Tax tools

Getting tax prep clients to use your tax practice’s portals can be a serious challenge, but communicating the familiar benefits of portals is an excellent first step, according to accounting and tax technology expert Roman Kepczyk.

Tax preparers charge an average of $246 to prepare an itemized Form 1040 with a Schedule A and a state tax return, according to a survey by the National Society of Accountants.

2nd Story Software, the company that makes TaxAct consumer tax prep software, has introduced a do-it-yourself estate planning software product for drawing up a last will and testament.

Bloomberg has introduced a Tax Practice Center to complement its tax law research service.

IMGCAP(1)]In the first part of this article, we explored using video conferencing in a tax practice; in this article, we'll explore how to actually get started using Skype and other services.

Most tax preparers have heard by now of Skype or one of the similar video-conferencing services -- and some have tried such services, and report success when connecting with long-distance clients --some of whom the preparers have never even met.

Thomson Reuters has introduced a new system to help foreign financial firms comply with the requirements of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.

Seems like a timesaver in tax season: Scan all documents and let software auto-fill information from clients’ forms. Selecting scanners, however, means gambling that a hardware investment will, in fact, pay off, and that can mean carefully examining your client base and information flow.

A new Web site aims to help small business owners and their accountants deal with the increased burdens of Form 1099 filing by preparing and filing the forms online.

CCH has introduced a new tax planning tool to help tax advisors and their clients keep a step ahead of the fiscal cliff negotiations in Congress and the White House.

Tax preparation solution vendor Drake Software is offering a new online tax prep solution, Drake Zero.

Referrals and word of mouth remain the strongest marketing tool for tax preparers and other professionals, and as the 2013 tax season looms, here are some valuable tips for preparers to use referrals in their practice.

The Income Tax School has launched a Web site of more than 70 tax courses and products, plus many free resources for tax professionals. ITS said the move was in response to the new IRS regulations for tax preparers and the corresponding growing demand for tax education.

CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business, has released two new mobile tax information apps for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices -- CCH Applicable Federal Rates 2012 and CCH Tax Rates and Tables 2012 -- adding to its line of mobile applications.

New River Innovation has enhanced its Beyond415 Guidance product, a Web-based research center for resolving issues after tax filing, with key features including searchable guidance covering individual, business, and payroll areas of IRS practice and procedure.

Tax Preparer Solutions, a provider of online income tax filing solutions, has launched two software products: Preparer Direct and the TPS White Label Platform, both designed to let distribution partners to provide consumer tax preparation and filing services to customers.

CCH has introduced new mobile apps providing access to several of its journals and newsletters from the Apple iPad, along with a new app aimed at tax students.

The American Institute of CPAs has improved its Interactive Tax Checklists to allow tax professionals to work more efficiently next tax season.

CCH Small Firm Services and Burlington, Vt.-based Evolution by iSystems have partnered to offer payroll services to tax and accounting professionals using the Evolution Payroll, HR and tax management system.

CCH has introduced the new weekly electronic publication, Global Tax Weekly – A Closer Look, which promises to provide up-to-date analysis and insights into international tax developments.