Managing Your Tax Season 3e

פרטים

Is tax season at your firm a head-long scramble to the finish line? Do you want to start your next tax season with a system that reflects thoughtful planning and training? Get fresh insight into tax preparation and very likely result in significant improvements to your current system. You will learn to analyze your existing tax season system and target problems so that work will be more efficient, errors will decrease, and personnel, including you, will feel less stressed. Most importantly, a well-run tax season will make your clients happier and more loyal. Every firm has a tax season system, whether documented or not. Tax season management expert Edward Mendlowitz shares specific ideas for improving each aspect of your system, including how to * Staff creatively with seasonal staff, interns, and by outsourcing * Maximize the effectivness of the tax organizers you send to clients * Communicate effectively with clients about the value of your service * Use pre-year-end planning to develop tax and financial planning opportunities * Empower your preparers to do more return work * Make reviews run smoothly * Conduct a post-tax season assessment of your process * Bill for the real value of your return preparation and even increase your fees Numerous sample checklists, letters, charts, and Excel tax comparison worksheets will help you implement this guidance in your next tax season. Having a world-class tax department is possible for every firm, and this resource will help you make that goal a reality. Topics Discussed: * Improving tax season system * Tax return preparation processes * Managing seasonality issues * Staffing solutions * Getting the most out of technology * Year-end planning for tax clients * Staff tax training program * Assignment scheduling * Client appointments * Preparation and review * Billing * Determining fees * E-filing * Extensions * Tax auditsClient satisfaction, retention and referrals

מידע נוסף

מידע נוסף
מהדורה	3rd Edition
עמודים	328
פורמט	Paperback / softback
ISBN10	1941651305
יצא לאור ב	NC
תאריך יציאה לאור	27 בדצמ׳ 2016
תוכן עניינים	Introduction Section 1 Chapter 1 Firm Preparation: Firm Retrospective and Business Model 7 Structure 8 Processes 9 Tax Return and Financial Statement Review Notes 10 Tax Notices 10 Types of Changes 11 Why Checklists are Critical 12 Checklists 13 Zero Tolerance 14 Smaller Firms 14 Chapter 2 Consider Options for Managing Seasonality 17 Extensions 18 Seasonal Staff 19 Telecommuters 19 Outsource 20 Technology 23 Designated Time for Individual Tax Returns 23 New Clients and Latecomers 24 Existing Clients 25 Chapter 3 Leveraging Technology 27 Using Software to Its Fullest 27 Peer-to-Peer 32 Update Handbooks, Forms, Services, and Software 32 Research Materials Finding a Quick Answer 34 Websites to Search 37 Chapter 4 Complete Pre-Year-End Planning for Select Clients 39 Tax Projections Review 39 Line-By-Line Review 44 Unprotected Estimates Review 44 Cross-Sell Opportunities 46 Chapter 5 Complete Mailings to Clients 51 Mailings 51 Pre-Year-End Newsletter 52 Tax Organizers 59 Tax Notice Service Letter 95 Privacy Notification 98 Consent to Disclosure of Tax Return Information 98 Chapter 6 Implement a Staff Tax Training Program 101 The Pre-Tax-Season Meeting 101 OTJ Training 102 Maintaining Morale 105 Effectively Training New Employees 105 Staff Loyalty 107 Chapter 7 Prepare a Preliminary Assignment Schedule 109 Software Used to Create Schedules 115 How the Schedule Will Be Tracked 115 Setting Priorities 116 Time Needed to Complete a Return 116 Chapter 8 Review Staff Arrangements and Responsibilities 119 Accountability and Control 120 Using Personnel Effectively 120 Effectively Using Your Main Resource 124 Chapter 9 Maximizing Tax Season Efficiency 127 Section 2 Chapter 10 Return Preparation Overview and Introduction to Tax Comparison Worksheets 133 Excel Tax Comparison Worksheets as a Review, Training, Planning, and User-Friendly Tool 134 The Tool Described 134 Using the Excel Worksheets in the Review Process 136 Using the Excel Worksheets for Training 137 Planning 137 Cross-Selling Opportunities 138 Notice to Skeptics 138 Sample Excel Worksheets 139 Chapter 11 Make Appointments with Clients 153 Receive Information From Clients 154 Tax Return Interview 154 Mail-In Clients 154 Engagement Letters 155 Organize the Information and the File 157 Nonpaperless Filing Procedures 158 Paperless Procedures 160 Paperless Outsource Alternative 163 Controlling Paperless Systems 164 Bookmarking 164 Standard Bookmarking for 1040s 165 Call to Becoming Paperless 166 Chapter 12 Prepare the Return 167 Sign-In Procedures 167 Working Paper Procedures 167 Administrative Procedures 169 Pro Forma Procedures 171 Projection Procedures 171 Chapter 13 Review the Return 183 Methods to Reduce Review Time 183 Who Should Conduct the Review? 186 Content Versus Issue Review 188 Review Procedures Equal Quality Control 189 How Effective Self-Reviews Improve Efficiency 192 Checklist for the Reviewer 194 Administrative Procedures 195 Chapter 14 Prepare the Bill 197 Sending the Return and Bill 197 Sample Bill for a Tax Return and Additional Services 199 Chapter 15 E-File Appropriate Returns 201 Last Minute Procedures 202 Chapter 16 Process Extensions 207 Chapter 17 Assist with Tax Audits 219 Section 3 Chapter 18 Client Satisfaction, Retention, and Referrals: Measure of Tax Return Client Satisfaction 229 What Clients Get Is Part of Your Brand 229 Quality Control Client Survey 230 WOW! Your Clients 237 Keeping in Touch With Clients 238 How Did You Do? 243 Client Loyalty and Responsibility 252 Chapter 19 How to Determine Your Fees 255 Two Letters to Send to Clients 259 The Danger of Raising Fees 263 Minimum Fee Schedule 263 Official IRS Instructions Booklets 269 Increasing Tax Return Fees 269 Accounting Fees 270 Chapter 20 Expectation Gap 273 The Difference Between What You and Your Clients Expect 273 What Clients Expect 274 What We Expect 275 Chapter 21 Introducing Tax Clients to Additional Services 279 Using Your Tax Work to Expand Your Practice 279 Upgrade Your Tax Clients 280 Types of Additional Services 281 Ways to Make Clients Aware of Your Capabilities 282 Cross-Selling 285 AICPA Standards in Personal Financial Planning Services 286 Chapter 22 Costs of Preparing a Tax Return 299 Worksheet to Calculate Your Costs 299 Greatest Cost Items 301 Marketing or Practice Development Costs 302 Family Tree of a Small Tax Client 305 Chapter 23 Some Best Practices for a Better Tax Season 307 Chapter 24 It s Supposed to Get Better 309 Afterword 311 I Know You Won t Believe This, But It s True ... 311
זמן אספקה	21 ימי עסקים