Running Your Tax Practice

  • How To Start A Successful Tax Preparation Business

    The tax preparation industry consists of some 1.2 million paid professionals, according to US News and World Report, engaged in the preparation and filing of forms required by the federal, state and local governments.  The industry generates $9 billion in revenue, and last year prepared more than 82 million individual income tax returns.  The Bureau…

  • Essential Business Insurance for Tax Preparation Firms

    One of the most critical errors in managing a tax preparation firm is failure to properly insure the business against losses and lawsuits.   There are a number of reasons why tax preparers might under-insure their businesses.  They may believe that having policies for general liability and errors & omissions is all they require.  They may…

  • Two Styles; One Successful Practice

    The Challenge: Melding two management styles and different levels of experience into a single, client-focused tax practice. The Solution: Recognizing that clients have differing needs, firms need a careful blend of professionalism, responsiveness and quality. Plus strong partnerships both inside and outside of the firm. If there is such a thing as a romantic tax…

  • Drake Hosted

    In the effort to survive and thrive in today’s highly competitive business environment, accounting firms have looked to the integration of applications to provide the greater efficiencies their clients demand. These efficiencies include a reduction in IT costs, automatic backup, and the ability to respond rapidly to changes in laws and regulations as key indicators…

  • Part I: Representation- Questions from the IRS

    © Ben A. Tallman EA  If you think about the characteristics and skills that separate Circular 230 Practitioners from the rest of the tax industry; representation is near the top of the list.  Even if you are not credentialed, you still have the right to represent your client in the initial examination or audit of…

  • Payday Loans and Tax Preparers

     Each year, 12 million borrowers spend approximately $7.4 billion on payday loans.  But the payday lenders have come under growing scrutiny in recent years, as regulators and think tanks such as the Pew Charitable Trust consider the impact of such loans on low-income families.  Pew has released a series of research reports on payday loans, focusing…

  • The IRS Office of Appeals

    People sometimes disagree on tax matters, and the decision of a tax examiner may not always be the final word.  For this reason, the Internal Revenue Service created an independent appeal system that seeks to settle differences without going to court.  Every year, this Office of Appeals helps over 100,000 taxpayers resolve their tax disputes. …

  • If the Customer Can’t Pay The Tax VI If You Receive an IRS Notice, Here’s What to Do

    Each year the IRS sends millions of letters and notices to taxpayers. Although some people may feel anxious when they receive one, many are easy to resolve. Here’s what to do if you receive a letter or notice from the IRS: Don’t panic. Follow the instructions in the letter. There are many reasons the IRS…

  • If the Customer Can’t Pay the Taxes III-The Collection Process

    If you do not pay in full when you file your tax return, you will receive written notice of the amount you owe, a bill. This bill starts the IRS collection process, which continues until your account is satisfied or until the IRS may no longer legally collect the tax; for example, when the time…

  • If The Customer Can’t Pay The Tax – Part II

     Offer in Compromise  An offer in compromise (OIC) is an agreement between a taxpayer and the Internal Revenue Service that settles the taxpayer’s tax liabilities for less than the full amount owed. If the liabilities can be fully paid through an installment agreement or other means, the taxpayer will in most cases not be eligible…