Bring clarity to your first conversation

Consultation preparation checklist

Make your first accounting conversation useful. Choose the countries, person or business, and service involved, then gather the relevant records and questions. Use what you already have; missing records can be part of the discussion.

This is a preparation aid, not a filing requirement or tax determination. Some items may not apply. The team will confirm the documents and work your engagement needs.

Your preparation list

All scopes shown below. Use the labels to choose what applies.

You can use these checkboxes and your browser's Print command without JavaScript. Filters, copying, and downloads are available when JavaScript is enabled.

Start with the conversation

Write down your questions and desired outcome.Prepare a short summary for the meeting: the decision, filing, or recordkeeping problem you want help with, plus any notice or deadline already given to you.
Every consultation
Identify the people, businesses, countries, and periods involved.Keep work for each person or entity separate. Tell the team about related activity handled by another accountant and about records you do not yet have.
Every consultation
Locate prior filings and recent tax-authority correspondence, if any.Have the latest available returns, payment records, and notices ready to discuss. For a new engagement, explain what has already been prepared or filed.
Tax preparation, Bookkeeping, Cross-border questions

Personal income and supporting records

Gather available US income statements and transaction records.Examples include employer wage statements, payer information returns, investment and retirement records, and digital-asset transactions. Include income records even when you have not received a statement.
United States · Individual, Self-employed · Tax preparation, Cross-border questions
IRS: Gather your documents
Set aside US records for deductions or credits you want to discuss.Where relevant, gather education, care, medical, donation, housing, and retirement-contribution records. Having a receipt does not establish eligibility; the team will assess your circumstances.
United States · Individual, Self-employed · Tax preparation, Cross-border questions
IRS: Gather your documents
Gather Canadian tax slips and other income records.Use slips received from employers, financial institutions, and other issuers. Note anything missing or corrected; information available in your CRA account may be incomplete.
Canada · Individual, Self-employed · Tax preparation, Cross-border questions
CRA: Tax slips and supporting documents
Set aside Canadian supporting receipts you want to discuss.Where relevant, gather rent, medical, child care, and moving-expense records. These records help the discussion; the checklist does not decide whether an expense qualifies.
Canada · Individual, Self-employed · Tax preparation, Cross-border questions
CRA: Tax slips and supporting documents
Prepare a timeline of relevant personal changes.Include moves, changes in work or family circumstances, and major transactions you want the accountant to consider. Keep the details in your own notes for the meeting.
Individual, Self-employed · Tax preparation, Cross-border questions

Business records

List business accounts, currencies, and transaction sources.Identify banks, cards, payment processors, stores, and marketplaces. Have statements for the period and explain transfers between accounts.
Self-employed, Partnership, Corporation · Tax preparation, Bookkeeping, Cross-border questions
IRS: What kind of records should I keep?CRA: Keeping records
Organize sales, purchases, and expense records.Gather invoices, receipts, payment evidence, refunds, and processor fees. Keep source documents with the accounting records they support.
Self-employed, Partnership, Corporation · Tax preparation, Bookkeeping, Cross-border questions
IRS: What kind of records should I keep?CRA: Keeping records
Locate your latest books and identify unfinished work.Have available financial statements, transaction reports, and reconciliations ready. Note the last completed period, missing statements, and transactions that need explanation.
Self-employed, Partnership, Corporation · Tax preparation, Bookkeeping, Cross-border questions
Gather records for business assets and inventory, if applicable.Locate purchase and sale documents for equipment or other assets, plus available inventory records. Identify items used both personally and for business for discussion.
Self-employed, Partnership, Corporation · Tax preparation, Bookkeeping, Cross-border questions
IRS: What kind of records should I keep?CRA: Keeping records
Identify existing US payroll and state tax records.If the business has employees or state tax accounts, locate the related reports, payment records, registrations, and correspondence. Confirm separately whether this work belongs in the engagement.
United States · Self-employed, Partnership, Corporation · Tax preparation, Bookkeeping, Cross-border questions
Identify existing Canadian payroll and sales-tax records.If applicable, have payroll, GST/HST, and provincial tax account records available. Explain which reports are current and which need attention; scope will be agreed separately.
Canada · Self-employed, Partnership, Corporation · Tax preparation, Bookkeeping, Cross-border questions
CRA: Keeping records
Locate the partnership agreement and partner activity records.Prepare the current ownership arrangement and records of contributions, withdrawals, allocations, and changes for discussion. Do not assume one partner's work covers the partnership or other partners.
Partnership · Tax preparation, Bookkeeping, Cross-border questions
Locate corporate ownership and financing records.Have available incorporation records and information about shareholders, ownership changes, loans, and distributions ready to discuss. Identify related companies and transactions.
Corporation · Tax preparation, Bookkeeping, Cross-border questions

Formation and ownership questions

Outline the planned business and its owners.Prepare your proposed activity, business name, ownership arrangement, operating locations, and intended start date. Bring questions about structure rather than assuming a particular entity is required.
Business formation
List existing registrations and the setup support you need.Explain any existing entity, account, contract, or registration. Discuss who will handle formation, government fees, tax registrations, bookkeeping, and ongoing filings.
Business formation

Cross-border context

Map the countries connected to your question.Prepare dates and locations of moves, work, business activity, ownership, income, or planned transactions. Include relevant countries beyond those shown by this tool when speaking with the team.
Cross-border questions
Identify filings and advisers in the other country.Have available returns and payment records, and note work being handled elsewhere. Explain what coordination you need. This does not determine residency, treaty treatment, or filing obligations.
Cross-border questions

Before sharing documents

Confirm scope and the document-sharing method with the team.Ask which records are needed, who will provide them, and where to share them securely. Do not send passwords or upload tax documents through this checklist.
Every consultation

Sources and scope

Official recordkeeping guidance supports the linked record examples. Other items are Cloud Accounting's preparation prompts, not statements of legal requirements.

Source links and examples checked 2026-09-25. This page has not been presented as a professional review of your situation.

Explore accounting services