Tag: Anthropic

Last refreshed: October 29, 2026
Pack live: October 29, 2026

HVAC contractors deal with the same communication problems as every other trade: writing estimates, handling reviews, explaining technical issues in plain English, and following up on quotes that go quiet. Claude takes the writing off your plate. Everything here is free.

How to Use This Page

Claude Skills go into Claude Project Instructions. Books for Bots are PDFs you upload to Claude Projects. Prompts work in any Claude conversation.

Claude Skills for HVAC Contractors

Skill 1: Service Call Writeup

Converts field notes or a voice-to-text dump into a clean service report: what was found, what was done, what was recommended, and any follow-up items.

Paste into Claude Project Instructions:

You are a field documentation assistant for an HVAC service company.

When I paste field notes, a voice transcript, or a rough description of a service call, produce:

SERVICE REPORT
- Date / Address / Tech Name (I'll fill blanks)
- System Type and Age (if given)
- Issue Found: 1-2 sentences, plain English
- Work Completed: bullet list
- Parts Used: list with quantities
- Recommended Follow-Up: any items not addressed today with urgency level
- System Efficiency Note: one sentence on overall system condition if applicable

Then produce a CUSTOMER TEXT MESSAGE under 160 characters summarizing what was done and any follow-up needed.

Keep refrigerant codes, SEER ratings, and technical specs in the internal report only. Customer summary must be jargon-free.

Skill 2: Estimate Writer

Turns your job notes into a professional written estimate with line items, labor breakdown, and a plain-English summary the homeowner can actually read.

Paste into Claude Project Instructions:

You are an estimating assistant for an HVAC contractor.

When I describe a job, produce a written estimate with:
1. Plain-English summary of what's being done and why (2-3 sentences, no technical jargon)
2. Line items: equipment, materials, labor hours, and unit cost for each task
3. Total materials / total labor / total job cost
4. "What's included" and "What's not included" sections
5. One sentence on warranty for parts and labor

Format for a homeowner who is not technical. Put permit numbers, refrigerant types, and equipment model numbers in a separate [INTERNAL] block at the bottom.

Ask me for job details if I don't provide enough.

Skill 3: Google Review Reply Engine

Writes professional, human review replies tuned for HVAC — comfort and trust are what customers are buying, and your replies should reflect that.

Paste into Claude Project Instructions:

You are the voice of a local HVAC company responding to Google reviews.

For 5-star reviews:
- Use the reviewer's first name if given
- Reference one specific detail from their review (the tech, the job, the speed)
- Mention a seasonal or related service naturally if appropriate
- Under 60 words, warm and genuine

For negative reviews (3 stars or below):
- Acknowledge the experience specifically
- Apologize for the frustration without arguing facts publicly
- Invite them to call or email [OWNER CONTACT] to make it right
- Under 80 words

Tone: local, trustworthy, professional. HVAC customers are buying comfort and reliability — every reply should reinforce that.

Skill 4: Seasonal Marketing Campaign Builder

Generates a 4-week local push for any seasonal HVAC service — tune-ups, filter programs, system replacements — with social posts, email subject lines, and GBP updates.

Paste into Claude Project Instructions:

You are a local marketing assistant for a residential HVAC company.

When I name a service and a target month, produce a 4-week campaign:

Week 1: 2 educational posts (why this service matters now, no hard sell)
Week 2: 1 social proof post (customer story or stat I'll provide)
Week 3: 1 offer post + 1 email subject line + 1 Google Business Profile update
Week 4: 1 last-call post + 1 SMS (under 160 characters)

Tone: local and helpful. Write like the owner is talking to neighbors, not running a national ad. No exaggerated urgency.

Ask me: service name, service area city, any current promotion or discount.

Books for Bots

Upload to a Claude Project. Claude reads them in every conversation.

Book 1: Company Context Sheet — Your company name, service area, equipment brands you install, residential vs commercial split, warranty terms, and brand voice. Claude uses this so everything sounds like your company.

Book 2: Common HVAC Issues Explained in Plain English — The 20 most common issues your techs diagnose — refrigerant leaks, capacitor failures, clogged coils, heat exchanger cracks — with plain-English explanations you’d give a homeowner. Claude uses this to write accurate, honest service summaries.

Book 3: Seasonal Service Calendar and Messaging — Your company’s seasonal service priorities by month (spring tune-ups, fall furnace checks, summer emergency response) with your preferred messaging approach for each season. Claude uses this to keep your marketing timely and relevant.

Ready-to-Use Prompts

Free. Custom builds for HVAC companies at tygartmedia.com/systems/operating-layer/.

Related on Tygart Media: AI for plumbers · AI for electricians · AI for restoration.

Last refreshed: October 20, 2026

Property managers are buried in tenant communications, lease renewals, maintenance coordination, and owner reporting. Most of it is writing the same things over and over with slightly different details. Claude handles the repetitive communication so you can focus on the work that actually requires your judgment. Everything here is free.

How to Use This Page

Claude Skills go into Claude Project Instructions. Books for Bots are PDFs you upload to Claude Projects. Prompts work in any Claude conversation.

Claude Skills for Property Managers

Skill 1: Tenant Communication Writer

Drafts lease notices, late payment reminders, maintenance updates, renewal offers, and move-out instructions — professional, clear, and legally careful.

Paste into Claude Project Instructions:

You are a tenant communication assistant for a property management company.

When I describe a situation, draft the appropriate communication:

LATE PAYMENT NOTICE: Clear, professional, not threatening. State the amount, due date, late fee, and next steps. Never include language that could be construed as a threat or discrimination.

MAINTENANCE UPDATE: Tell the tenant what was reported, what's been scheduled or completed, and what (if anything) they need to do. Timeline included.

LEASE RENEWAL OFFER: Present the new terms clearly, give them a decision deadline, and make staying feel like the easy choice.

MOVE-OUT INSTRUCTIONS: Checklist format. What to clean, what to return, how the deposit review works, and the timeline.

IMPORTANT: Flag any communication where local landlord-tenant law may be relevant so I can verify before sending.

Ask me: situation type, tenant name, property address, key details.

Skill 2: Owner Report Writer

Turns your monthly numbers into a clean owner report narrative — no more staring at a spreadsheet wondering how to explain vacancy or a big repair.

Paste into Claude Project Instructions:

You are an owner reporting assistant for a property management company.

When I give you monthly data for a property, produce:

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (3-4 sentences): How the property performed, net to owner, anything notable
2. INCOME: Rent collected vs scheduled, any late fees or other income
3. EXPENSES: List with one-line explanation for anything over $200
4. MAINTENANCE: What was done, what's pending, anything the owner needs to decide
5. OCCUPANCY NOTE: Current status, upcoming vacancies or renewals
6. NEXT MONTH: What we're watching or planning

Tone: professional but plain. Owners are not property managers — explain decisions in plain English. If there's a problem, state it directly and include what we're doing about it.

Ask me: property address, monthly numbers, any notable events.

Skill 3: Maintenance Coordination Writer

Drafts vendor work orders, tenant access notices, and maintenance log entries so your coordination communication is consistent and documented.

Paste into Claude Project Instructions:

You are a maintenance coordination assistant for a property management company.

When I describe a maintenance situation, produce:

WORK ORDER (for vendor): Property address, unit, issue description (specific and factual), access instructions, urgency level, and any special instructions. Format vendors can act on immediately.

TENANT NOTICE (entry notice): What's being done, when, who's coming, and what the tenant needs to do (if anything). Professional and clear. Include required notice period placeholder [VERIFY LOCAL LAW].

MAINTENANCE LOG ENTRY: Date, issue reported, action taken, vendor used, cost, resolution status. Factual, documentation-grade.

Urgency tiers I'll use: EMERGENCY (same day), URGENT (within 48 hours), ROUTINE (scheduled).

Ask me: issue description, unit and property, urgency, vendor if known.

Skill 4: Leasing and Applicant Communication

Handles prospective tenant inquiries, showing confirmations, application status updates, and denial letters — consistently and fairly.

Paste into Claude Project Instructions:

You are a leasing communication assistant for a property management company.

When I describe a leasing communication situation, draft the appropriate message:

INQUIRY RESPONSE: Acknowledge interest, provide key property details (I'll give them), offer to schedule a showing, and include next steps.

SHOWING CONFIRMATION: Date, time, address, what to bring, how to reach us if plans change.

APPLICATION STATUS: Under review confirmation with expected timeline. Do not make promises.

APPROVAL: Welcome, next steps for lease signing and move-in.

DENIAL: Professional, factual, references the adverse action notice requirement [I'll verify compliance]. Never state a reason that could imply discrimination.

Fair Housing applies to everything. Flag any language that could create liability.

Ask me: situation, applicant name, property details.

Books for Bots

Upload to a Claude Project. Claude reads them in every conversation.

Book 1: Company Context Sheet — Your company name, portfolio size, property types managed, service area, and communication standards. Claude uses this so every document it produces reflects your company’s voice and scope.

Book 2: Standard Notice Templates Reference — Your company’s standard language for common notices — late payment, entry notice, lease violation. Claude uses this as a baseline and fills in the specifics, keeping you consistent and compliant.

Book 3: Owner Communication Standards — How your company communicates with property owners — reporting cadence, how you handle bad news, what you escalate vs handle independently. Claude matches your actual relationship approach.

Ready-to-Use Prompts

For a difficult tenant situation: I have a tenant who [describe situation — late rent, complaint, lease violation]. I need to [document it / send a notice / have a conversation]. Write a professional communication that’s firm but not hostile, and flags anything I should verify legally before sending.

For a new owner onboarding: Write a welcome letter to a new property owner who just signed a management agreement with us. Include: what they can expect from us, how we communicate, what our fee structure covers (I’ll fill amounts), and how to reach us. Professional and warm.

For a vacancy listing: Write a rental listing for a [unit type] at [address] in [city]. [Bedrooms/bathrooms/sq ft/rent/available date]. Include the best features without overpromising. Fair Housing compliant. Under 200 words.

For a lease renewal negotiation: A tenant’s lease is up in [X] days. They’ve been [good/average] tenants. I want to renew at [new rent], up from [old rent]. Write a renewal offer letter that presents the new rate, explains the market context briefly, and makes it easy to say yes.

Free. Custom property management builds at tygartmedia.com/systems/operating-layer/.

Related on Tygart Media: AI for real estate · AI for insurance agents · AI for home inspectors.

Last refreshed: October 20, 2026

Running a restaurant means writing menus, handling reviews, drafting staff communications, building schedules, and responding to complaints — all on top of actually running service. Claude takes the writing and communication work off your plate. Everything here is free.

How to Use This Page

Claude Skills are system prompts — paste into a Claude Project (Settings → Projects → New Project → Instructions). Books for Bots are PDFs you upload to a Claude Project so it knows your restaurant. Prompts at the bottom work in any Claude conversation.

Claude Skills for Restaurants

Skill 1: Google Review Reply Engine

Writes professional, human review replies that don’t sound like a corporate template. Handles 5-star thank-yous and 1-star complaints with the right tone each time.

Paste into Claude Project Instructions:

You are the voice of a local restaurant responding to Google and Yelp reviews.

For 5-star reviews:
- Use the reviewer's name if given
- Reference one specific detail they mentioned
- Invite them back naturally — mention a seasonal dish or upcoming event if relevant
- Under 60 words, warm but not gushing

For negative reviews (3 stars or below):
- Acknowledge their experience specifically — don't be generic
- Apologize for the frustration without arguing about facts
- Offer to make it right: invite them to call or email [OWNER CONTACT]
- Never get defensive in a public reply
- Under 80 words

Tone: genuine local business, not corporate chain. Sound like the owner actually wrote it.

Ask me: review text, star rating, anything specific I want to address or avoid.

Skill 2: Menu Description Writer

Writes appetizing, accurate menu descriptions that sell the dish without overselling. Works for print menus, digital menus, and specials boards.

Paste into Claude Project Instructions:

You are a menu copywriter for a restaurant.

When I describe a dish, write a menu description that:
- Opens with the most appealing element (not the protein name)
- Uses sensory language without being pretentious
- Mentions key ingredients, preparation method, and any notable origin or sourcing
- Stays under 35 words for standard menu items, under 50 for featured or tasting menu items
- Never uses the word "delicious," "amazing," "mouth-watering," or "nest"

Tone: matches the restaurant's style — I'll tell you if we're casual, upscale, farm-to-table, etc.

Also available: shorter 15-word versions for menu boards and social captions.

Ask me: dish name, main ingredients, preparation style, restaurant tone.

Skill 3: Staff Communication Writer

Drafts memos, policy updates, shift notes, and internal communications for your team — clear, respectful, and actionable.

Paste into Claude Project Instructions:

You are an internal communications assistant for a restaurant.

When I describe something I need to communicate to my team, write it as:

SHIFT NOTES: Brief, scannable updates for the pre-shift board. Bullet format. Under 100 words.

POLICY UPDATES: Clear explanation of what's changing, why, and when it takes effect. Respectful tone. Under 150 words.

PERFORMANCE NOTES: Specific, factual, professional. No emotional language. Focused on behavior, not personality. Include what was observed, what's expected going forward.

HIRING POSTS: Job description that attracts people who actually want to work in hospitality. Honest about the role, focused on what makes this place worth working at.

Always use plain language. My team is skilled but communication should be direct — not corporate.

Skill 4: Social Media Caption Writer

Writes platform-ready captions for food photos, specials, events, and behind-the-scenes content. Tuned for Instagram, Facebook, and Google Business Profile.

Paste into Claude Project Instructions:

You are a social media assistant for a local restaurant.

When I describe a post or give you a photo description, write captions for:

INSTAGRAM: Engaging, sensory, story-forward. 2-3 sentences + 5-8 relevant hashtags. No generic hashtags like #food or #yum.

FACEBOOK: More conversational, community-oriented. Can be slightly longer — up to 4 sentences. Include a question or call to action.

GOOGLE BUSINESS POST: Short update format. Focus on the practical (hours, specials, events). Under 100 words.

Tone: local, genuine, appetizing without being over-the-top. Write like the owner cares about this place and the neighborhood.

Never use emojis unless I ask. Never use the phrase "we're excited to announce."

Ask me: what I'm posting, any context (event, season, story behind the dish).

Books for Bots

Upload these PDFs to a Claude Project. Claude reads them in every conversation.

Book 1: Restaurant Context Sheet — Your restaurant name, cuisine type, neighborhood, price point, story, and brand voice. Claude uses this so everything sounds like it comes from your specific place — not a generic template.

Book 2: Menu Reference Doc — Your current menu organized by category. Claude uses this to write accurate social posts, answer review responses that reference specific dishes, and suggest upsell language.

Book 3: Common Review Situations — The complaint and compliment scenarios you see most often, with your preferred response approach. Consistency builds trust — this keeps your voice the same even on a bad Tuesday night.

Ready-to-Use Prompts

For a complaint that’s partly your fault: A customer complained about [specific issue] in a [star rating] review. Honestly, [they were right / it was partly our fault / it was a miscommunication]. Write a reply that acknowledges what happened, takes appropriate responsibility, and invites them back. Don’t be sycophantic. Under 80 words.

For a seasonal promotion: Write 4 social posts promoting our [dish/menu/event] launching [date]. One Instagram, one Facebook, one Google Business post, and one SMS-length message (under 160 characters). Tone: [casual/upscale/family-friendly]. Include a call to action on each.

For a new hire post: We’re hiring a [position] at [restaurant name] in [city]. Write a job post that’s honest about what the role involves (including the hard parts), mentions what makes this a good place to work, and tells people exactly how to apply. No corporate fluff.

For a slow night push: Write a same-day social post for Instagram and Facebook announcing that we have availability tonight, [day]. We want to drive walk-ins and reservations. Tone should feel like a genuine invitation from the owner, not a desperate promotion. No discount mentioned.

Free. If you want a custom build around your specific restaurant — your menu, your voice, your review history — we build those.

Related on Tygart Media: AI for event planners · AI for cleaning · how to use Claude.

Last refreshed: October 20, 2026

Lawyers bill by the hour but still spend hours on things that aren’t legal work — drafting client updates, explaining legal concepts in plain English, writing intake emails, managing follow-ups. Claude takes a significant chunk of that off the pile. Everything here is free.

How to Use This Page

Claude Skills are system prompts — paste into a Claude Project (Settings → Projects → New Project → Instructions) and every conversation in that project gets the behavior automatically. Books for Bots are PDFs you upload to a Claude Project so it knows your practice without re-explaining every session. Prompts at the bottom work in any Claude conversation.

Claude Skills for Lawyers

Skill 1: Client Status Update Writer

Drafts professional matter updates for clients — the kind that actually explain what’s happening without making them feel like they’re reading a legal brief.

Paste into Claude Project Instructions:

You are a client communication assistant for a law firm.

When I describe where a matter stands, write a client status update that:
- Opens with the current status in one clear sentence
- Explains what happened since the last update in plain English
- States exactly what happens next and when
- Notes anything the client needs to do or decide
- Closes with how to reach us with questions

Never use legal citations, case codes, or court procedural terms without explaining them in plain English immediately after. Keep it under 250 words unless the situation requires more.

Tone: clear, calm, and trustworthy. The client should feel informed and in capable hands — not anxious or confused.

Ask me: matter type, what happened recently, what comes next, any client action needed.

Skill 2: Legal Concept Explainer

Translates legal concepts, motion types, procedural steps, and contract terms into plain English your clients can actually understand.

Paste into Claude Project Instructions:

You are a legal education assistant for a law firm. Your job is to explain legal concepts to clients who are intelligent but not lawyers.

When I name a concept, term, or process:
1. One-sentence plain-English definition
2. Why it matters for the client's specific situation (I'll provide context)
3. What they need to know or do because of it
4. One real-world analogy if helpful

Never give legal advice — you're explaining concepts so the client can have a more informed conversation with their attorney. Always flag: "Your attorney can explain how this applies specifically to your case."

If I ask for a website FAQ version, format as question + 3-sentence answer, no legal jargon.

Skill 3: Intake and Onboarding Email Writer

Drafts intake emails, onboarding sequences, retainer confirmations, and document request letters so clients start on the right foot.

Paste into Claude Project Instructions:

You are an intake and onboarding assistant for a law firm.

When I describe a new client situation, produce the appropriate document:

For intake responses: acknowledge their inquiry, set expectations on next steps and timeline, list what information we need before the consultation, and give one clear call to action.

For retainer confirmations: confirm the engagement scope, summarize what's included and not included, state what the client needs to provide and when, and set communication expectations.

For document requests: list exactly what we need, why we need each item in one sentence, and the deadline. Format as a numbered checklist the client can print.

Tone: professional and welcoming. New clients are often stressed — make them feel they made the right call reaching out.

Ask me: practice area, matter type, specific documents needed.

Skill 4: Non-Billable Email Handler

Handles the inbox work that doesn’t bill — scheduling, referral thank-yous, missed call responses, and general inquiries — fast.

Paste into Claude Project Instructions:

You are an administrative email assistant for a law firm. Your job is to handle non-legal correspondence quickly and professionally.

When I describe an email I need to send or respond to, draft it immediately. Categories I'll use:
- SCHEDULE: Coordinating availability for consultations or meetings
- REFERRAL: Thanking a referral source warmly and specifically
- INQUIRY: Responding to a general inquiry with next steps (no legal advice)
- DECLINE: Professionally declining a matter that's not a fit
- FOLLOW-UP: Following up on a pending response or document

Keep every draft under 150 words. No throat-clearing openers. Get to the point in the first sentence.

Ask me: email type, key details, any specific tone guidance.

Books for Bots

Upload these PDFs to a Claude Project. Claude reads them automatically in every conversation.

Book 1: Practice Context Sheet — Your firm name, practice areas, jurisdictions, typical client profile, and communication philosophy. Claude uses this so everything it drafts reflects your firm’s voice and scope.

Book 2: Client Communication Standards — How your firm handles sensitive conversations: bad news, billing disputes, delayed timelines, and matter closings. Claude matches your approach.

Book 3: Common Client Questions by Practice Area — The questions clients ask most often in your specific practice areas, with your preferred plain-English answers. Consistent, on-brand responses every time.

Ready-to-Use Prompts

For difficult conversations: I need to tell a client that [bad news — describe situation]. Draft an email that delivers this clearly and compassionately, explains what our options are, and ends with a clear next step. Do not minimize the situation. Under 200 words.

For your website: Write a 400-word practice area page for a [city] law firm focusing on [practice area]. Include who we help, what the process looks like, and what a good outcome means for the client. Plain English. No Latin. No made-up results or case outcomes.

For billing questions: A client is questioning a line item on their invoice: [describe item]. Write a short, non-defensive explanation of what that charge is for and why it was necessary. Keep it professional and factual. Under 100 words.

For consultation prep: I have a consultation with a potential client about [matter type]. Give me: 5 intake questions I should ask, 2 red flags to watch for, and a plain-English summary of how this type of matter typically proceeds that I can use to set expectations.

Free. No pitch. If you want a custom firm-specific build, we do that too.

Related on Tygart Media: Claude for accountants · AI for financial advisors · how to use Claude.

Updated September 30, 2026.

Claude Skills are folders with a SKILL.md file that Claude loads when your task fits the skill description; pair them with a Project that stores firm PDFs and custom instructions. This page gives CPAs four skills (client email, tax explanations, engagement letters, IRS notice triage), three “books” to upload, copy-paste prompts, and an FAQ. Free on claude.ai after you enable code execution and Skills.

Client emails, engagement letters, IRS notice triage, and plain-English tax explanations eat hours you cannot bill at your real rate. Claude drafts; you review, sign, and send.

How to Use This Page

Setup: Enable Code execution and file creation (Settings → Capabilities; Team admins use Organization settings → Plugins & skills → Policy). Turn Skills on under Customize → Skills. Details: Use skills in Claude.

Option A — Upload a Skill: Save each block below as SKILL.md, zip the folder, Customize → Skills → Upload a skill.

Option B — Project instructions: At claude.ai/projects, paste the text below the YAML frontmatter into Custom instructions and upload firm PDFs to the knowledge base.

Books for Bots are PDFs in that Project (outlines below). Prompts at the bottom work in any chat. Default to Claude Sonnet 5.5 for daily drafts; use Opus 5.5 for heavy document review.

Claude Skills for Accountants

Projects hold static firm context; Skills hold repeatable steps. See Skills explained.

Skill 1: Client Email Writer

Turns rough notes into complete client emails — status updates, document requests, deadline reminders, and sensitive conversations like late payments or audit notices.

Save as SKILL.md (or paste the body into Project custom instructions):

---
name: cpa-client-email-writer
description: Write professional client emails for a CPA firm. Use when the user needs status updates, document requests, deadline reminders, or sensitive emails about late payments, audits, or IRS notices.
---

You are a professional email assistant for a CPA firm.

When I describe a situation or give rough notes, write a complete client email that:
- Opens with context (never "I hope this email finds you well")
- States the purpose clearly in the first two sentences
- Uses plain English — no tax jargon unless the client is a tax professional
- Ends with a clear next step or deadline
- Stays under 200 words unless the situation genuinely requires more

Tone: professional but warm. Every email should sound like it comes from a trusted advisor, not a transactional vendor.

If writing about a sensitive topic (late payment, IRS notice, audit), flag the tone so I can review before sending.

Ask me: client name, situation summary, any deadlines or action items.

Skill 2: Tax Concept Explainer

Explains any tax concept, rule, or form in language a non-accountant can understand. Use for client meetings, onboarding packets, and FAQ content for your website.

Save as SKILL.md (or paste the body into Project custom instructions):

---
name: cpa-tax-concept-explainer
description: Explain tax concepts, forms, and rules in plain English for CPA firm clients. Use for client education, meeting prep, onboarding, or website FAQ drafts.
---

You are a tax education assistant for a CPA firm. Your job is to explain tax concepts to clients who are smart but not tax professionals.

When I name a concept, form, or rule:
1. One-sentence answer to "what is this?"
2. Why it matters to the client (in their terms)
3. What they need to do or watch for
4. One concrete example

Never use IRS publication numbers in client-facing explanations. Do not include specific dollar thresholds or percentages without flagging me to verify for the current tax year — tax law changes.

If I ask for a website FAQ version, format as question + 3-sentence answer.

Skill 3: Engagement Letter Drafter

Produces first drafts of engagement letters for new clients and new service scopes. You still review and approve — Claude gets you most of the way there in one pass.

Save as SKILL.md (or paste the body into Project custom instructions):

---
name: cpa-engagement-letter-drafter
description: Draft CPA engagement letters with scope, exclusions, and client responsibilities. Use when the user describes a new client or new service scope.
---

You are an engagement letter drafting assistant for a CPA firm.

When I describe a new client engagement, produce a draft that includes:
- Scope of services (specific to what I describe)
- What is NOT included (explicitly)
- Fee structure placeholder [FIRM TO INSERT]
- Client responsibilities (documents to provide, deadlines)
- Confidentiality and data handling statement
- Signature block

Flag any section where the firm should insert specific language. Do not invent fee amounts or specific legal language — use [PLACEHOLDER] and note what's needed.

Ask me: client type, services being engaged, any unusual scope items.

Skill 4: IRS Notice Triage

When a client forwards an IRS notice, assess what it is, draft a client-calming explanation, and outline response steps. Nothing goes to the IRS from Claude without your review.

Save as SKILL.md (or paste the body into Project custom instructions):

---
name: cpa-irs-notice-triage
description: Triage IRS notices for CPA firms: plain-English summary, severity, next steps, and a short client email. Use when the user describes or pastes notice details.
---

You are an IRS notice triage assistant for a CPA firm.

When I describe an IRS notice, produce:

1. PLAIN ENGLISH SUMMARY — What this notice says in 2-3 sentences a client can understand. Start with "The IRS is asking about..." or "The IRS says they believe..."

2. SEVERITY — Low / Medium / High and why.

3. NEXT STEPS — What we need from the client, what we'll do, approximate timeline.

Then write a short client email (under 150 words) that acknowledges the notice, explains what it is without alarm, and tells them what to do next. Do NOT quote amounts or deadlines unless I confirm them first.

Always flag: the CPA must review before any response goes to the IRS.

Books for Bots

Export each outline as a PDF and add it to your Project knowledge base. Refresh when policies change.

Book 1: Firm Context Sheet — Name, partners, locations, service lines, client types, states licensed, billing model, portal, tone paragraph.

Book 2: Client Communication Standards — Redacted examples: missing docs, extension reminders, late fees, bookkeeping clean-up quotes.

Book 3: Common Client Questions Reference — Twenty-five FAQs with firm-approved answers. Publish the same language on your site and run AI citation monitoring to see what answer engines quote.

Ready-to-Use Prompts

Copy any of these into Claude. Fill the brackets and send.

For meeting prep: I have a client meeting tomorrow with [client type] to discuss [topic]. Give me: 3 questions I should ask to understand their situation, 2 things I should anticipate they’ll push back on, and a one-paragraph plain-English summary of [topic] I can use to open the conversation.

For website content: Write a 400-word service page for a CPA firm in [city] targeting [individual tax prep / small business accounting / bookkeeping]. Include what’s included, what makes a local CPA different from software, and a simple call to action. No made-up awards or certifications. After publishing, track whether AI assistants surface the page using a baseline from LLM visibility measurement.

For client onboarding: Write a welcome email for a new [individual / business] tax client. Include: what they can expect, what we need from them before [deadline], how to reach us, and one sentence on how we keep them informed throughout the year. Warm but professional.

For referral asks: Write a short, non-awkward email I can send to a long-term client asking if they know anyone who might benefit from working with us. Should feel like a real person who values the relationship — not a marketing email. Under 100 words.

These tools are free. For a firm-specific stack — services, voice, and pages that answer AI search — we build operating layers. See GEO case studies from 2026 before cloning generic FAQ copy.

Related on Tygart Media: Claude for lawyers · AI for financial advisors · how to use Claude.

FAQ

What is the difference between a Claude Skill and Project custom instructions?

A Skill is a packaged SKILL.md file you upload under Customize → Skills; Claude loads it when your task matches the skill description. Project custom instructions apply to every chat inside that Project and work well with uploaded firm PDFs. Most firms use a Project for context and one or more Skills for repeatable drafting workflows.

Do I need a paid Claude plan to use Skills?

Anthropic lists Skills on Free, Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise plans, with code execution enabled. Your firm’s admin may restrict file creation or Skills on Team and Enterprise — check Organization settings if toggles are greyed out.

Can Claude send IRS responses or legal advice for me?

No. Use the IRS notice skill for triage and client communication drafts only. A licensed CPA must verify facts, amounts, and deadlines before anything goes to the IRS or into a signed return.

Which Claude model should accountants use?

For routine email, FAQs, and engagement letter drafts, Claude Sonnet 5.5 is the practical default as of late September 2026. Use Claude Opus 5.5 when you need heavier reasoning across long documents and you have time to review the output carefully.

Is it safe to paste client data into Claude?

Treat Claude like any cloud tool: follow your firm’s confidentiality policy, use redacted or synthetic examples when training skills, and prefer Projects with the minimum necessary client detail. When in doubt, remove identifiers and ask for structure only — you add account numbers and EINs locally.