tax season checklists

about the tax season checklists

these checklists have evolved over the years and are, in some respect, a collaboration of professionals seeking to improve the quality of their practice and create methods to work more effectively and efficiently.

some of the checklists are formatted to be printed and hung on walls as posters such as the key for a “successful tax season,” “cpa firm business model,” and “advantages of tax season” pages. since the checklists are presented in word format, they can be reformatted and customized to suit a particular practice if desired.

the word® file is set up so you can copy and paste the checklists and adapt as you see fit. any checklist can be accessed by searching this document using any keyword.

the complete checklist of checklists

checklist listing

the checklists are in no particular order, but i tried to group them as much as possible.the checklist numbers do not appear on the checklists and i did not number the pages.this word® file is set up so you can copy and adapt the checklists as you see fit.you do not need to credit me unless you use the checklists externally from your office.

– ed mendlowitz

general issues and posters for your office

1. 1. key for a successful tax season – can be posted on your wall
   2. accounting firm busine$$ model – can be posted
   3. advantages of tax season – chart can be reproduced and distributed to staff or posted
   4. three questions to ask regarding quality of work performed or to be performed
   5. goals of tax season
   6. choose a best practice for your tax season
   7. 10 ways to stay in control
   8. 50 ways to make more money during tax season including increasing and improving productivity

tax return preparation and review checklist

1. 9. preparer’s work process and procedures checklist
   10. reviewer’s procedural checklist for individual tax returns
   11. reviewer’s procedural checklist for business tax returns
   12. reviewer’s review notes
   13. tax season follow up form
   14. reviewer’s pre-review of complicated transactions
   15. purpose of tax comparison worksheets
   16. easing tax season workload compression checklist
   17. top 12 tax return preparation errors
   18. checklist of 46 tax filing errors clients should avoid
   19. reviewer qualification test
   20. answers
   21. tax research request
   22. 20 reasons for obtaining extensions
   23. training a new tax specialist

tax client relations and services

1. 24. top 10 client pet peeves
   25. what makes a good client
   26. for clients: how to make your tax return easier to do & reduce tax preparation fees
   27. things to consider when accepting a new client and establishing a fee arrangement
   28. additional services checklist for clients
   29. sample listing of additional services for tax clients
   30. tax department services
   31. sample tax notice service letter
   32. bill accompanying the tax notice service described in the letter
   33. preparing bills for tax returns
   34. letter to inform a client of a fee increase for the coming year
   35. letter to inform a client of a minimum fee that is higher than they should pay
   36. ways to get additional tax clients
   37. ways to get additional business clients
   38. 21 reasons for lack of tax client retention
   39. why should a client use you to prepare their tax return?
   40. why a client should use you to prepare their tax return
   41. advantages of a cpa preparing tax returns
   42. checklist of questions to ask a non filer who wants to file their delinquent returns

post tax season retrospective

1. 43. post-tax season retrospective checklist
   44. getting rid of tax preparation clutter

staff management

1. 45. advice toa beginnerevery tax preparer
   46. ways to make tax season better and more fun for you and your staff
   47. additional ways to excite staff that are not during tax season
   48. things to consider while training staff
   49. staff development and growth checklist
   50. ways to evaluate staff tax season performance
   51. deciding who to let go
   52. 30:30 training method crib sheet

controllership and attest work

1. 53. controller’s checklist
   54. cfo responsibility checklist
   55. questions for interviewing a bookkeeper
   56. responsibilities of an in-house bookkeeper
   57. ruben’s a.u.d.i.t. acronym
   58. for staff: what you should do before starting to work on an audit
   59. for staff: what you should do when you finish working on an audit
   60. initial audit planning for non-managerial staff
   61. questions to ask a client that wants the first audit
   62. factors to consider when estimating the cost of a review report
   63. checklist for establishing a fixed price
   64. sample term sheet descriptions for bank loan

bankruptcy

1. 65. services an accountant can perform to assist financially troubled clients or clients that have financially troubled customers
   66. informal arrangement in lieu of a chapter 11 filing
   67. protecting a client from a customer planning a bankruptcy

succession planning

1. 68. needed for every succession plan
   69. 30 ways to transfer ownership to a successor

business valuation

1. 70. 50 reasons for a business appraisal
   71. 64 ways to increase and enhance the value of a business
   72. preliminary document request for a business valuation or for a consultation engagement

mergers and acquisitions services for clients

1. 73. tasklist for when a client wants to sell their business
   74. tasklist for when a client wants to buy a business

financial planning and investment management

1. 75. financial planning engagement document request
   76. initial financial (and/or estate) planning meeting checklist
   77. reasons for pursuing a life settlement checklist
   78. getting married financial planning issues checklist
   79. prenuptial agreement checklist
   80. changing state of residence checklist
   81. ed’s stock market investing beliefs (a “how to invest” summary)
   82. 10 investing watch-outs
   83. 15 investing axioms
   84. how to be your own financial planner
   85. a client’s personal investing vision and mission statements
   86. questions a client should ask their financial advisor
   87. investment policy statement template
   88. family budget worksheet
   89. eldercare and family bill paying and planning checklist or for family office services

entrepreneurship

1. 90. buy-sell agreement issues to consider checklist
   91. checklist for starting a business
   92. setting up an office checklist
   93. preparing a business plan checklist
   94. checklist for preparing financial projections for a business plan
   95. not-for-profit board member responsibility checklist of tips
   96. “absentee” owner technique and checklist
   97. daily flash numbers’ report (3 versions)
   98. 40 concerns of business owners
   99. 25 benjamin franklin maxims

managing an accounting practice

1. 100. annual 2022 practice management & growth calendar
   101. swot analysis
   102. checklist of reasons for a cpa firm merger or acquisition
   103. critical issues in running an accounting firm checklist
   104. 12 tips to increase billing and collections
   105. credit card authorization worksheet
   106. sample employment policies checklist
   107. checklist of items to put in permanent file
   108. organization minutes checklist
   109. running a meeting checklist
   110. checklist for change projects
   111. why am i talking
   112. books to boost your practice
   113. top 10 all-time leadership and management books

personal checklists

1. 114. autocorrect shortcuts
   115. benjamin franklin’s top 15 items to take on a cruise
   116. checklist for traveling
   117. things to pack for a trip
   118. checklist for golf
   119. checklist for card game
   120. bbq checklist
   121. framing and attending virtual meetings
   122. checklist for using outsourced art services
   123. 10 do nots
   124. things to do to start the year on a high note
   125. start the new year without clutter
   126. tax and other financial records you should keep forever —and those you should toss
   127. sustainability – 12 easy things you can do
   128. ed’s “k” rules

bonus: getting your affairs in order – tool kit

worksheet 1 – checklist of estate planning things to do
worksheet 2 – people to call about my death or permanent disability
worksheet 3 – designation sheet
worksheet 4 – people to include in will or trust
worksheet 5 – specific bequests
worksheet 6 – obituary questionnaire
worksheet 7 – checklist to prepare for the death of a spouse or partner or a close person you would be responsible for handling their affairs
worksheet 8 – important papers listing and checklist short form
worksheet 9 – important papers listing and checklist long-form with space for complete details
worksheet 10 – balance sheet
worksheet 11 – cash flow and income
worksheet 12 – estimated assets to be included in estate and potential distribution to beneficiaries
worksheet 13 – terms of trusts
worksheet 14 – life insurance
worksheet 15 – pensions and annuities
worksheet 16 – financial obligations
worksheet 17 – passwords
worksheet 18 – escheat or unclaimed funds request forms
worksheet 19 – warning letter to ira beneficiaries
worksheet 20 – how to protect your children against identity theft
worksheet 21 – 10 non-tax reasons for estate planning
worksheet 22 – forms of ownership
worksheet 23 – managing other people’s money
worksheet 24 – how to give to charity from your ira (and avoid taxes)
worksheet 25 – what you should tell your family about your will

you are welcome to use the checklists in your office without attribution.
if you use them in a speech handout or presentation outside your firm, you are also welcome to use them, but i would appreciate an acknowledgment of the source such as:
prepared by edward mendlowitz, cpa, partner, withumsmith+brown, pc.

enjoy, use, and have a great tax season!

– edward mendlowitz, cpa