Step 1: Sign up or log in
Step 2: Schedule a free consultation and choose the tax service
New clients
You are eligible for one free 30-minute introductory consultation with a licensed tax preparer. To confirm your booking, a $50 retainer is required — it never expires and will be applied to future tax preparation fees. During the consultation, we will review your tax situation, explain our process, and discuss how TFX can meet your specific tax needs.
Existing clients
You can book a free 20-minute discovery call with our Customer Success team — no retainer required. This is your opportunity to ask questions or learn more about our services.
After the call, select the tax service that best fits your needs: whether you are filing for a single year or multiple years, as a U.S. citizen or non-U.S. citizen, individual or business tax return. Our experienced team will guide you through every step of your U.S. tax filing.
Note: If your return can’t be prepared before the deadline, you can request an extension for additional time to file (for individuals, partnerships, corporations, and trusts) directly through your TFX account. Please note that an extension gives you more time to file, but not more time to pay any tax due. Refer to Payment deadlines: Interest on tax owed.
Step 3: Complete your Tax Questionnaire
Fill out a Tax Questionnaire (TQ) to the best of your ability — it helps structure your information for efficient processing by your assigned tax preparer. To save time, you can use the TQ import feature to complete multiple questionnaires at once. Refer to Why do I need to complete Tax Questionnaires?
Upload all relevant tax documents, such as Certificat de Salaire or Lohnausweis, articles of incorporation, balance sheets, income statements, etc. Refer to Missing some (or all) tax documents that should be uploaded to a TQ to learn how to proceed.
Note: We usually do not require a full translation of your local tax documents. However, in some cases, we may ask for an English version of specific pages or items.
Step 4: Submit your TQ and request an Engagement Letter
Once the questionnaire is complete, submit it for review and click the "Send me an engagement letter" button.
Within three business days, our tax team will review your questionnaire(s). If clarification or additional information is needed, we will flag items directly in the TQ and email you a secure link to follow-up questions.
Step 5: Prepay & sign the Engagement Letter
Once our tax team has enough information to prepare an Engagement Letter (EL), they will add it to your account. This letter outlines the scope of work and associated fees — it is not a bill.
If you agree with the terms, make a prepayment and sign the EL to begin.
⚠ Note: Any available credits will be automatically deducted from the prepayment amount. Prepayments are accepted and credited to the account as available credits.
If you disagree or have questions, simply reject the unsigned EL, and our tax team will revise it based on your feedback.
Step 6: We prepare your return
Once the EL is signed, a licensed tax preparer will be assigned to you who will assist you throughout the tax preparation process through unlimited email communication.
Our standard turnaround time for tax preparation is 15 business days per filing tax year from the date you sign the EL. This timeline depends on the complexity of the tax situation and how quickly you provide all necessary documents and respond to your assigned tax preparer.
At TFX, we prioritize quality over speed and unlike other firms, we don't work in silos. Every TFX preparer, whether an IRS Enrolled Agent (EA) or a CPA, collaborates with a supervisor (also a CPA or EA) to ensure that each return is accurately prepared and optimized to match our client's needs. Each return is reviewed by at least two licensed professionals (CPA or EA). You may see documents uploaded but unavailable for download — this simply means they are pending internal review. You will be notified via email and mobile app once they are ready for review.
Notes: If you need your return prepared urgently, we offer a rush service with a turnaround time of 3–5 business days per tax year from the date you sign the Engagement Letter (EL), depending on the time of year and return complexity. Rush service requires prepayment upon signing the EL and carries a surcharge of 50% or 100%. Contact your assigned tax preparer for a personalized quote.
Step 7: Pay, review & approve your return
Once your tax return is complete, you will:
Receive a notification and a bill that needs to be paid or settled with available credits before you can view prepared tax documents.
After payment, download and review your return.
Verify that your personal details are correct.
Notes:
For multi-year filings, we may stagger filing and billing to make review easier and avoid errors flowing into future years. We won't ask you to review hundreds of pages of returns at once (which can be a daunting task), so that you can provide feedback and we can correct errors.
All tax years must be mailed together if you are filing under the Streamlined Procedures.
Step 8: We e-file or provide mailing instructions
Once your return is finalized and approved, your tax preparer will:
E-file your return (whenever possible) and upload the e-file acceptance confirmation to your TFX account for your records, or provide step-by-step mailing instructions if e-filing is not allowed, such as amended returns or returns filed under the Streamlined Procedures. In these cases, the IRS requires paper filing with a wet signature.
⚠ Note: Once we e-file your federal income tax return, the IRS typically processes it within 24 to 48 hours, though processing times can vary due to submission backlogs or other factors.
Upload the Final Instructions, including how to pay any taxes owed online.
⚠ Note: The amount of tax owed will be published in your TFX account: Documents > Documents TFX prepared > Tax returns > Tax year.
Request your project sign-off to complete the process.