Category: Get More Tax Clients

IRS going paperless will help tax pros do their jobs better in the future

September 14, 2023

The IRS is planning on going paperless, as best as they can, starting in 2024. What does that mean for tax professionals? Well, it means a few things. First, the IRS will be able to do more with less. This allows them to shift employees to other tasks, such as manning more phone lines. Or even better, manning a digital account access point. You will able to access more through your Tax Pro Online account and you will be able to see and do more through your electronic access without involving a human being.

Below is a list of what the future will look like at the IRS and you can see, guess or infer what that will me for you as a tax professional in the areas of tax preparation, tax resolution representation and IRS exam representation.

Filing season 2024: Taxpayers will be able to go paperless

Taxpayers will be able to digitally submit all correspondence, non-tax forms, and responses to notices; as a result, the IRS estimates more than 94% of individual taxpayers will no longer ever need to send mail to the IRS. Taxpayers use non-tax forms to request or submit information on a range of topics, including identity theft and proof that they are eligible for key credits and deductions to help low-income households. Achieving this milestone will enable up to 125 million paper documents to be submitted digitally per year. Taxpayers who want to submit paper returns and correspondence can continue to do so.
Taxpayers will be able to e-file 20 additional tax forms. Achieving this milestone will enable up to 4 million additional tax documents to be filed digitally every year. This includes amendments to Forms 940, 941, 941-SS and 941 (PR), which are some of the most common forms taxpayers file when amending returns.
At least 20 of the most used non-tax forms will be available in digital, mobile friendly formats that make them easy for taxpayers to complete and submit. These forms will include a Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service Assistance, making it easier for taxpayers to get the help they need.

Filing season 2025: IRS achieves paperless processing for tax returns

By filing season 2025, an additional 150 of the most used non-tax forms will be available in digital, mobile friendly formats. An estimated 15 percent of Americans rely solely on mobile phones for their Internet access—they do not have broadband at home—and making forms available

Big Mistakes Tax Pros Make – Not firing clients

June 20, 2023

Life is too short to not work with people you like. Why do you put up with crappy clients? There is nothing to say that you HAVE to work with them. (Yes, even if they are your mother, but that makes family gatherings awkward).

Please look at the questions below, and apply ALL of these questions to ALL of your clients. If you cannot say yes to 7 of the 9 (I could even argue that if they don’t meet all 9) questions below on each client, then they should not be your client. They are just not a good fit for you and would be a good fit for someone else. This is YOUR tax practice and YOU control it. Not your clients. Yes, you are in business to serve your clients, but you get to pick who you get to work with.

Do you like/enjoy working/talking with the client?
Do they pay your bills/invoices on time?
Do they not question your bills and pay them happily/willingly?
Do they listen to and implement your advice?
Do they respect your time and thank you for your advice?
Do they treat your staff in a friendly manner and with respect?
Do they provide you information timely?
Do you relish the opportunity to talk on the phone or reply to an email from this client?

So, you really should do this exercise on all of your clients. It is time to clear out the dead weight. You work crazy, ungodly hours for what? Just to be stepped on, used and abused?

Nonsense!

It is time to take your life back. It starts by not dealing with crappy clients. Oh, and give your staff input on this. They will appreciate having the input and will be just as relieved that they no longer have to deal with this crappy client.

I hope you find this email eye opening, empowering and potentially life changing. If you have any questions, comments or need someone to ask questions, please reply to this email.

Have a great day!

I received this comment from one tax pro recently and here is what she does..

“I agree 100% with you! I evaluate every October and clear out 10-15 clients that create stress and chaos. My other criteria is this: I have a bank of 10 file cabinets from Ikea. They are full of client binders. If there is a potential new client that

May 8, 2023

The IRS released in April 2023 the most recent version of the Form 656-B, Offer in Compromise Booklet. Tax professionals should always download and use the most current version of this form to avoid processing delays. The booklet also includes the forms taxpayers must complete as part of the OIC process and is now available in Spanish. Offers in compromise let taxpayers settle their tax debts for less than the full amount they owe once they’ve exhausted all other payment options. The IRS will consider each taxpayer’s unique set of facts and circumstances before accepting an OIC.

Share this IRS Tax Tip with clients that explains the OIC process in detail including how to:

Avoid paying an OIC application fee if a taxpayer qualifies as low-income (as defined by Form 656).
Confirm if a taxpayer is eligible to file an OIC and calculate a preliminary offer amount using the OIC Pre-Qualifier Tool.
File an offer and what information to gather for completing the various forms by watching a how-to OIC video playlist series that’s now also available in Spanish and Simplified Chinese.

If you have questions, please reach out to us!