Ask in plain English
Type the question the way your client asked it. There is no query syntax to learn.
Tax Research
Every answer comes with its citations
Cranston reads the primary authority and returns a clear answer with the citations attached. You open the sources, judge the fit, and get back to the return.
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Cited answers in one place
Every conclusion cites primary authority
You inspect the sources yourself
How a research question gets answered
The same path a careful researcher takes: read the authority, connect it to the facts, show the work.
Grounded in primary authority
Internal Revenue Code, Treasury Regulations, IRS notices, revenue rulings and procedures, and supported state sources. Answers come from the authority itself.
The conclusion shows its work
A concise answer with each conclusion connected to its citation. Open the source, check the reasoning, decide whether it holds.
What Tax Research covers
From the question to the authority behind the answer.
Plain-English questions
Ask the way the client asked. Cranston finds the relevant authority even when you do not know the citation.
Primary federal authority
The Code, the regulations, notices, revenue rulings, and revenue procedures. Answers are built on the documents themselves, with supported state sources where coverage exists.
Inspectable citations
Every conclusion links to the authority it rests on. One click opens the source so you can judge whether it fits your facts.
Research where the prep is
Research lives beside the client’s file. The question carries the client’s facts: entity type, year, amounts.
A record of what was relied on
The question, the answer, and the cited authority stay on file. When the position is questioned later, the basis for it is one click away.
Judgment stays with you
Cranston finds and connects the authority. The professional validates the facts, the jurisdiction, and the conclusion.
Cranston prepares. Your firm decides.
Cranston automates preparation. Your firm reviews and approves every tax decision.
Cranston prepares
Reads the package
Cranston compares each page with the prior-year return.
Enters the first pass
Cranston enters values in your current client file.
Links figures to source
Click a value to see its source page.
Flags open items
Cranston sends open items to your reviewer.
Your firm decides
Clears diagnostics
Your team reviews the return in its tax software.
Makes the tax calls
Your reviewer makes each tax election.
Approves and signs
Your firm signs each return.
E-files from your software
Your firm uses its own EFIN.
Tax research questions
Checkpoint and CCH are libraries you search. Cranston answers the question from the authority, with citations attached, inside the platform where your prep work lives. You go straight to judging whether the authority supports the conclusion.
One platform, four product lines
Use each product separately or together. All on shared data.
