tax

threat or opportunity as h&r block, liberty jump into bookkeeping services?

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liberty block logoswhat it means for independent tax and accounting firms.

by hitendra patil
pransform inc. 

the accounting profession in the u.s. has been shaken up by announcements from liberty tax services and h&r block that they are entering into core bookkeeping and accounting services business.

more on the entrepreneur accountant:  six steps for a better tax season   •  8 seconds into the future: meet generation z   •   5 reasons gen y will make or break your firm   •   3 ways amazon’s new fire phone hints at the future of accounting   •   the 8 traits creating the firm of the future today   •   get more done, make more money: stop doing these 17 things   •   what shopping habits reveal about accounting clients   •   create your “not-to-do’s” list   •   irs bitcoin rule: 5 things accountants need to know   •   tax season tips: train your brain to focus   •   what the bitcoin phenomenon means for accountants   •   overcoming your clients’ worst fears   •   5 tech tips for reigniting growth   •   a case study in using linkedin   •   accountants and six fundamental human needs   •   client satisfaction starts with ‘likeability’   •   why accounting? your clients want to know   •   what’s next: predictive accounting

the news came as a surprise to many and i had a few discussions with some accounting professionals, especially smaller firms and some solo practitioners, on what they think of this new development. read more →

six steps for a better tax season

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how some smart firms spent their summer vacations…

by hitendra patil
pransform inc. 

a new busy season is fast approaching and vacation season is coming to an end. but some firms haven’t been taking time off. they’ve been assessing the lessons from the 2014 busy season to apply to 2015.

more on the entrepreneurial accountant: 8 seconds into the future: meet generation z   •   5 reasons gen y will make or break your firm   •   3 ways amazon’s new fire phone hints at the future of accounting   •   the 8 traits creating the firm of the future today   •   get more done, make more money: stop doing these 17 things   •   what shopping habits reveal about accounting clients   •   create your “not-to-do’s” list   •   irs bitcoin rule: 5 things accountants need to know   •   tax season tips: train your brain to focus   •   what the bitcoin phenomenon means for accountants   •   overcoming your clients’ worst fears   •   5 tech tips for reigniting growth   •   a case study in using linkedin   •   accountants and six fundamental human needs   •   client satisfaction starts with ‘likeability’   •   why accounting? your clients want to know   •   what’s next: predictive accounting

here are six of the things that the most innovative firms have been doing. and no, they aren’t what you might necessarily expect. read more →

10 ways to get new 1040 clients

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ed mendlowitz cpa the practice doctor q and a
send ed your questions

and 5 ways to get more business tax clients.

question: i need a few more clients for tax season. any suggestions?

response: since we will be getting ready for tax season now is a good time to address this. here are two checklists, one for individual returns, the other for business client returns.

checklist: 10 ways to get new individual tax clients read more →

23 reasons clients really need you for taxes

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ed mendlowitz cpa the practice doctor q and aquestion: this is not a question that an accountant asked me, but a fellow traveler on my vacation. he was using a tax preparation service and wasn’t happy and felt he could do just as well by doing his own tax return. i told him there were many benefits to using a tax professional like a cpa or ea that were well worth the extra cost. so my question to myself is “what are they?”

response:  people with rental property, unincorporated businesses, investments that generate k-1s, grantor trusts, substantial investments in marketable securities or large retirement accounts and 401(k) balances need to engage a professional firm, and this checklist is directed toward those clients. read more →

bitcoin: a true phenomenon in digital currency

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what accountants know – and don’t know – so far.

matt powalski
matt powalski

by matt powalski, cpa
pkf texas

a global technological phenomenon called bitcoin has spread all over the news and media ever since its inception in 2009. this digital technology is a trading platform and payment system that can act as a form of currency, property or stock.

cpas, accountants and financial professionals, no doubt, will want to become more familiar with bitcoin, in order to advise their clients and employers on the topic. read more →

trending in comments: the right software?

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卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 community forum

today’s topic: software and technology.

卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 conducts surveys all the time, but we like to ask periodically if there are questions we just aren’t asking that you need answered.

we’re giving you the opportunity to help your fellow accountants with their pressing questions.

sound off: accountants see opportunity in obamacare

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bullhorn

in comments, it gets political.

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间

call it what you will – the affordable care act or obamacare – accountants are calling it opportunity.

when we asked recently, “what’s the future of the professional tax preparation business?” a number of respondents called out the affordable care act.

“i think as aca takes effect we will be busier than ever before,” said jay d. parks of jay d. parks & associates, cpas in edmond, okla. read more →

new analysis: tech drives tax season growth

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istock_000019423637smallaccountants gear up, from paperless to cloud.

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间

many of the most successful accountants in tax season 2014 found new growth and profits by leveraging new cloud and paperless technologies, according to the 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 busy season barometer.

join the survey; get the results.
today’s bonus question: plans for 2015

read more →

celebrating the end of tax season 2014

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pouring champagne

sound off: marking the end of the busy season

congratulations! you’ve survived another season of long nights, saturday workdays, cranky clients, buggy software and cutthroat competition. now it’s time to party, kick back, relax, reconnect and unplug.

the 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 busy season barometer is hearing it all. here are some of our favorite comments from some of our favorite readers…

join the busy season survey; get the results.
today’s bonus question:
celebration plans read more →

tax season success drivers: better software, easier clients, higher billing rates

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sound off: busy season ‘much better’ than last year in client appreciation, software and fees

卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research

better software, well-prepared clients and some fee increases are spelling an improved tax season this year for many practitioners.

the annual 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 busy season barometer shows about 47% of some 1,191 practitioners canvassed in the last 30 days say their season so far is at least “somewhat” or even “much” better than last year’s. on the other hand, about 30% are reporting no change from last year and about 24% say business is “worse” including about 4% who call it “much worse.”

join the survey; get the results.
today’s bonus question: lessons learned

read more →

tax professionals plagued by tough competition

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 sound-off: busy season ‘much’ worse than last year.

卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research

the nation’s tax professionals are heading into the final days of the 2014 season brimming with optimism that all the hard work may be paying off. but the hard work isn’t over yet and it isn’t paying off for everyone.

join the survey; get the results.
today’s bonus question: lessons learned

read more →