*Helpful Tips from Electronic IRS for Tax Professionals*
Be your client's hero. The IRS provides a full suite of Web-based products called e-services available through the Electronic IRS. These basic services are designed to help tax professionals and payers handle the major components of tax preparation and filing while improving the speed with which the IRS responds. For more information visit the Electronic IRS.
*Busy Season Tips from Columnists of The CPA & NSA Technology Advisor*
  Isaac M. O'Bannon is the technology editor and website content manager for The CPA & NSA Technology Advisor . He combines his background in consumer and professional-level computer applications and peripherals with a knowledge of the public accounting field to provide reviews of programs used by accountants in their practice, as well as software and other technologies that can assist an accountant's clients in their business goals. During his tenure with the magazine, he has reviewed more than 400 pieces of software and web-based applications.
Through his column, “Tips & Tricks,” he provides further useful technology information, from when to upgrade computing systems, electronic security and other topical issues. He periodically covers stories in more detail through feature articles.
Prior to The CPA Technology Advisor , Isaac worked in high-tech public relations for agencies in Tulsa, Denver and San Francisco, overseeing the day-to-day media relations activities for several technology-focused clients. Isaac served in the U.S. Navy as a SeaBee equipment operator. Following his military service, he received a B.A. in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and is nearing completion of a graduate degree.
Isaac's busy season survival tips:
- Check. Verify that all of your new equipment works. If you have a new networked scanner, printer or other item, make sure it is connected properly and works from all workstations that will need to access it.
- Train. Make sure that you've taken the time to adequately train any new or temporary staff that may be joining during the crunch season. This includes office procedures for routing returns, printing, storage and other routines, as well as making sure they know how to use the software.
- Prevent. For your more complex clients, use a diagnostic program that compares client data such as 1040 Review ( www.1040review.com ) or one from your current tax vendor. These utilities can help identify potential IRS flags and compliance issues.
- Guard. Even though it's the busiest time of the year, keep your guard up. Your firm's computers are a treasure trove for the bad guys, so use the security functions your programs provide as well as common sense. Oh, and back up your data.
 Gregory L. LaFollette, CPA.CITP is uniquely qualified to help firms navigate through the technology maze to find practical solutions that work. He is currently the Executive Editor of The CPA Technology Advisor . In past lives he practiced for over 25 years in the large, local firm he founded in South Dakota and spent over five years as VP of Product Strategy for Thomson Creative Solutions. He left that position in 2003 to “reclaim my independence” and take editorial and strategic responsibility for The CPA Technology Advisor .
His role with the magazine provides him enhanced access to the executive leadership of all of the major software vendors while his consultancy role provides him the opportunity to be in literally hundreds of practices.
Greg is also very active in the profession, chairing the prestigious AICPA CITP Credential Committee, and serving on its Top Ten Technologies Committee and its TECH Conference Planning Committee. He also consults ad hoc with many state society Technology Conference planning committees. Finally, to “sharpen the saw,” Greg offices with Eide Bailly, LLP (a Top 30 firm) where he serves as Senior Manager of Tax and Technology Consulting.
Greg's busy season survival tips:
- Consider pre-scheduling your appointments . Unfortunately, I resisted this when I was actively practicing. Now that I've had the opportunity to visit so many of you in your offices, I've become a believer. Simply select a date and time and send an appointment card to your clients. With an assistant follow-up call, you'll easily pre-schedule 75 percent of your 1040s. It's an amazing timesaver.
- Commit to handle things only once . If you're dealing with an item, do whatever you can to “move it along,” and do it NOW. Go through your clients' “stuff” and identify those items not included. Put the ball in the court of your clients. Don't let them off the hook. Get a solid date from them, add it to your tickler file, and then put the project away. Each project will move faster, and you'll have a greater sense of accomplishment.
- Busy Season Weekend . Schedule this right now — one special weekend, Friday mid-afternoon until Monday morning. A quick get away at a B&B, perhaps a ski trip, or a weekend in Vegas. Whatever it is, it'll make you more effective both before and after it happens. In our firm, we REQUIRED every person to schedule such a weekend. Some firms even provide financial assistance!
For more busy season tips from the columnists of The CPA & NSA Technology Advisor, click here.
Guidebook to California Taxes Now Available On CCH Tax Research NetWork
RIVERWOODS, Ill. — A classic handbook for California tax professionals is now available online from CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business (tax.cchgroup.com). CCH's Guidebook to California Taxes is now on the CCH Tax Research NetWork, where users can search its contents and link to underlying laws and regulations.
“The Guidebook has become accepted as the premier source for quick reference to all taxes levied by the state, including personal and corporate income, sales and use, and property taxes popular over the years because it's so useful, and now it becomes even more useful in electronic format,” said Angela Darrow, CCH product manager.
The 2006 Guidebook is the 57th Edition, reflecting significant new legislation, regulations, court decisions and State Board of Equalization decisions through press time in December 2005. It is authored by CCH tax law editors with additional editorial commentary provided by highly regarded tax practitioners, Bruce Daigh and Matt Stolte of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The Guidebook also features special timesaving features such as the following:
- A step-by-step preparation guide to California personal income tax returns — for residents, non-residents and part-year residents — with information on who must file, filing status, exemptions, deductions, rates, credits, extensions and more;
- A special summary of new legislative, regulatory and judicial developments for at-a-glance awareness of changes and the impact on taxpayers; and
- A comparison of state and federal taxes, highlights of the differences and cross references that make it easy to trace comparable California and federal provisions.
The electronic version of the Guidebook contains links to laws and regulations, as well as access to the CCH Tax Tracker news service, for timely updates.
To subscribe to the Guidebook to California Taxes on the CCH Tax Research NetWork, call your CCH Account Representative at 888-CCH-REPS (888-224-7377) or visit tax.cchgroup.com. A one-year, single-user subscription is $129.
|
MEDIA INFORMATION |
|
No matter what your current marketing plan, custom reprints enhance your efforts. Among other applications, reprints are excellent tools for marketing presentations, trade shows and media kits. To discuss details on how you may obtain reprint information contact:
Mary Mullen Cygnus Reprint Services
Phone: 405-275-3100 ext. 104
|
|
Advertisers: Plan to include this magazine or our website in your media schedule. To request a copy of the The CPA Technology Advisor media kit, click here .
|
To request online advertising information, contact: Susan Douglas by e-mail or at 405-275-3100 ext. 103.
|
The CPA Technology Advisor & The NSA Technology Advisor.
110 North Bell, Suite 300 , Shawnee, OK 74801
Phone: (405) 275-3100 or Fax: (405) 275-3101
 |
|
