, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any dispute arising from or relating to these Terms of Service or the services provided shall be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Hawaii, unless applicable law requires otherwise.

17. Changes to These Terms

Coastal Tax Specialist may update these Terms of Service from time to time to reflect changes in law, business practices, or service offerings. Any updates will be effective upon posting on our website with a revised “Last Updated” date at the top of the policy. Continued use of our services after such updates constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms of Service.

18. Acceptance

By submitting an intake form, requesting services, uploading documents, signing authorizations, or making payment, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms of Service in full.

Contact Us

Questions about these Terms of Service may be directed to:
Coastal Tax Specialist
[email protected]
808-491-3663