Terms of Service

Agreement to Terms

By using this website or engaging Ascend Taxes for tax preparation, planning, or related services, you agree to these terms. If you don't agree, please don't use the site or our services.

Who We Are

Ascend Taxes is a 100% remote U.S. tax preparation practice. Services are provided by licensed and credentialed tax professionals as described on our About page.

Our Services

This website lets you learn about our services, request a free consultation, and — once you're an engaged client — exchange documents through a secure client portal. Booking a consultation does not by itself create a client engagement; an engagement begins once we've confirmed the scope of work with you, typically after your consultation.

Not Tax, Legal, or Financial Advice

General information on this site — including blog posts, FAQs, and any AI assistant available in the client portal — is provided for educational purposes only and is not personalized tax, legal, or financial advice. Specific guidance about your situation comes only from a credentialed preparer reviewing your actual facts and documents. Our AI assistant will never ask for your Social Security number and should not be used as a substitute for professional advice.

Your Responsibilities

• Provide accurate, complete information and documents for your return or engagement.
• Review your return before it is filed and tell us promptly about anything that looks wrong.
• Keep your portal login credentials confidential.
• Pay agreed fees for completed services according to the terms we provide at engagement.

Fees

We generally operate on performance-based rates as described during your consultation. Exact fees and payment terms for your engagement will be confirmed with you in writing before work begins.

No Guarantee of Outcome

While we work to maximize every refund and deduction you're entitled to, we cannot guarantee a specific refund amount, audit outcome, or that the IRS or a state agency will accept any particular position. Our guarantees (accuracy, maximum refund, satisfaction) are described on our Services page and apply as stated there.

Security

We use industry-standard safeguards, including encryption, to protect data submitted through this site and our client portal. No online system is completely immune to compromise, and we cannot promise the site or portal will be uninterrupted or error-free.

Intellectual Property

The content, design, and branding of this site belong to Ascend Taxes and may not be copied or reused without permission.

Limitation of Liability

To the extent permitted by law, Ascend Taxes is not liable for indirect or consequential damages arising from your use of this website. This does not limit any liability that cannot be limited under applicable law, including liability arising from professional services governed by a separate engagement agreement.

Service Guarantees

These are the specific terms of the guarantees referenced elsewhere on our site. They apply to returns we prepare under a signed engagement and do not reduce your own responsibility to give us complete, accurate, and timely information.

100% Accuracy Guarantee. If we make an error in preparing your return, we will correct it — and re-file if needed — at no additional charge for our work. This covers our preparation error. It does not cover additional tax you actually owe, or errors caused by information that was incomplete or inaccurate when you provided it. Where we agree to reimburse a penalty or interest that resulted directly from our error, we confirm that to you in writing on a case-by-case basis.

Maximum Refund Guarantee. We pursue every deduction and credit you can legitimately defend under current law. We cannot promise a specific refund amount; "maximum" means the best result we can defend on your facts, not a guarantee that any particular position will be accepted by a taxing authority.

Satisfaction Promise. If you are not satisfied with our service, tell us and we will work to make it right. This is a commitment about our service, not a guarantee of a specific tax outcome.

AI Assistance and Your Tax Information

Your client portal includes an AI assistant that helps read documents, organize information, estimate your position, and draft explanations. The AI is a support tool only: it does not file returns, and every number and recommendation is reviewed by your human preparer before anything is submitted. Estimates shown in the portal are planning figures, not tax advice or a filed return.

Where the AI uses your tax return information, we handle that information consistent with IRS rules on the use and disclosure of taxpayer information (Internal Revenue Code §7216). We request your consent before your tax information is used with the AI; that consent is voluntary; you may decline and still receive full service from your preparer; and you may withdraw it at any time in your portal settings.

Changes to These Terms

We may update these terms from time to time. We'll update the "Last updated" date above when we do.

Contact Us

Questions about these terms? Reach out at ascendtaxesco@gmail.com.