How the Review Works
Your firm provides a substantially complete draft return in PDF format, along with relevant workpapers, supporting schedules, prior-year information when applicable, and supporting documentation.
GWD performs an independent, comprehensive review outside your tax software, which may include, as applicable:
- Consistency among the return, workpapers, and source documents
- Prior-year rollforwards and book-to-return reconciliation
- Federal and state reporting accuracy
- Tax treatment and computations
- Basis, capital, carryforwards, elections, and other tax attributes
- Related-party and owner transactions
- Missing, inconsistent, or unusual information
- Supporting documentation and disclosures
- Matters requiring additional technical consideration
- Overall return reasonableness
Your firm receives a documented review report with clear, actionable review points.
Depending on the issue, a review point may detail supporting facts, return treatment, the identified issue, applicable authority, analysis, a recommended resolution, potential tax effect, affected forms or tax attributes, and any additional information needed.
The objective is to reduce the time your senior managers and partners spend identifying, tracing, researching, developing, and documenting review issues, allowing them to focus on professional judgment, resolution, client decisions, and final review.
From Engagement to Completed Review
Our administrative process is designed to minimize back-and-forth while giving your firm a clear path from scope confirmation to completed work product.
1. Scope & Pricing Confirmation
Provide the return type or types, approximate volume, general complexity, and desired turnaround time. GWD confirms capacity, review classification, pricing, and expected turnaround.
2. DocuSign Engagement
GWD sends the Independent Tax Return Review Agreement through DocuSign for electronic signature.
3. Payment
Once the engagement is executed, the agreed review fee or capacity reservation is paid.
4. SmartVault Access
GWD establishes secure SmartVault access for your firm. Taxpayer information and review documents should not be sent through ordinary email.
5. Review Package Upload
Your firm uploads the substantially complete review package to SmartVault. The agreed turnaround begins when all required materials are uploaded and the package is ready for review, as defined in the engagement agreement.
6. GWD Completes the Review
GWD performs the independent comprehensive review and develops review points for your firm’s consideration.
7. Completed Review Delivered Through SmartVault
GWD uploads the completed review work product to SmartVault for your firm to download.
8. Your Firm Resolves and Files
Your firm evaluates the findings, makes any necessary changes in its tax software, communicates with the client, completes its final review, and determines whether the return is ready to file. These responsibilities remain with your firm under this engagement model.
Your Client Remains Your Client
GWD operates under a strict anti-poaching policy. We do not independently solicit, market to, divert, or pursue clients introduced through your firm. Issues discovered during the review are reported directly to your firm, which determines how they will be addressed.
No software migration. No GWD access to your tax software. Your firm retains full control of preparation, final review, client communication, e-file authorization, and filing.
For more information about how GWD works with referring professionals, see our Partner Protection Commitment.
Pricing & Sample Work Product
If this model aligns with your extension-season needs, GWD can send current review pricing along with a sanitized sample of a comprehensive Form 1120 review. This lets your firm evaluate the depth and format of the deliverable before providing taxpayer information.
To start, reply with:
Return type(s) • Approximate volume • General complexity • Desired turnaround
Engagement Scope
Each review is performed under a written engagement that defines the return or returns, review scope, responsibilities, deliverable, timing, and fee. GWD’s review report supports your firm’s professional process; your firm retains responsibility for evaluating review points, communicating with its client, completing its final review, authorizing e-file, and filing.
Do not send taxpayer information by ordinary email. Secure document exchange begins after engagement and SmartVault setup.