Audit Assistance Program Membership Agreement

The following terms and conditions of this Membership Agreement (the "Agreement") govern the Protection Plus Audit Assistance Membership Program ("Program") provided to members of the Program ("Members") by Tax Protection Plus, LLC and the American Advantage Association (cumulatively referred to as “Company”). By accepting enrollment in the Program, you are agreeing to the terms of this Agreement. 

1. Definitions: The following definitions are applicable to the Agreement. 

a. "Tax Software Provider" means the company providing the tax software that the Taxpayer used to prepare and transmit their tax return to the IRS and/or state taxing authority and through which Taxpayer enrolled into the Program. 

b. "Protection Plus Audit Assistance Membership Program" (or the "Program") is a service program offered by Company. 

c. "Return" means an IRS acknowledged individual federal tax return form 1040 and 1040SR and/or a state acknowledged individual state tax return (if applicable) for the previous year’s tax return and is not otherwise excluded in this Agreement. 

d. “Negligence” means failure on the part of the Taxpayer to exercise the care or apply the effort to research IRS and/or state tax codes, instructions and guidelines that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in their efforts to comply with IRS and/or state tax codes in the preparation of a tax Return. 

e. "Taxpayer" or “Member” means the individual (or individuals if filing a Joint Return) who completes an acknowledged Return and elects to enroll in the Program through the Tax Software Provider and for whom Company receives payment of the Company Program Fee. 

f. “Program Fee” is the fee charged by the Tax Software Provider and paid by Member for the Program. 

g. “Company Program Fee” is the Company established fee charged by Company for a Taxpayer to participate in the Program and paid to Company out of the total Program Fee. 

h. “Company” is Tax Protection Plus, LLC and the American Advantage Association 

2. Services provided by Company under the Program: From the date the IRS or state (if applicable) has acknowledged transmission of your Return and Company receives payment of the Company Program Fee and for a period of three (3) years after the April filing deadline for the Return (the Membership Term), if the Taxpayer’s Return is audited or the IRS and/or state denies any of the credits described in Section 2.7, Company will provide the Taxpayer with the following services (collectively, the “Services”): 

2.1 Evaluation of all related IRS and/or state correspondence. 

2.2 Explanation of case requirements and the available options. 

2.3 Professional IRS and/or state document review, consultation and organization. 

2.4 Drafting of letters and other necessary correspondence with the IRS and/or state as needed. 

2.5 Assistance with telephone communication with the IRS and/or state agent for explanations and discussions during the audit process. 

2.6 Assistance with all IRS forms unless excluded below in section 3. 

2.7 Assistance with denied credits when the Return is unfunded, including: Earned Income Credit, Child and Dependent Care Credit (form 2441), Education Credits, Child Tax Credit, Additional Child Tax Credit, Adoption Credit, Credit for the Elderly or Disabled, Savers Credit. 

2.8 Assistance with rejected W-7 applications. 

2.9 Assistance with IRS and/or state Identity Theft 

2.10 Tax debt relief including but not limited to Installment Agreements, Offers in Compromise, Tax Penalty Abatement, Tax Liens, Wage Garnishment Relief, and Innocent Spouse Relief provided that Taxpayer meets all guidelines for approval of the applicable debt relief and pays all associated governmental fees. 

2.11 The Services are subject to change, modification, or substitution at any time without notice to the Member. In order to receive Services, a Member must access the services as instructed within the Membership materials provided. 

3. Program Exclusions: The following types of tax returns and or Inquiries are specifically excluded. Company is under no obligation to provide Taxpayer with the Services in connection with such returns and or Inquiries: 

3.1 Non-Resident returns. 

3.2 Returns other than individual 1040 and 1040SR and individual state Returns including, but not limited to, corporate, partnership, trust, estate, gift and employment returns. 

3.3 Returns in which the Taxpayer had knowledge of additional taxes owed as of the date Taxpayer enrolled in the Program. 

3.4 Returns prepared with Negligence, recklessness, intentional misrepresentation or fraud. 

3.5 Local, city and county tax returns. 

3.6 Returns that have become subject to IRS or state criminal investigations. 

3.7 Inquiries related to foreign income, flow-through entities (partnerships and S-corporations as reported on Schedule K), court awards and damages, bartering income, cancelled debt, estate tax or gift tax. 

3.8 Inquiries related to the following credits: Foreign tax credit, Plug-in electric vehicle credit, Residential energy efficient property credit, Mortgage interest credit, Credit to holders of tax credit bonds, Health coverage tax credit, "Credit" for prior year minimum tax, "Credit" for excess Social Security tax or railroad retirement tax withheld. 

3.9 Due to a lack of Clarity, we may not be able to assist with all IRS inquiries and audits related to the Affordable Care Act. 

3.10 Due to a lack of clarity from the IRS and state taxing authorities, we may not be able to assist with all IRS and/or state inquiries and audits related to any federal or state Economic Impact Stimulus Payments (EIP). 

4. Taxpayer Responsibilities: In order for Company to be obligated to provide the Services to Taxpayer, the Taxpayer agrees to take the following actions: 

4.1 Contact the IRS and/or state (with the assistance of Company) per the audit notice received to request an extension of the deadline for responding, 

4.2 Notify Company of any IRS correspondence or notice regarding the Return within thirty (30) days from the date of such notice along with a complete copy of the Return. 

4.3 Provide Company any further assistance or documents as requested that support claims made on the Return. 

4.4 Pay the Program Fee. In the event Tax Software Provider charges Taxpayer a Program Fee, Taxpayer agrees to pay the Program Fee by either paying such fee directly to the Tax Software Provider or by authorizing the Program Fee to be deducted from any tax refunds due the Taxpayer for payment to the Tax Software Provider. Taxpayer understands that the Tax Software Provider may charge Taxpayer a Program Fee that is greater than the Company Program Fee and retain the difference for their services. 

5. Disclosure of Information: Taxpayer hereby agrees that his/her specific Taxpayer information, including all information that Taxpayer has disclosed to the Tax Software Provider or has been included on the Return, may be disclosed by the Tax Software Provider to Company and used by Company in the manner consistent with this Agreement. 

6. Payment of Company Program Fee: Taxpayer understands that Tax Software Provider is responsible for payment of the Company Program Fee and that Company is under no obligation to provide Services unless Company receives payment of the Company Program Fee. 

7. Cancellation and Refund Option: If, for any reason, a Member is not satisfied with the Program and wishes to terminate his/her membership, the Member may cancel the membership by notifying Company in writing or by telephoning a Program representative. Membership in the Program shall terminate on the date that Company receives written notice of cancellation. Cancellations within the first 30 days of Membership may be eligible for refund. 

8. Member Representations and Acknowledgements: In return for the Services available under the Program, the Member makes the following representations and acknowledgements: 

8.1 Member has read this Agreement carefully, understands the Program, and understands the various billing methods for payment of the Program Fee. 

8.2 Member may cancel his/her Program membership at any time before the conclusion of the Membership Term and will be entitled to a refund subject to the terms of Section 7 of this Agreement. 

8.3 Membership in the Program and benefits thereunder are not assignable without the express written consent of Company. Member agrees that he/she will use his/her Program membership only for his/her personal benefit. A Member's violation of this paragraph 8.3 will result in immediate termination of the Program Membership. 

8.4 Member acknowledges that Company bears no responsibility for the payment of (or contribution to) any use or sales tax that may be imposed by any state or federal taxing authority on the Services provided under the Program. Payment of such taxes, to the extent imposed, shall remain the sole responsibility of the Member. 

8.5 Member understands that Member is responsible for paying the Tax Software Provider for their services rendered. 

8.6 Member understands and agrees that the Tax Software Provider is an independent contractor, and that Company in no way is responsible for the Services provided by the Tax Software Provider. 

8.7 Member understands and agrees that they will be enrolled as a member of the American Advantage Association to be eligible to receive the benefits of the Program. 

8.8 Member understands and agrees that the Program is not insurance. 

8.9 The Taxpayer represents and warrants that they have truthfully provided correct, accurate and complete information to the Tax Software Provider and to the best of Taxpayer’s knowledge, the Taxpayer has truthfully, completely and accurately completed all tax return forms and due diligence worksheets and procedures in accordance with all applicable IRS and state (if applicable) rules, regulations, procedures, guidelines, publications and requirements, and that the Services provided under the Program are conditioned upon such completion. 

9. Disclaimer: Failure to comply with procedure and strategy actions recommended by Company may result in an IRS and/or state (if applicable) ruling unfavorable to the Taxpayer. Failure or refusal to comply with requests or instructions from the IRS and/or state (if applicable) during the audit may result in adverse actions taken by the IRS to Taxpayer’s detriment. In all cases, Company will not be held responsible for the outcome and reserves the right to cease providing services when reasonably warranted. 

10. Disclaimer of Warranties: Company is not a Tax Software Provider or Tax Preparer, or a direct Provider of the tax services provided to Members other than the Program. ACCORDINGLY, COMPANY GIVES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO DESCRIPTION, QUALITY, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE, PRODUCTIVENESS, OR ANY OTHER MATTER, FOR ANY SERVICES OR MERCHANDISE PURCHASED OR RECEIVED BY A MEMBER FROM A TAX SOFTWARE PROVIDER. MEMBER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE/SHE IS NOT RELYING ON COMPANY’S SKILL OR JUDGMENT IN SELECTING A TAX SOFTWARE PROVIDER FOR THE SERVICES PROVIDED TO MEMBERS BY THE TAX SOFTWARE PROVIDER. In the event any product or service (other than the Program) purchased or received by a Member from a Tax Software Provider is canceled, modified, defective, or otherwise unsatisfactory to the Member, the Member will look solely to the Provider, Seller, Merchant, or Manufacturer of the product or service for any repair, exchange, refund, or satisfaction of claim. 

11. General Release: Each Member who uses the Services under the Program membership hereby forever releases, acquits and discharges Company and their employees, agents and affiliates from any and all liabilities, claims, demands, actions, and causes of action that such Member or Member's legal representative(s) may have by reason of any monetary damage or personal injury sustained as a result of or during the course of the use of any and all Services under the Program. The sole recourse available to a Member or Member's legal representative(s) against Company shall be cancellation of the Program membership as provided in Section 7 and any refund available as provided in Section 7. 

12. Notices: Any and all notices, consents, approvals, requests, and other written communications given or required under the terms of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been duly given and served when sent by email, U.S. Postal mail, postage prepaid and addressed to the Member, at the address provided by the Member. 

13. Entire Agreement: This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties with regard to membership in the Program. No representations, inducements, promises or agreements, or otherwise, shall be of any force or effect. The validity or unenforceability of any term of this Agreement shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other terms or provisions of this Agreement. Member Acknowledges that THE PROGRAM IS NOT INSURANCE. 

14. Binding Effect: This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties as well as their respective successors and permitted assigns. 

15. Governing Law: This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina regardless of any application of principles regarding conflicts of laws. 

16. Headings: The headings or captions provided throughout this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall in no way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. 

17. Waiver of Breach: Waiver of breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of any other breach of the same or different provision. 

Tax Protection Plus 

P.O. Box 24279 Winston Salem, NC 27114 

cases@taxprotectionplus.com / Phone # 866-942-8348 / Fax# 850-424-1192