billables look good for busy season

major metrics suggest rebounding business.
busy season benchmarks, dec. 2011

most tax and accounting professionals heading into busy season are expecting meaningful improvements over last year in revenues and profits, according to new 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research.

  • complete findings are published in the 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 practitioner’s tax season performance review and outlook report. (learn more here)

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1 in 3 americans witness wrongdoing in the workplace

but don’t know whom to tell.

more than a third of americans say they’ve been witness to serious wrongdoing at the companies where they work, and they’d report it, too — if they thought someone would do something about it.

the study by the law firm of labaton sucharaw suggests a significant amount of corporate corruption and financial fraud is going unchecked because american workers fear retaliation for blowing the whistle.

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how to make your firm a success magnet

fligel

learn what it takes to attract the best talent and merger partners.

by robert fligel, cpa
rf resources llc

for many in the cpa business, organic growth is going to be very slow for the next several years. so, cpa firms seeking growth are:

  1. making strategic mergers or acquisitions, or
  2. bringing in new partners or groups of partners with strong books of business.

but how do you position your firm to be desirable to merger partners or new talent?

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benchmark 1040 fee flattens out at $233

rates up only $4 in two years for “main street” firms.

most tax professionals will be charging an average of $233 for a typical itemized return this year, relatively unchanged since the beginning of the recession, according to a new survey of national society of accountants members.

the new $233 benchmark represents barely a $4 increase in the two years since the last biennial survey, when accountants posted a 10% advance from the 2007 poll, which followed a scant 2% gain from $201 in 2005.

the survey of nearly 8,000 tax preparers by the nsa found that the average fee for preparing an itemized form 1040 with a schedule a and a state tax return cost taxpayers only $233 this year. rates for non-itemized returns are also largely unchanged at $128 for a form 1040 and state return without itemized deductions.

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