Who this checklist is for
Accounting and bookkeeping practices onboarding an individual or company client.
Free template · 13 checklist items
Accounting Client Onboarding Checklist Template
Set up the engagement before asking a new client for a year of records. This checklist separates who you act for, which services they need and the information needed to take over from a previous accountant.
No signup required. Edit the CSV in Excel, Google Sheets or another spreadsheet.
Before you send it
Choose the individual or business route before sending the request. Agree the services and accounting period first, then remove irrelevant items. Your practice decides which identity checks and authorisations are required locally.
What to include in the request
These are starting points to adapt, not universal requirements. The CSV contains the same items and instructions as this preview.
| Section | Item | Format | Provided by | When to request | Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contact | Client name and contact details | Contact fields | Client contact | At onboarding | Identify the individual or business and the person answering your questions. |
| Individual | Date of birth and home address | Date / address | Individual client | For the individual route | Collect only what your practice needs to establish the engagement. |
| Individual | Identity and address evidence | File requests | Individual client | Where required by your process | Specify the evidence and recency your practice accepts. |
| Business | Registration number and registered address | Short answer / address | Company contact | For the business route | Use the legal entity details rather than only the trading name. |
| Business | Certificate of incorporation | File request | Company contact | For a company | Collect the registration certificate for the entity you will act for. |
| Tax profile | Tax reference and country of tax residence | Short answers | Client contact | For the applicable tax service | Use the identifiers relevant to the client and jurisdiction. |
| Accounting profile | Year end, VAT and payroll status | Date / choices | Company contact | For a business client | Identify which records and services are relevant. |
| Accounting profile | Current accounting software | Short answer | Company contact | If bookkeeping records already exist | Record where the books are kept; arrange any system access separately. |
| Prior records | Previous return or accounts | File request | Client contact | If available | Ask for the most recent filed version and identify its period. |
| Engagement | Services and period covered | Choices / short answer | Client contact | Before work starts | List the services requested and the year this case covers. |
| Engagement | Previous accountant contact | Short answer | Client contact | If applicable | Collect contact details and the appropriate clearance authorisation. |
| Authorisation | Authority and engagement confirmations | Checkboxes / supporting file | Authorised client | Before submission | Use your own engagement terms and locally appropriate authority-to-act process. |
| People | Director or owner identity | Separate member section | Each relevant person | If your process requires it | Invite each contributor to supply their own evidence. |
Use this template in Intaky
Start with the “Accounting & tax client onboarding” template in Intaky, then edit the questions, document requests and declarations for your practice. This downloadable checklist is an editable planning aid, not an import file.
After setup, share your application link. Applicants access their own checklist through an email link with no password to create. Your team reviews the submitted answers and files and requests corrections on the items that need them.
Put the checklist into practice
Turn the checklist into a client request.
Create your workspace, adapt the questions and file requests, and collect the answers in one place.
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