Stop Chasing Documents. Start Scaling Your Tax Practice.
We automate the high-volume 'busy work' of tax season—from organizer delivery to extension notifications—so your Enrolled Agents can focus on billable advisory.
The January to April window is a high-pressure environment where tax offices frequently field 50+ calls per day. For a firm charging an average of $300-$500 per return, every missed call or delayed document collection represents a direct hit to the bottom line. Manual follow-ups for missing K-1s, 1099-INTs, or signed Form 8879s consume hours of expensive billable time that should be spent on complex returns.
Read Laboratories specializes in bridging the gap between professional tax software like Lacerte, Drake Tax, and UltraTax and the client-facing front end. By automating the 'administrative friction' of the tax lifecycle, we help firms increase their return capacity by 25-40% without hiring additional seasonal staff. We ensure your workflows remain compliant with Circular 230 and IRS PTIN requirements while providing a modern, 'TurboTax-like' experience for your high-net-worth clients.
Problems We Solve
Document Collection Bottlenecks
Eliminate the 'waiting game' by automating SMS and email reminders for specific missing documents based on the client's prior-year tax profile.
Seasonal Scheduling Chaos
Replace manual booking with an intelligent system that pre-qualifies clients, collects initial retainers, and syncs directly with your team's Outlook or Google calendars.
Extension Management Stress
Automatically identify unfiled returns nearing the April 15th or Oct 15th deadlines and trigger bulk extension notifications and e-signature requests.
IRS Notice Intake Friction
Streamline how clients submit IRS or state tax notices via secure mobile uploads, automatically logging the notice in your CRM for immediate EA review.
Post-Filing Referral Stagnation
Capitalize on client satisfaction by triggering automated referral requests and Google Review prompts the moment a return is marked 'Accepted' by the IRS.
What You Get
Automated Tax Organizers
Deploy dynamic digital organizers that adapt based on client data, reducing the friction of the initial data-gathering phase.
Real-Time Status Alerts
Automatically notify clients via SMS when their return moves from 'In-Progress' to 'Review' to 'Ready for Signature.'
E-Signature & Payment Bridges
Connect ProSeries or TaxAct Professional to DocuSign and Stripe to ensure you get paid before the return is e-filed.
Multi-Channel Communication
Centralize client communications from email, SMS, and portal messages into a single dashboard for your entire office to see.
Extension Deadline Logic
Custom workflows that track state-specific deadlines and automatically file for extensions when document thresholds aren't met.
What It Costs
Setup
$2,000 - $5,000
Monthly
$300 - $600
ROI Example
If automation saves just 1.5 hours of administrative follow-up per return for a firm handling 300 returns, you reclaim 450 hours. At a $150/hour billable rate, that is $67,500 in found capacity per season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this integrate directly with Drake Tax or Lacerte?
While many professional tax software suites are 'closed,' we use RPA (Robotic Process Automation) and API bridges to sync data between your tax software, CRM, and client portals.
How do you ensure Circular 230 and data security compliance?
All automations are built using SOC2 compliant tools. We utilize encrypted data transmission and ensure that all client communications meet the professional standards required for Enrolled Agents and CPAs.
Can we automate the delivery of Form 8879?
Yes. We can trigger an automated workflow that detects a finished return, uploads the 8879 to a secure e-signature platform, and notifies the client immediately.
What happens if a client doesn't use the digital portal?
Our systems include 'exception handling' logic. If a client prefers paper, the system flags the account so your staff knows to handle it manually while the other 90% remains automated.
Can this help with mid-year planning and Q4 estimates?
Absolutely. We build 'Nurture' sequences that trigger in June and September to remind clients to submit mid-year data for estimated tax payment calculations.
How long does the setup take?
A typical tax workflow implementation takes 3-5 weeks. We recommend starting no later than November to ensure your team is trained before the January rush.
Reclaim 20+ Hours Every Week This Tax Season
Book a free 15-minute workflow audit. We'll identify the three biggest bottlenecks in your current tax prep process.
Serving Tax Preparation Services businesses nationwide. Based in Westlake Village, CA.