By  Joanne S. Barry, CAE March 2018 The idea that CPA firms would allow non-CPAs to own a minority stake in a CPA firm and then refer to these non-licensees as “partners” was once a hotly debated topic within the profession. Now, nearly 25 years after Nebraska became the first state to do so, allowing non-CPAs to become equity partners in a firm is seen as less of a risk and more of a necessity for an adaptable profession that is facing the automation of all its tax preparation jobs and entry- and mid-level auditing positions. A recent Center for an Urban Future study found that “bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks are…

By Edward Mendlowitz Published March 19 2018, 10:46am EDT The following is some of the advice I give when I train or mentor a new tax specialist: To build awareness of what they need to know, they need to peruse every journal or tax service they subscribe to. (If you are not going to go through it, then don’t subscribe — osmosis doesn’t work in this situation.) This means looking at every page of every issue to see the topics written about and when they come across something they are working on or that might affect a client, they should read it. They also need to retain what they are…

Sallie Mullins Thompson and Anil Melwani (Manhattan/Bronx) Published 8:32 a.m. ET Feb. 26, 2018 | Updated 8:36 a.m. ET Feb. 26, 2018 How to keep your tax preparer from hating you Tina Orem, NerdWallet.comPublished 8:32 a.m. ET Feb. 26, 2018 | Updated 8:36 a.m. ET Feb. 26, 2018 With tax deadline approaching, the number one question to consider: Should you hire a tax professional or use tax software? We explain. USA TODAY Tax preparers are a hot commodity this time of year, but sometimes their clients drive them crazy with habits they say are over the line. Here are a few ways you can be less taxing to your tax pro. Don’t wait…

AICPA’s Professional Ethics Executive Committee (PEEC) held an open meeting on 2/13/18. Highlights appear in Cathy Allen’s blog, Click here to read.

Olson talking budget cuts on C-Span Not a good way to start Tax Season 2018. An angry and frustrated National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson has slammed Congress hard in the Taxpayer Advocate Service 2017 Annual Report to Congress. After a series of IRS budget cuts over the last several years, Olson says she sees the daily consequences of reduced funding and the choices made by the agency in the face of funding constraints. “Funding cuts have rendered the IRS unable to provide acceptable levels of taxpayer service, unable to upgrade its technology … and unable to maintain compliance programs that both promote and protect taxpayer rights,” Olson says in…

TUESDAY | FEBRUARY 6 BUSY SEASON MANAGEMENT Do you make them feel important? By Ed Mendlowitz Tax Season Opportunity Guide Clients are our customers. They pay our salary and enable us to make good livings. Do what you can to accommodate them and make them feel important – as important as they believe they are. Also be user-friendly – do not make it difficult to work with you. Clients don’t know how smart we are. They think we are great, but they measure us by the small things – the good and bad. Have your phones answered whenever someone is in the office. Do extras for them where possible. Call…

Voices of the Profession: Sal Collemi

WEDNESDAY | JANUARY 31, 2018 Plus 4 “how much?” questions to ponder. By Ed Mendlowitz How to Build a Stronger Tax Practice As you see each tax prep client you should keep a list of additional services you can offer them. Also, continue this list when you review each return. MORE ON MARKETING TAX SERVICES: How to Suggest More Services | How to Raise Client Awareness of Services | Marketing vs. Selling: Both Must Serve the Client First | Adopt a Marketing Mindset I prepare a list of follow-up items during a tax season on my Microsoft Outlook task list. These items are entered as the issue or idea arises. It is simple, quick and very satisfying….