Red flag

You cannot see the claim

The claim goes in with your name on it. If you are offered a summary and a signature page instead of the claim itself, ask why. There can be a reason, and you can still ask to see it.

A red flag is a reason to ask more questions. It does not mean an adviser has done anything wrong. This page describes a practice in general terms and is not about any particular firm.

When it is a problem

You are asked to approve a summary, a total or a signature page without the figures and the technical case behind them.
The adviser files directly, under an authority you gave at the start, and you see the claim after the tax authority does.
The reason given is that the detail is the adviser's work product, or that clients do not usually want it.
The time allowed to read the claim is too short to read it.

When it is not a problem

You have been offered the full claim and chose to read the summary, because the claim repeats last year's and your technical people reviewed it then.
The adviser's process shows you the technical case and the figures at a review meeting before filing, and you attended it.
A portal gives you the whole claim and you have access to it, even if the adviser sends a summary by email.
The claim is prepared by your own accountant from work you did, and you have the working papers already.

What to do

Ask for the full claim, the calculations and the technical descriptions, in a form you can read, with enough time to read it.
Ask the people who did the work to read their part.
If the adviser files on your behalf, ask for the filing to wait for your written approval of the final version.
Keep a copy of what was filed. It is your claim and you may need it years later.

When it is a problem

When it is not a problem

What to do

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