tax season 2016: turning id theft from a problem into an opportunity

identity theft on the web with credit cards and social security

31% report problems, making it one of the top three issues of the 2016 season. but can accountants turn the problem into a new opportunity?

by rick telberg
卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间

with identity theft emerging as one of the biggest problems for tax preparers, their clients, and their friends at the internal revenue service, 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 is asking how to turn that problem into an opportunity.

more on tax season for pro members:  accountants speak out on politics and the economy  |  lessons learned from a bad busy season  |  3 ways to save time during busy season  |  most tax professionals call 2016 busy season much improved over last year | stress less this tax season  |  is tax season the new fraud season?  |  5 tax season motivation tips  |  recognize your tax season resources  |  tax season 2016: irs in crisis  |  eliminate tax season excuses  |  record pre-season hiring surge: ready for biggest tax season ever?  |  16 qualities of a good tax season client

after all, security costs money. if clients are made aware that the danger is real, maybe they could be willing to pay a little more if they know their tax preparer is spending resources on security. it might also be an opportunity for practitioners to offer their it expertise or it partners to help clients secure their systems. it would be a win-win-lose situation for practitioners, clients, and hackers, respectively. and even if better security doesn’t translate to better revenues, it’s always a good selling point. clients need to know of the danger and preparers’ efforts to counter it.

still, it’s a problem for the practitioners we’re canvassing even when it doesn’t happen, mostly because of the cost and inconvenience of prevention efforts.

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6 paths to professional responsibility

senior businessman mentoring two younger workershelp others and perhaps help yourself.

by rick telberg
卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间

accountancy and its many ramifications, from audits to eldercare, is a noble profession, a pillar of civilization, a cornerstone of democracy, a manifestation of integrity and a bulwark of business.

really.

it is not a profession to trifle with, nor is it just a job. for that reason accountants are well paid and highly respected. there is no shame in taking off the green eyeshades and standing tall.
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tax filing trends remain steady

chart of irs filing statistics through april 1, 2016
[click for larger image]
pros handling about 57 percent of filings.

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间

same song, yet another verse in individual tax filings.

related: refunds top $200 billion mark | tax filings, processing remain slower | pros lose ground in e-filing | tax questions up, filings down

refunds are up a hair, self-preparers rise while tax pros lose ground, and people still like visiting the irs website better than ever.
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accountants speak out on politics and the economy

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join the survey; get the results

government gridlock, partisan politics, and no good choices.

next question: the economic outlook
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by rick telberg
卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间

cpas are respected and renowned for their impartiality. they can look at the facts and make critical judgments. moreover, they tend to be intelligent and informed. they read books, magazines, and newspapers. they know what’s going on, especially when it relates to business and the economy.

more on tax season for pro members:  lessons learned from a bad busy season  |  3 ways to save time during busy season  |  most tax professionals call 2016 busy season much improved over last year | stress less this tax season  |  is tax season the new fraud season?  |  5 tax season motivation tips  |  recognize your tax season resources  |  tax season 2016: irs in crisis  |  eliminate tax season excuses  |  record pre-season hiring surge: ready for biggest tax season ever?  |  16 qualities of a good tax season client

so when cpas opine on politics, they are worth listening to.

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lessons learned from a bad busy season

卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 busy season barometer
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6 ways to fix the biggest problems.

the 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 busy season survey
next question: accountants’ economic outlook
join the survey; get the results

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间

we must have struck a chord in our article on the large number of firms suffering through a busy season worse than last year’s, a dreadful depth of bad. several cpas and tax preparers chimed in with comments, most of them constructive.

more on tax season for pro members:   3 ways to save time during busy season  |  most tax professionals call 2016 busy season much improved over last year | stress less this tax season  |  is tax season the new fraud season?  |  5 tax season motivation tips  |  recognize your tax season resources  |  tax season 2016: irs in crisis  |  eliminate tax season excuses  |  record pre-season hiring surge: ready for biggest tax season ever?  |  16 qualities of a good tax season client

from the discussion, we’ve gleaned six client management techniques that should be in practice at almost any firm.

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