Version v3, none of our changes applied yetStage Review
Actions are recorded as the role you choose. There is no sign-in in this demo, so pick the person whose view you want.
Story time 23 Jun 2026, 06:05 UTC
Viewing as Daniel Ortiz, reviewerReviewer: you note, verify, apply and sign off.

About this workspace

Demo

Taxmark is a web-native workpaper for one household's 2025 return: click any number to see the page and field it came from, the rule that built it, who checked it and what is still open.

74 documents3,012 values read from them3 computed versions627 lines on v329 events in the timeline

Try: open Checks as Daniel, click California estimates, then switch role in “Viewing as” to see what each person may see and do.

Every action is saved as an event in this workspace (/w/gwxn6k5xxe); open the root link again for a clean copy. Anything not in the packet is tagged Example.

Legends

  • Blockingstops filing
  • Check failedour check disagrees
  • Judgmentneeds a recorded decision
  • Engine warningfrom the engine only
  • Notea finding for information; nothing to act on
  • No open checksnothing open on this line
  • Adjustedchanged in this workspace
  • Proposedan adjustment waiting for a reviewer to apply it
  • Swingmoved past the firm’s variance rule from last year
  • New this yearno amount last year
  • Signeda sign-off covers this value
  • Stalethe value changed after it was signed
  • As filed, lockedaccepted by the agency; later work attaches on top
  • Examplenot in the packet: an illustration

Pills on Checks

  • Blockeran open item that stops partner approval: a problem our check found, or a line waiting for the engine to re-run
  • Opena blocker still open when the return was signed or filed
  • Checkour check disagrees; it does not stop approval
  • Judgmentour check needs a recorded decision
  • Infoour check notes it; nothing to act on
  • AIthe AI agent flagged this item; a person accepts or dismisses each suggestion
  • Needs reviewan AI suggestion no one has decided yet (Accepted once someone has)
  • Engine warningthe engine’s own warning names this item, quoted as it wrote it; not one of our checks
  • Confident mistakeflagged by our checks, though every value behind it was read at 0.95 or above. The checks were built from the mistakes our external investigation found.
  • Clearedclosed with a reason, or by an adjustment (Adjusted)
  • Signed offa sign-off covers this finding

Deadlines on the story clock

15 Apr 2026Federal Form 1040 and California 540NR - original due datePassed 70 days ago
15 Oct 2026Extended due date (federal and California)In 113 days
27 Mar 2026Internal: preparer hand-off to reviewPassed 89 days ago
08 Apr 2026Internal: review completePassed 77 days ago
15 Oct 2026FinCEN 114 (FBAR) automatic extended due date (outside engagement)In 113 days
02 Feb 2026Forms 1099-NEC for 2025 contractor payments (late; outside engagement)Passed 142 days ago

Firm standards

A starting point. Applicants may change, extend or replace these through the firm administrator role.
Rules (7)
“A person may not review or sign off on work they prepared.”Review: sign-off disabled on your own adjustment
“Any adjustment with a tax effect over 1,000 (federal or state) requires partner sign-off.”Review: partner items; approval waits for them
“Every judgment call records the authority relied on.”Drawer: decisions record their authority
“Due diligence must be documented for the child tax credit, credit for other dependents, American opportunity credit, earned income credit and head of household status.”Drawer: due diligence decisions
“Open review notes block filing.”Review: blocking notes stop approval
“Staff without sensitive-data clearance see SSNs, bank and account numbers and IP PINs masked; every unmasked view is logged.”Everywhere: last 4 only; reveals logged on Review, View log
“Records are retained 7 years after filing, then destroyed.”Filing: the as-filed record is locked, not deleted
The 12 required steps
  1. Engagement letter and consents signed
  2. Identity verified
  3. Prior-year return reviewed
  4. All documents accounted for
  5. Prior-year variances explained
  6. Carryovers agreed to prior year
  7. Estimated payments agreed to IRS and FTB records
  8. Due diligence completed
  9. Diagnostics resolved
  10. Reviewer sign-off
  11. Partner sign-off
  12. Client approval and e-file authorization
Verification types
  • Agreed to source document
  • Recalculated
  • Confirmed with client
  • Agreed to prior year
  • Agreed to third party record
Review levelsPreparer, Reviewer, Partner
Variance reviewCompare to Prior year; flag when the change is over 10% and over 1,000.

People and clearance

NameRoleCredentialSensitive dataActive fromNote
Priya RamanPreparerCleared01 Aug 2025
Daniel OrtizReviewerCPACleared04 Jan 2021
Helen StrandPartnerCPACleared01 May 2018
Marcus BellPreparerNo clearance24 Mar 2026Background check pending; no access to full SSNs or bank numbers.
Jo KimuraFirm administratorCleared10 Feb 2020
Sam AdeyemiQuality reviewerCPACleared04 Jan 2027 Later
Ngozi OkaforClientOwn items only
Erik LindqvistClientOwn items only

Assignment at the start: Preparer Priya Raman · Reviewer Daniel Ortiz · Partner Helen Strand

Time against budget

AreaBudget (h)Logged (h)Left (h)Status
Intake and engagement1.501.5None logged
Wages and stock compensation303None logged
Investments and digital assets404None logged
Business3.503.5None logged
Rentals and sale3.503.5None logged
Pass throughs and basis202None logged
Deductions and credits202None logged
California1.501.5None logged
Partner review101None logged
Total22022

Budget from the packet. Logged time is what people record in this workspace; the packet has no time records.

How AI was used

The mistakes our checks catch were found during an AI-assisted review of the packet and are now caught by deterministic checks.

An AI agent investigated the whole packet with the app’s own tools, identifiers masked, and suggested issues with quotes. Its suggestions appear only on the final computed version, after each quote is found on its page, and a person accepts or dismisses each one.

ChecksAs of 23 Jun 2026, 06:05 UTC 11 blockers 29 items open 1 later in the story

Checks inbox

All 29Blocker 10Check 14Judgment 2Info 1AI 18

Items (2)

BlockerCheckJudgmentInfoour rule checks;AIthe AI agent flagged this item, a person decides;Engine warningthe engine's own note names this item;Confident mistake flagged by our checks, though every value behind it was read at 0.95 or above. The checks were built from the mistakes our external investigation found.

StatusWhatAmountTax effect
Judgment
JudgmentAIConfident mistake
SEP deduction: 2,786 contributed above the limit, never flaggedSch1.16 · 1 AI suggestion

The contribution was 18,000; Sch1.16 deducts 15,214, the computed limit. The excess of 2,786 is carried out as "sep_contribution_not_deductible_for_2025" with no diagnostic. A nondeductible contribution can draw an excise tax unless withdrawn (the rate is not in the packet, so no amount is estimated). Decide whether to withdraw the excess or keep it and file for the excise, and tell the client. The limit falls if Schedule C profit changes.

EvidenceSEP contribution for 2025 (D26, page 1)Our check CHK-SEP-LIMIT · Limit or cap
Open the finding
Needs review✦Total other taxes, 19,160: A deduction or credit that may exceed a limit

The SEP deposit exceeds the computed deduction limit; the excess needs timely withdrawal or a 6% excise tax, and neither is addressed.

EvidenceSEP-IRA contribution confirmation (Erik Lindqvist), page 1
Review the suggestion
15,214
JudgmentEngine warningConfident mistake
Home office (simplified method, average 240 sq ft x $5): one simplified figure for two homesSchC.30

The office moved between 2 homes this year (Sacramento office square feet 220; Austin office square feet 260). The simplified method may be used for one home only in a year; the other needs the regular method. Choose per home and record why. The estimate shown uses the later home alone, by the simplified method.

EvidenceSacramento office square feet (D24, page 1)Austin office square feet (D24, page 1)Austin office first used (D24, page 1)Our check CHK-HOME-OFFICE-ONE-HOME · Judgment needed
Open the finding
The engine's own note on this iteminfoHOME_OFFICE_AREA_CHANGEHome office area (average 240 sq ft) differs from 2024 (300 sq ft).
1,200Fed +195 · CA +17 estimate

19 AI suggestions on 18 items (some items carry more than one); open a row to see each one.

An AI agent investigated the whole packet with the app’s own tools, identifiers masked, and suggested issues with quotes. Its suggestions appear only on the final computed version, after each quote is found on its page, and a person accepts or dismisses each one. The mistakes our checks catch were found during an AI-assisted review of the packet and are now caught by deterministic checks.

From the engine (11, v3)

The engine’s own diagnostics, shown as it reported them. They are not our checks and are not counted as findings.

warningDIGITAL_ASSET_BASIS_MISSINGCoinhaven lot C6 has no cost basis (transfer in from external wallet). Engine used zero basis and the transfer-in date.EvidenceC6 digital asset (D34, page 1)C6 date sold (D34, page 1)C6 gross proceeds (D34, page 1)C6 date acquired (D35, page 1)C6 cost basis (D35, page 1)Named by an AI suggestion (not one of our checks): BTC 0.05 units (acquired 2025-06-01, sold 2025-06-18; proceeds 5,325.00, basis 0.00), 5,325: A client answer that conflicts with the return
infoAMT_CREDIT_CARRYFORWARDAMT arises from the incentive stock option exercise (a deferral item); a minimum tax credit carryforward to 2026 is expected (Form 8801 next year).EvidenceAlternative minimum tax (F6251.11)Not covered by our checks
infoAOTC_PHASED_OUTAmerican opportunity credit fully phased out by modified AGI.EvidenceAOTC after phase-out (F8863.7)Not covered by our checks
infoFBAR_OUTSIDE_RETURNForeign account maximum exceeds 10,000 USD: FinCEN Form 114 (FBAR) is due separately (not part of this return; not in engagement scope).EvidenceForeign deposit account - maximum value (USD at 12/31 Treasury rate) (F8938.1.max)Not covered by our checks
warningFORM_1099_FILINGSchedule C: client paid two contractors 600 or more and has not filed Forms 1099-NEC.EvidenceMade payments requiring Forms 1099 (SchC.I)Filed or will file required Forms 1099 (SchC.J)Not covered by our checks
warningDUE_DILIGENCE_REQUIREDForm 8867 must be completed by the preparer for the child tax credit and credit for other dependents.EvidencePaid preparer due diligence checklist (CTC/ODC claimed) (F8867.status)Not covered by our checks
warningCA_AMT_NOT_COMPUTEDCalifornia AMT (Schedule P 540NR) not computed: review incentive stock option exercise for California-source allocation.EvidenceIncentive stock options (F6251.2i)Covered by our check: Alternative minimum tax (Schedule P): never computed, though its input carries an amount
infoHOME_OFFICE_AREA_CHANGEHome office area (average 240 sq ft) differs from 2024 (300 sq ft).EvidenceHome office (simplified method, average 240 sq ft x $5) (SchC.30)Covered by our check: 2024 return claimed 300 sq ft for the Sacramento office; the client measured 220; Home office (simplified method, average 240 sq ft x $5): one simplified figure for two homes
warningQUESTIONNAIRE_SALES_CONFLICTQuestionnaire answer: no investments sold. Documents show 282 brokerage sales and 12 digital asset dispositions.EvidenceQuestionnaire: Did you sell any stocks, bonds, mutual funds or other investments in 2025?Not covered by our checks
warningLOW_CONFIDENCE_READHandwritten receipt amount read with low confidence (0.41).EvidenceCash gift amount (D64, page 1)Not covered by our checks
warningBROKER_SUMMARY_DETAIL_MISMATCHMeridian 1099-B summary proceeds 71,965.00 differ from the sum of extracted lots 71,715.00.Evidence1099-B summary total proceeds (D31, page 1)Covered by our check: Meridian Brokerage 2025 consolidated Form 1099 - CORRECTED (joint): page 32 never read, yet the return uses it as complete