Tomorrow's News

Recently, a rather heated discussion erupted in the comments section of the Accounting Tomorrow blog - appropriately, over the use of the Internet.

More specifically, the scuffle arose over the use of this modern tool of communication to e-file. Blogger Jody Padar broached the topic of the Internal Revenue Service mandate, asking firms that have yet to utilize the decade-old process, "What's up with that?"

Plenty, it turns out. "If the IRS had made it easier and simpler to e-file," wrote one commenter, "many CPAs would have adopted the concept some time ago ... . And most of my clients are of the older generation and want nothing to do with e-filing."

This level of e-comfort often marks the clearest line in the sand between Baby Boomers and Millennials - both accountants and, clearly, their clients. While younger clients might scoff at overstuffed file cabinets, those filing on paper for decades would just as quickly question the security of online transmissions of private data. "I am wondering just how long it will take (not if) until some hacker figures out a way of penetrating the IRS," pondered one commenter.

Another commenter displayed even greater skepticism: "The reason I haven't e-filed until this year is that I did not feel like being treated like a criminal and fingerprinted. But now it's mandatory, and I'll go to my local police station and give them my prints."

Many, however, agreed with Jody's push to the future, with one classifying it as "a simple evolutionary change, not revolutionary."

Now that tax season is almost over, which side do you fall on? Are you willing to battle for your clients' rights to envelopes and stamps until the IRS works out the kinks? Or do you support the evolution? Let us know at tomorrow@sourcemedia.com.

- Danielle Lee