*Helpful Tips from Electronic IRS for Tax Professionals*
More and more tax professionals are conducting business with the IRS electronically. The Electronic IRS gives you one central place for locating all the transactions you can conduct online. As you approach this tax season, use the Electronic IRS for more than finding forms and locating addresses. Consider registering for e-services to receive the full benefit of all the services available to you as a tax professional. For more information visit the Electronic IRS.
Upcoming Webcast from The CPA Technology Advisor *
Please join us on April 25, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. ET for the first topic in our 2006 Interactive Webcast Series: “Document Management 101: How To Get To The Paperless Office”
Receive 2 hours of CPE credit!! Register today at www.CPATechAdvisor.com/webcast
Special thanks to our sponsors of this live event: CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business; Thomson Creative Solutions; Office Tools Pro; and Acct1st.
*Busy Season Tips from Columnists of The CPA & NSA Technology Advisor*
Roman Kepczyk, CPA.CITP
 Roman is President of InfoTech Partners North America, Inc. and the Lead Technology Management Strategist for the firm. His primary focus is helping firms throughout North America effectively use information technology by implementing best practices and directing them towards today's “paperless” or Digital CPA firm.
He has spent the past eight years consulting exclusively with CPA firms and, prior to that, 10 years with the CPA firm of Henry & Horne, ( Arizona 's largest regional firm) where he was the partner in charge of the firm's Management Advisory Services and Microcomputer Consulting practices. Roman also served as the firm's administrative partner where he oversaw Internal Accounting, Marketing, Human Resources and was responsible for the creation and implementation of the firm's technology plan and budget.
He is currently the Chairman of the AICPA's Information Technology Executive Committee and a member of the AICPA's Special Committee on the Enhanced Business Reporting Model. He has also served as Chairman of the AICPA's Top Technology Task Force, and as been involved with the AICPA eBusiness, Best Practices, IT Research, IT Practices, and Group of 100 projects.
Roman was included in the Accounting Today Most Influential People list for the years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, and was named a Technology Pathfinder by the AICPA's Vision Project.
Roman is also an Advisory Board Member to the Association for Accounting Administration and has served on the Board of Directors of the Arizona Society of CPAs. He has been a featured national and regional speaker to thousands of CPA firms on information technology. Recent speaking engagements include topics of Strategic Technology Management, Today's Digital CPA Firm, Security and Privacy, Technology Tools, and the Impact of Remote Computing/Virtual Office.
On a technical level, Roman is an AICPA Certified Information Technology Professional. He authored technology chapters for the PPC MAP Handbook, PPC Guide to Paperless Engagements, and sections of the AICPA MAP Handbook (Internet, Knowledge Management) as well as co-authored the 2003 AICPA Top Technologies Guide. He also authored the AAA Guide to CPA Firm Intranets as well as co-authored its 2003 Guide to Paperless CPA Firm Administration.
Roman's busy season survival tips:
- Standardize on dual monitors and provide training on to get everyone comfortable working with digital images on-screen.
- Standardize procedures to send *.PDF documents in a secure format either with encryption or via a document portal.
- Implement a tax workflow tool that incorporates due date, status tracking, e-filing, and communications with clients.
- Print org anizer inserts as part of the org anizer cover letter to reduce manual collation.
Brent Goodfellow, CPA.CITP, MCSA, MCSE, MCT  Brent provides expert technology services to BKR Fordham Goodfellow clients as the partner-in-charge of its technology division, One Tech. As a Certified Public Accountant and a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, Brent enjoys demonstrating to clients how investments in technology can improve overall business results.
Brent started his career in accounting as a professor at Portland Community College and as a president of his own accounting and consulting firm. However, after being frustrated with the service and results he was experiencing with technology providers, he decided to become a certified technology professional himself. Since merging his company, Goodfellow Consulting, with Fordham & Fordham in 2000, Brent has focused his practice on technology consulting. He works with clients to understand the pains and challenges of their businesses and identifies technology services that enable businesses to realize their potential.
Brent still uses his training and experience as a CPA. He brings the professionalism and dedication of a CPA to his service delivery as a technology provider. His background provides clients with a better service experience, as well as more realistic cost and time estimates.
Brent's technology services include comprehensive technology reviews; telephony and unified messaging system selection and implementation; hardware and software selection and maintenance; technology training; technology security and disaster planning; and outsourced network administration.
His knowledge of the technology industry has been recognized by numerous regional, state and national associations, which have featured him as a speaker on topics such as Network Administration Techniques, Remote Access to Network Resources, Telecommuting and CTI, Using Outlook, What's New From Microsoft and Using Microsoft CRM.
Brent is also a recognized leader in the accounting profession. As an active member of the Oregon Society of CPAs, Brent has served in leadership positions in the org anization since 1982. Most recently, he has served as treasurer, director on the board of directors, and president of the Society. Brent has also held national leadership roles in the AICPA and has served on the National Advisory Board for Creative Solutions, Inc.
Brent's knowledge of and expertise with technology solutions is showcased in the column he writes for The CPA Technology Advisor and in articles he writes for the Oregon Certified Public Accountant.
Brent's busy season survival tips:
- If you haven't already, get a second (or third) monitor.
- Have your client source documents scanned and work from them.
- Build time into your busy schedule to read, pray, exercise and talk to your friends and loved ones.
For more busy season tips from the columnists of The CPA & NSA Technology Advisor, click here.
Intuit Introduces New Simplified Credit Card Processing Software
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – Feb. 22, 2006 – Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ: INTU) announced a new simplified credit card processing solution designed for the millions of small businesses that don't need a full accounting package or a high-end merchant account service. The new QuickBooks Credit Card Processing Kit, priced at $39.95, delivers breakthrough ease-of-use for small businesses that handle less than $5,000 in credit card transactions each month.
Previously, these small businesses had the difficult choice of buying a solution that over-served their simple needs, resulting in high setup costs, monthly minimum fees and required credit card transactions, or the unpleasant option of saying “no” to customers wanting to pay with credit.
Making Business Simple
The Credit Card Processing Kit is another example of Intuit's effort to add simplicity to the company's entire product line. The product focuses exclusively on the essential credit card processing requirements these customers need – ease-of-use, affordability and quick setup.
The kit helps small business owners turn their PCs into credit card terminals through a short and simple process. The kit includes everything a small business needs to accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and Diner's Club credit cards and signing up takes less than 10 minutes. There are no manuals to read, no long-term contracts to sign, and small business owners are not stuck paying expensive monthly minimums.
“The QuickBooks Credit Card Processing Kit is exactly what I've been looking for!” said Beverly Stout, owner Stout Appraisal Services in Dayton , Ohio . “In the past, I had to say ‘no' to clients who wanted to pay by credit card and in some cases, I lost the job. Now, I can give my clients the option to pay with a credit card at a price that fits my budget. And I've already been able to bring in new customers – and income – as a result.”
QuickBooks Right for Me Solutions
The QuickBooks Credit Card Processing Kit is part of QuickBooks' complete array of Right for Me products and services. It works with or without QuickBooks financial software, giving small business owners the flexibility of a stand-alone credit card processing product and the ability to grow into QuickBooks as their business expands.
Availability
The QuickBooks Credit Card Processing Kit is available at retail stores including Office Depot, OfficeMax, CompUSA, Staples, Fry's, Best Buy for Business, Amazon.com and Samsclub.com. For more information visit www.creditcardprocessingkit.com.
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