One of the most frequently asked questions I get is for my recommendation on a good client management/case work management system for working tax resolution cases.
When I started in tax resolution, no such system existed, so I ended up programming my own. That system worked for my needs and the needs of my firm, but it was light years away from being something worthy of releasing to the entire world.
Since then, a couple of companies have sprung up to attempt to fill the void, with varying degrees of success in creating usable tools. I’ve never felt good about recommending either of the existing options, however, for a variety of reasons that I won’t go into here. Oftentimes, I simply end up suggesting that tax resolution professionals use a different non-tax specific platform, like 37Signals, SalesForce.com, or Insight.ly.
However, I was recently introduced to a brand new tax resolution case work management system that I have really taken a liking to. The system is called BeanStalk, and it is built to accomplish one task: Streamline your entire case work process.
BeanStalk is beautiful because it doesn’t try to be all things to all people, like some other software solutions. BeanStalk is all about the case work side of things only — the system picks up where your sales process ends and your client intake process begins.
BeanStalk is built to follow a logical case flow. It has built in client intake processes, and even allows for a secure, client-facing web portal for your clients to enter their 433 information (which saves you staff time and increases efficiency). The system has an awesome built-in financial analysis engine, allowing you to more efficiently determine OIC and CNC eligibility.
Along with the deadline reminders and other case management functions you would expect, BeanStalk provides the ability to automatically fill in all the necessary IRS forms for you when you need them — no more fillable PDF forms!
The system is built to handle cases as efficiently as possible, and the company founder is an experienced tax resolution attorney, so he’s designed the system from a tax professional’s perspective, not a programmer’s point of view.
I know you’re busy with tax season, but I’d really encourage you to check out BeanStalk before April 15th rolls around. Spend some time playing with BeanStalk (they offer a free trial so you can check it out), and I think you’ll like it as much as I do. It offers so much convenience and centralized case management, that I will be using it myself when I ramp my own tax resolution practice back up this summer.
I’ll be doing a much more thorough evaluation, and probably even some video tutorials, later in the month, but for now visit BeanStalkHQ.com to check it out for yourself.
