Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about TaxAutomate products and features.
Categories
Tax Document Automation
How is this different from traditional OCR?
Traditional OCR extracts text that you then manually map and enter. TaxAutomate delivers fully populated, review-ready returns in minutes — entered directly into Drake by our desktop agent, or delivered ready for ProSeries.
What tax forms are supported?
W-2, all 1099 variants (NEC, MISC, INT, DIV, B, R, G), 1098 forms, 1095 health insurance forms, and Schedule K-1 (1065 and 1120-S). See Supported Forms for complete details.
What tax software can I import into?
Currently Drake (2024/2025), where the desktop agent enters the return directly into Drake's data-entry screens, and ProSeries (2024/2025), where return data is delivered ready for ProSeries. Lacerte and UltraTax CS support is coming soon.
How accurate is the extraction?
Accuracy depends on document quality. We provide confidence scores for extracted fields. High-quality scans (150+ DPI) yield the best results. All data should be reviewed before filing.
Document Organizer
How many document types can it recognize?
The AI recognizes 50+ document types including all common tax forms, brokerage statements, property tax bills, charitable receipts, and more with 99% classification accuracy.
Can it detect missing documents?
Yes. The system flags missing documents based on prior year data. For example, if a client had a 1099-DIV last year but none was uploaded this year, you'll see an alert.
How are workpapers generated?
With one click, you get indexed workpapers with a table of contents, page references, and form-based organization—ready for audit.
IRS Notice Copilot
What IRS notices are supported?
12+ notice types including CP2000, CP14, CP501-504, LT11, Letter 1058, 5071C, 4883C, CP05, CP75, and CP521. Each has specific response templates.
How does it generate responses?
Upload the IRS letter, answer context-specific questions about your client's situation, and AI generates a professional response letter customized to the notice type.
Does it track deadlines?
Yes. The system extracts response deadlines from the notice and displays countdown timers with urgency indicators for critical notices.
Can I save notices to my account?
Pro users can save analyzed notices, response drafts, and supporting documents to their dashboard for future reference.
Pricing & Billing
What is the pricing model?
Credit-based: every return is a flat 35 credits and covers up to 10 pages of documents, with 1 additional credit per page beyond 10. At $1 per credit, that's $35 per return. An optional expert review adds 20 credits (about $20). Volume packages lower the effective cost to as low as about $30 per return.
Does return complexity affect the price?
No — pricing is based on page count, not complexity. Every return is the same flat 35 credits for up to 10 pages, whether it's a simple W-2 return or one with Schedules C/D/E, K-1s, multiple states, or itemized deductions. Returns with more documents simply add 1 credit per page beyond 10.
What if a document fails to process?
Failed documents are not charged. You'll see an error message with the reason (unsupported format, unreadable scan, etc.) and can re-upload a better quality version.
Are there volume discounts?
Yes. Credit packages start at 7,000 credits ($7,000 — about 200 returns), with volume discounts of up to 15% that bring the effective cost as low as about $30 per return. See the Pricing page for current credit packages.
Security & Data
How is data protected?
All data is encrypted with AES-256 at rest and TLS in transit. SSNs and EINs are encrypted separately. We use US-based data centers with firm-level isolation.
How long are documents retained?
Original documents are retained only for your firm's access, encrypted at rest — you can delete them anytime. Extracted data is retained until you delete the client or request removal.
Who can access my data?
Only your firm's authorized users with appropriate roles (Owner, Admin, Preparer, Viewer). TaxAutomate staff access is limited to support purposes only.
Getting Started
Is TaxAutomate designed for CPA firms?
Yes. Built for CPA firms, enrolled agents, and tax preparation offices. Supports multi-user access with role-based permissions. Individual preparers can also use it.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. New accounts receive $50 in free credits to try the platform. No credit card required. IRS Notice Copilot guides are 100% free for all users.
Do I need to install software?
TaxAutomate is web-based. For Drake, you install the TaxAutomate desktop agent on the Windows machine where Drake runs — it enters completed returns directly into Drake for you. For ProSeries, there is nothing to install: everything runs in the browser.
Still have questions?
Can't find what you're looking for? Contact us at [email protected] or visit our Contact page.