Practice management

Four firms showcase how they are becoming more social

Some taxpayers seeking a quick refund may have to wait longer than usual this year as the Internal Revenue Service tries to stop criminals who steal others’ identities and file fraudulent returns.

The chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee’s Oversight Subcommittee is asking the Internal Revenue Service why its Web site continues to provide confusing information about the IRS’s recently invalidated tax preparer regulation requirements.

Without some kind of accepted certification program, the taxpaying public has no way of knowing if a person who says that they are a professional tax preparer has any training or experience. The answer would be some kind of voluntary “certification program” where a tax preparer could receive a universally accepted professional designation based on testing or credentials.

The Internal Revenue Service is promising more video conferencing assistance for taxpayers, social media tools and an improved Web site as it launched tax season Wednesday, along with stepped-up efforts to protect taxpayers from tax refund fraud and identity theft.

A federal court has denied H&R Block’s effort to stop Intuit from continuing to air a pair of TV commercials for TurboTax that comically suggested tax prep franchise employees worked as plumbers and clothing store clerks outside of tax season.

Most former NFL players are bankrupt or under financial stress within two years of retirement. So why aren’t more athletes using financial advisors? A former Pittsburgh Steeler says ego and fear are often to blame, but there are ways for players and advisors to make a winning connection.

The Internal Revenue Service is scheduled to begin accepting individual income tax returns starting Wednesday.

CCH has introduced the CCH Code & Regs 2013 App, a mobile app for Apple iPhone and iPad and Google Android devices.

This fall the IRS will send out CP2100 and CP2100a Forms, or “B” Notices, to payers who filed incorrect or incomplete forms including those with incorrect name and Taxpayer Identification Number data.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has asked the National Park Service to conduct an internal review of the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program to ensure the program is maximizing opportunities to use historic preservation to promote economic development and revitalization of communities, particularly in urban areas.

A federal judge has directed the Internal Revenue Service to issue a summons requiring the Swiss bank UBS to produce information about U.S. taxpayers who were trying to evade U.S. income taxes by holding accounts at other Swiss banks that did business with UBS.

The Internal Revenue Service has joined the popular microblogging service Tumblr, expanding the IRS’s array of social media networks.

Many promising young partners fail to make the transition to equity partner, which is where the true rewards of partnership lie.

Tax executives from Global 2000 companies are increasingly relying on tax compliance strategies and planning when dealing with sales and use taxes and indirect taxes like the value-added tax.

A group of New Jersey CPAs are making themselves available to answer tax questions from the public during tax season.

The IRS said today that processing of tax returns claiming education credits will begin by the middle of February.

A trio of tax preparers who successfully sued the Internal Revenue Service to halt its mandatory testing and continuing education requirements is contesting the IRS’s request for a federal judge to suspend his ruling against the agency while it mounts an appeal.

Keeping your clients happy is one key aspect of positive marketing. Although it’s often overlooked, keeping your employees happy is another.

Getting tax prep clients to use your tax practice’s portals can be a serious challenge, but communicating the familiar benefits of portals is an excellent first step, according to accounting and tax technology expert Roman Kepczyk.