Made for CPAs
Reconstruct the Facts Behind a Vague Client Question
Also useful for: Tax Advisors, people in Finance
45 min
Intermediate
Finance
CPA
Research Something
Career outcome:
Avoid Professional Risk
Convert incomplete client fragments into a sourced chronology, contradiction log, focused follow-up list, and tightly framed tax or accounting research question.
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Use this when
You receive a vague tax or accounting question supported by fragments from calls, emails, ledgers, prior returns, or transaction records, and the facts don't yet support a reliable answer.
You'll need
- Client Question
- Relevant Period
- Source Fragments
- Engagement Context
- Decision or Deadline
You'll get
- A source-labeled chronology covering every material event
- Documented facts clearly separated from statements, inferences, and unknowns
- Every material contradiction logged without forced resolution
- Critical missing facts tied to targeted follow-up questions
- A neutral research issue containing the material facts and relevant period
- A client update that sets expectations without offering a premature conclusion.
By the end of this playbook
You will have:
- A source-labeled chronology covering every material event
- Documented facts clearly separated from statements, inferences, and unknowns
- Every material contradiction logged without forced resolution
- Critical missing facts tied to targeted follow-up questions
- A neutral research issue containing the material facts and relevant period
- A client update that sets expectations without offering a premature conclusion.
Sample
This is sample data, not your prompt. Pro unlocks this higher-stakes Playbook. On Free Playbooks you can still copy the assembled prompt into any AI.
Sample input
Client question: My S corporation client asks whether a $90,000 payment to a departing 40 percent shareholder is deductible as consulting expense. Relevant period: Board discussion in December 2025, payment in January 2026. Sources: A December 18 email calls the amount a buyout. A January 2 invoice calls it transition consulting. The January 3 bank transfer references share settlement. The ledger records redemption expense. A call note says the former shareholder answered questions for two weeks. The draft separation agreement transfers the shares for $90,000 but isn't signed. Context: The firm prepares the S corporation return but didn't structure the departure. Deadline: Document request due Friday; return extension deadline is October 15.
Sample assembled prompt
Source Inventory S1: December 18, 2025... Describes the proposed $90,000 as a... Internal communication; no executed approval attached. S2: January 2, 2026 invoice. Describes $90,000 as transition consulting. Prepared by the departing shareholder; no... S3: January 3, 2026 bank record. Shows a $90,000 payment with the... S4: General ledger entry. Records $90,000 as redemption expense. Evidence of book treatment, not necessarily... S5: Call note. States that limited transition questions were... Client-stated and not independently documented. S6: Unsigned separation agreement. Assigns $90,000 to the share transfer. Draft only; execution status unknown. Dated Fact Pattern December 18, 2025:... Status: documented by S1. January 2, 2026: A $90,000 consulting... Status: documented by S2. January 3, 2026: The corporation paid... Status: documented by S3. January 2026: Limited transition assistance may... Status: client-stated in S5; dates, scope,... Unknown: Date legal ownership changed, if... Contradiction Log Payment character: Buyout in... The conflict could change deductibility, basis,... Agreement status: S6 contains share-transfer terms... Legal effectiveness and ownership timing remain... Critical Questions 1. Was any version of the separation... Please provide the signed copy and... 2. On what date did the... 3. What services were required in... 4. How was the $90,000 amount... Defined Research Issue Whether the S... Client Update We're reconstructing the payment... The amount and January payment date... Please send the executed separation or... Once those items are reviewed, we...