Published Date: March 30, 2026

Effective Date: April 15, 2026

This Invoice and Payment Policy (the “Policy”) describes the Firm’s standard invoicing, payment, and collection terms. It applies to all invoices issued by Salt of the Earth CPA, LLC (the “Firm”) to any client (the “Client”), unless a separate written engagement letter or other written agreement signed by the Firm expressly: (a) modifies this Policy, or (b) states that a particular invoice or engagement is exempt from this Policy.

By requesting or accepting services from the Firm, or by paying any invoice issued by the Firm, the Client is deemed to have read, understood, and agreed to this Policy.

Section 1: Purpose, Scope, and Relationship to Engagement Letters

Section 1.1: Purpose

The purpose of this Policy is to:

1. Provide clear, consistent payment terms for all invoices issued by the Firm;

2. Protect the Firm from the financial and administrative burdens of late or non‑payment; and

3. Ensure that clients understand their responsibilities regarding timely payment, disputes, and collections.

Section 1.2: Scope and Default Application

1. This Policy applies to all clients, including (but not limited to) individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and ministries, and to all services the Firm may perform, including (but not limited to) tax preparation, tax planning, bookkeeping, payroll, advisory/consulting, ad hoc or one‑time services, and any other fees.

2. This Policy applies to all invoices and all amounts shown on those invoices, including fees, expenses, retainers, and any other charges, unless expressly stated otherwise in a written agreement signed by the Firm.

3. If an invoice or engagement involves multiple service types (for example, tax preparation plus consulting plus bookkeeping), this Policy applies to the invoice as a whole unless a signed engagement letter provides different payment terms for a specific portion.

Section 1.3: Relationship to Engagement Letters and Other Agreements

1. The Firm often enters into written engagement letters or other agreements with Clients for particular services or engagements (each, an “Engagement Letter”).

2. If an Engagement Letter expressly addresses any invoicing, payment, late fee, or collections term, that specific provision in the Engagement Letter controls for that engagement to the extent it conflicts with this Policy.

3. If an Engagement Letter does not address a particular payment‑related issue, this Policy provides the default terms (for example, how late status is determined, the calculation and application of late fees, collections, and application of payments).

4. The Firm may, at its sole discretion, agree in writing to vary this Policy for a particular Client, invoice, or engagement. Any such modification must be in a written document signed by the Firm.

Section 2: Invoice Issuance and Delivery

Section 2.1: Timing of Invoices

The Firm may issue invoices at any of the following times, in its discretion and/or as described in an applicable Engagement Letter:

1. Upon completion of a project or discrete service;

2. Periodically (e.g., monthly, or at other intervals) for ongoing or recurring services;

3. On a progress basis for longer‑term or multi‑phase engagements;

4. For retainers or deposits prior to the commencement of services;

5. For out‑of‑pocket expenses incurred on the Client’s behalf; and

6. For any approved installment or payment plan, according to the schedule established in a written payment‑plan agreement.

Section 2.2: Electronic Delivery and Deemed Receipt

1. Invoices are typically delivered electronically via email and/or through an online client portal or practice‑management system used by the Firm.

2. An invoice is deemed received by the Client on the date it is sent by the Firm (the “Invoice Issuance Date” or “Issuance Date”) to the last email address provided by the Client, or when it is posted to the client portal and available for viewing, whichever occurs first.

3. The Client is responsible for ensuring that the Firm has current and accurate contact information, including email addresses and portal access, and for monitoring spam/junk folders and portal notifications.

Section 2.3: Invoice Content

1. Each invoice will reasonably identify the Client, the relevant engagement or service, the total amount due, and the issuance date.

2. Where practicable, invoices may also include a brief description of the services rendered and/or period covered.

3. Any fee estimates provided prior to or during an engagement are for planning purposes only. The actual invoice will reflect the time incurred, agreed flat fees, or other pricing arrangements as specified in any applicable Engagement Letter or written communication.

Section 3: Standard Due Date, Payment Methods, and Late Status

Section 3.1: Standard Due Date

1. Unless otherwise stated on the invoice or in a signed Engagement Letter, all invoices are due upon receipt and payable in full without set‑off or deduction.

2. For purposes of late status and late‑fee calculation, an invoice is considered past due (or “late”) if it is not paid in full within 30 calendar days from the invoice issuance date, and any invoice that remains unpaid after this 30‑day period will be automatically designated as late within the Firm’s billing system and client portal for tracking and collection purposes.

Section 3.2: Alternative Due Dates

1. If an invoice specifies a due date that is different from the standard described above (for example, “Due in 10 days” or a specific calendar date), the invoice is late if not paid in full by the stated due date.

2. If a signed Engagement Letter or written payment‑plan agreement specifies a different due date or schedule, those written terms will govern for that particular invoice or plan.

Section 3.3: Acceptable Payment Methods

1. The Firm currently accepts payment by:
   a. ACH / electronic bank transfer initiated through the Firm’s designated online payment link or client portal;
   b. Check, mailed to the Firm’s mailing address as shown at the top of each invoice;
   c. Credit or debit card, with any associated processing or convenience fees passed through to and paid by the Client; and
   d. Direct bank transfer / wire transfer, available upon request, in which case the Client must contact the Firm to obtain the Firm’s current banking details prior to initiating the transfer.

2. The Client is responsible for any credit‑card processing or convenience fees charged by third‑party payment processors or financial institutions in connection with card payments, while the Firm covers standard ACH, check, and direct bank transfer processing costs, unless otherwise specified in writing by the Firm.

3. The Firm may, in its sole discretion, accept other payment methods or discontinue particular methods, and will communicate any such changes to Clients.

Section 3.4: Returned or Reversed Payments (NSF / Chargebacks)

1. If any payment is returned unpaid, reversed, rejected, or subject to a chargeback (including but not limited to NSF checks, ACH returns, or card chargebacks), the underlying invoice is treated as unpaid as of the original invoice date.

2. The Firm customarily assesses a returned-payment fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per returned item or transaction (the “NSF Fee”). The Firm may, in its sole discretion, assess a higher or lower NSF Fee per returned item or transaction, not to exceed the maximum amount permitted by applicable law, including to reflect processor-imposed fees, bank charges, or other costs incurred by the Firm.

3. Late status and late fees will be recalculated as if the returned payment had never been received, and any partial payments that remain effective will be applied as provided in this Policy.

4. Any invoice issued for NSF Fees or other returned-payment charges is itself an Invoice under this Policy and is subject to Sections 3 and 4 (due dates, late status, and late fees) on the same basis as any other invoice. NSF Fees are not exempt from the late-fee provisions in Section 4.

Section 4: Late Payment Fees

Section 4.1: Purpose of Late Fees

Late fees are intended to:

1. Encourage timely payment and responsible account management;

2. Compensate the Firm for the carrying costs, administrative burden, and risk associated with delayed payment; and

3. Provide a clear and predictable structure for how amounts due will increase over time if left unpaid.

Section 4.2: Commencement of Late Fees

1. An invoice becomes late if it is not paid in full within 30 calendar days from the invoice issuance date, or by any earlier due date stated on the invoice or in a written agreement.

2. Late fees begin to accrue immediately upon the invoice becoming late as described above.

Section 4.3: First 30 Days of Lateness

1. Once an invoice becomes late, a one‑time late fee of ten percent (10%) is applied to the outstanding principal invoice amount only (excluding any previously accrued late fees).

2. The date on which the invoice first becomes late is referred to in this Policy as the “Late Date.”

Section 4.4: Ongoing Monthly Late Fees – Month 2 and Beyond

1. Beginning with the second month of lateness (i.e., the second full calendar month after the invoice issuance date), and for each calendar month thereafter in which a balance remains outstanding, a monthly late fee of two percent (2%) is assessed on the total outstanding balance.

2. For this purpose, the “total outstanding balance” includes:

   • The unpaid principal amount(s) of the invoice; plus

   • All previously assessed and unpaid late fees.

3. Monthly late fees are compounded on the total outstanding balance on the same day of each calendar month as the original invoice date. By way of illustration, and for purposes of demonstrating the application of these late‑fee provisions, if an invoice is issued on July 8:

   • The invoice becomes late on August 7 if not paid in full by that date.

   • The 10% one‑time late fee is applied on August 7.

   • If still unpaid, the first 2% monthly late fee is applied on September 8, calculated on the total outstanding balance as of that date (principal plus the 10% late fee).

   • Additional 2% monthly late fees are assessed on the 8th of each subsequent month while any balance remains unpaid.

Section 4.5: Legal Compliance and Maximum Charges

1. Late fees are intended as a reasonable estimate of the damages and carrying costs associated with late payment; they are not intended to constitute interest or a finance charge in excess of any legal limit.

2. If any late fee or effective rate provided in this Policy would, in any jurisdiction, exceed the maximum amount allowed by applicable law, such fee or rate shall automatically be reduced to the maximum lawful amount permitted in that jurisdiction.

3. The Firm reserves the right, where required by law, to adjust or waive late fees prospectively or retroactively to remain compliant with applicable statutes or regulations.

Section 5: Suspension of Services, Withholding of Deliverables, and Collections

Section 5.1: Suspension or Termination of Services

1. The Firm may, in its sole discretion and subject to applicable professional standards, suspend, delay, or terminate services for any account that has one or more invoices in late status.

2. Suspension may include, without limitation:

   • Ceasing work on ongoing engagements;

   • Not scheduling additional meetings or consultations; and

   • Declining to commence new engagements until the account is brought current or satisfactory arrangements are made.

3. Termination of services for non‑payment does not relieve the Client of the obligation to pay all amounts due, including late fees and collection costs.

Section 5.2: Withholding of Deliverables

1. To the fullest extent permitted by law and professional standards, the Firm may withhold deliverables or work product (such as tax returns, financial statements, letters, reports, or other documents) until all outstanding invoices, including late fees and any applicable collection costs, are paid in full or acceptable arrangements are made.

2. The Firm will not withhold documents that it is legally obligated to provide under applicable law or professional rules.

Section 5.3: Collections and Recovery of Costs

1. If an account remains unpaid after reasonable internal collection efforts, the Firm may refer the account to a third‑party collection agency or attorney.

2. The Client agrees to pay all reasonable costs of collection, including but not limited to collection‑agency fees, attorneys’ fees, court costs, and enforcement expenses, to the fullest extent allowed by law.

3. The Firm may report seriously delinquent accounts to appropriate credit, regulatory, or professional bodies as permitted by law and professional standards.

Section 6: Application of Payments

Section 6.1: Order of Application

Unless otherwise required by law or expressly agreed in writing, payments on the Client’s account will be applied in the following order:

1. First, to fees and reimbursable expenses other than late fees; then

2. To accrued and unpaid late fees; and finally

3. To the principal amounts of the oldest outstanding invoices, or as otherwise determined by the Firm in its reasonable discretion.

Section 6.2: Multiple Invoices and Accounts

1. If the Client has multiple open invoices or engagements, the Firm may allocate payments among those invoices and engagements in a commercially reasonable manner, unless a different allocation is expressly agreed in writing.

2. The Client may request that a particular payment be applied to a specific invoice; however, the Firm is not obligated to honor such requests if doing so would materially impair its ability to collect older or more delinquent balances.

Section 7: Installment Plans and Payment Arrangements

Section 7.1: Discretionary Nature of Installment Plans

1. Unless an applicable Engagement Letter expressly provides otherwise, any invoice issued by the Firm may be considered for an installment or payment plan at the Client’s request; however, the establishment of any such plan remains within the Firm’s sole discretion, and the Firm is under no obligation to approve any requested installment or payment plan.

2. Any installment plan or special payment arrangement must be documented in a separate written agreement or addendum, signed by the Firm, which will set forth the payment schedule and any additional terms and fees.

Section 7.2: Eligibility and Timing

1. As a general rule, any installment plan must be established before an invoice becomes late under this Policy, unless the Firm expressly agrees otherwise in writing.

2. The Firm may require an initial down payment, security, or other assurances as a condition of approving a payment plan.

Section 7.3: Governance of Installment Agreements

1. For invoices or balances that are being repaid under an approved installment plan, the Firm may issue one or more invoices that correspond to each scheduled installment.

2. All repayment terms, including but not limited to the timing and amount of each installment, the treatment of partial payments, the assessment of late fees, default charges, returned‑payment or NSF fees, the handling of any returned or reversed payments, and any acceleration of the remaining balance upon default, shall be governed exclusively by the written installment or payment‑plan agreement applicable to that balance.

3. The late‑fee provisions of Sections 4.2–4.4 of this Policy do not apply to any installment payments, invoices, or balances that are subject to a written installment or payment‑plan agreement, unless such agreement expressly incorporates those provisions by reference.

4. To the extent provided in the applicable installment or payment‑plan agreement, the Firm may, in its discretion and where permitted by law, capitalize or consolidate late fees, default charges, returned‑payment fees, and remaining principal into revised payment‑plan terms, and may terminate the installment plan and declare the entire remaining balance immediately due and payable upon any returned or missed payment.

Section 8: Disputes and Refund Policy

Section 8.1: Notice of Dispute

1. If the Client believes an invoice is incorrect in any respect, the Client must notify the Firm in writing (email or client portal communication is sufficient) within 30 calendar days after the invoice issuance date.

2. The written notice should identify the specific invoice, the amount disputed, and a reasonable explanation of the basis for the dispute.

Section 8.2: Payment of Undisputed Amounts

1. The Client must promptly pay any undisputed portion of an invoice in accordance with this Policy.

2. Late fees will continue to accrue on any unpaid undisputed amounts. The Firm may, but is not required to, defer late fees on the disputed portion while the dispute is being reviewed.

Section 8.3: Resolution of Disputes

1. The Firm will review the dispute in good faith and may request additional documentation or clarification from the Client.

2. The Firm will communicate its determination to the Client and, if appropriate, issue an adjusted invoice or credit.

3. If the Firm determines that some or all of the disputed amount is properly due, such amount (plus any applicable late fees) will be promptly payable in accordance with this Policy.

Section 8.4: Refund Policy

1. General Rule: All payments made to the Firm are generally nonrefundable. Fees charged represent time, expertise, and Firm capacity that has already been allocated to the Client’s account or engagement.

2. Strictly Nonrefundable Circumstances: Without limiting the general rule above, payments are strictly nonrefundable if any of the following apply:

   • Completed Work: The Firm has substantially completed the Services related to the applicable invoice.

   • Time Expiration: The Client fails to submit a formal written request for a refund within thirty (30) calendar days of the payment initiation date.

   • Partial Completion & Reserved Capacity: The Firm has already commenced or partially completed the Services, or the payment covers a recurring subscription period (e.g., a monthly fee) where the Firm made itself available to perform the Services.

   • Client Delay or Non-Compliance: The Firm was unable to fully complete the Services due to the Client’s failure to timely provide necessary information, documents, systems access, or cooperation as required by the Firm’s General Engagement Terms or the applicable Engagement Letter.

3. Firm’s Sole Discretion: Any exceptions to this Policy, including the issuance of any full or partial refund or account credit, are made strictly at the Firm’s sole and absolute discretion. The granting of a refund or credit in one instance does not establish a precedent, constitute a waiver of this Policy, or obligate the Firm to issue refunds in the future.

Section 9: No Set-Off or Withholding Rights

1. The Client may not withhold, offset, or delay payment of any invoice based on any actual or alleged claim against the Firm, including but not limited to claims for errors, omissions, or other disputes, except to the extent expressly required by law or agreed by the Firm in writing.

2. Any claims the Client may have against the Firm must be pursued separately and do not diminish the Client’s obligation to pay invoices when due under this Policy, unless the Firm agrees otherwise in writing.

Section 10: Changes to This Policy

Section 10.1: Firm’s Right to Amend

1. The Firm may update or amend this Policy from time to time in its sole discretion, subject to applicable law and professional standards.

2. Any revised Policy will be posted on the Firm’s website or otherwise communicated to Clients and will indicate its effective date.

Section 10.2: Effect of Policy Changes

1. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the updated Policy, changes apply prospectively only, to invoices issued on or after the new effective date.

2. Invoices issued before the effective date of an updated Policy will generally remain subject to the Policy in effect at the time those invoices were issued, except to the extent a change is required by law and the Firm elects to apply it retroactively.