New revenue from the book you already have
Most preparers don't skip resolution because clients don't need it. They skip it because there's no fast, professional containerfor the work — so the moment a client says “I got a letter from the IRS,” the instinct is to refer it out. That referral hands away the most profitable conversation you have all year, and often the client with it.
RESO is the container: structured intake, an analysis of the case from the IRS's perspective down to the transcript-code level, and a co-branded PDF you can hand the client and bill for — without becoming a full representation shop overnight.
A practical motion
- Identify prep clients with multi-year balances or IRS notices — you already see them.
- Charge a discovery or consult fee for an analysis of their case down to the transcript-code level.
- Present the RESO report as the agenda for next steps — referral, in-house EA, or hybrid.
- Keep the relationship and the recurring work, instead of sending both away.
“But I’m not a resolution specialist.”
You don't have to be. The billable, defensible work is the diagnosis— and that's exactly what RESO produces. You sell and deliver the Discovery report; if the case needs representation, you pair with an EA or attorney and stay in your lane. Either way you've captured the revenue and kept the client relationship instead of giving both away.
Questions preparers ask
Do I have to do IRS representation to use RESO?
No. You can monetize the diagnostic phase — analyze the case from the IRS’s records down to the transcript-code level and hand the client a co-branded Discovery report — without taking on representation. Many preparers bill the diagnosis, then refer or partner with an EA or attorney for the representation work while keeping the client relationship.
What can I actually bill for?
A full analysis of the client’s IRS case is billable advisory work: a discovery or consult fee for a professional report that lays out balances, compliance gaps, collection risk, and the realistic options. It’s a defined deliverable, not an open-ended consult you give away.
How does this fit around busy season?
Filing season ends; balances and notices don’t. Resolution work is counter-cyclical revenue — the multi-year balances and IRS notices you spot during prep become engagements you run in the off-season instead of referring away.
Will I stay within my licensing scope?
Use RESO as analysis support alongside your licensing and representation rules. The diagnostic phase is yours to bill; pair with an EA or counsel for representation. RESO includes disclaimers and expects your professional judgment.
Stop referring away the resolution fee.
See the co-branded report you’d hand a client, then book a demo to run one on a balance-due client from your own book.