Practice Management

1. What are the top challenges facing tax return preparers this tax season?

1. What are the top challenges facing tax return preparers this tax season?

The economic crisis and the downfall of the real estate market spurred a slew of tax law changes that will impact the upcoming filing season.

Tax return preparers who claim inflated personal or business expenses, false deductions, unallowable credits or excessive exemptions on returns prepared for their clients are a major concern for the Internal Revenue Service during the upcoming filing season, according to a spokesman for the service.

With each new year comes a wave of new technologies aimed at helping tax preparers work more efficiently through tax season.

While the shape of tax policy remains uncertain in some areas - at press time, Congress was considering a wide range of tax bills, including changes to the estate tax regime, and the extension of a number of tax credits and deductions, among other things - there are a few areas of certainty.

HOUSE APPROVES 45% ESTATE TAX EXTENSION

The ongoing economic downturn offers accountants the opportunity to extend their reach and help their clients at a time when they are most needed.

Attorney General Eric Holder said a newly established government task force would crack down on the kinds of financial fraud that led to the Madoff Ponzi scheme and other losses.

BizActions has introduced a Campaign Library aimed at helping accounting firms and other professional services firms with their marketing campaigns.