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Second Look: A CPA's Eyes on Work Done with AI
You used AI to prepare a return, categorize your books, or run the numbers. Before you rely on it, have a CPA look it over. You get a written list of what we found and what we'd change.
How Second Look Works
AI is a powerful teammate, and like any teammate, it makes mistakes. Second Look puts a CPA on your team before those mistakes cost you.
Send Us the AI's Work
Upload the output, such as a draft return, books, or a projection, through our secure client portal. Add your source documents if you'd like a document-matched check.
We Look It Over
Marty examines the items you've asked about, looking for errors, missing items, outdated rules, and positions that could draw IRS attention.
You Get a Written Memo
A clear list of what we found and what we'd change, in plain terms. You decide what to do next, and we're available if you'd like us to take it from there.
Two Levels of Checking
Reasonableness Check
We look at the AI's output on its own: math, missing schedules, items that don't fit together, outdated rules, and common red flags. Faster and lower cost, but limited to what the output shows.
Document-Matched Check
Everything in the reasonableness check, plus a comparison against your source documents, like W-2s, 1099s, and bank statements, to confirm the right numbers made it in.
What You'll Receive
Every Second Look ends with a short written memo in plain terms: what we looked at, what we found, and what we'd change. Here's an example of the format, using a made-up return.
You decide what to do with each item. If you'd rather we fix and file it, we'll quote preparing it for you instead.
Sample memo · fictional client
Second Look: Personal Return
- Missing income. A Form 1099-INT for $412 of bank interest isn't on the return. Recommended: add it to Schedule B.
- Outdated amount. The return uses last year's standard deduction. Recommended: update to the current-year amount.
- Credit eligibility. The education credit is claimed for a student who may not qualify. Recommended: confirm enrollment and tuition paid before filing.
Observations are limited to the items examined and are not an audit, review, or other assurance.
Second Look Pricing
Less than having us do the work from scratch, because the AI already did the first draft.
- Second Look: Personal ReturnAn AI-prepared individual return (Form 1040)From $250
- Second Look: Business ReturnAn AI-prepared S corporation (1120-S) or partnership (1065) returnFrom $600
- Second Look: BooksAI-categorized bookkeeping, sampled and compared to your bank statementsFrom $200 per month of activity
- Second Look: Plan or AnalysisAn AI-generated tax projection, entity comparison, or budgetQuoted up front
Prices are starting points for a typical item. Your quote depends on the level of checking you choose and how complex the work is, and you'll always get a firm quote before we begin.
What Second Look is, and isn't
Second Look is a consulting service. It is not an audit, review, compilation, or other attest or assurance engagement, and we do not certify, verify, or guarantee the accuracy of AI-generated work. Our observations cover only the items we examined and rely on the information you provide. You remain responsible for the final work and any decisions you make based on it. We sign and file only returns we prepare.
Second Look Questions
Is This an Audit or a Review?
No. Second Look is a consulting service, not an audit, review, or any other assurance engagement. We look at the items you ask us to, tell you what we found, and recommend changes. We don't certify that the work is correct.
Will You Sign or File My Return?
Only if we prepare it. If you'd like a CPA-signed return, we can prepare it for you instead.
What If the AI Got It Badly Wrong?
We'll tell you, explain the main problems, and offer to prepare the work ourselves at our standard one-time pricing, with a firm quote before we begin.
Which AI Tools Do You Work With?
Any of them. Send the finished output, such as a draft return, a spreadsheet, or an exported chat, through our secure client portal. Please remove Social Security numbers and account numbers first.
What's the Difference Between the Two Levels?
A reasonableness check looks at the AI's output on its own for errors, missing items, and red flags. A document-matched check also compares the output against your source documents, such as W-2s, 1099s, and bank statements. The document-matched check is more thorough, and your quote reflects which level you choose.
Put a CPA on Your Team
Tell us what the AI produced, and Marty will reply within one business day with a quote.