Does opening a tax office really mean working only 4 months per year?
Does opening a tax office really mean working only 4 months per year? The simplest answer is probably not. Can you earn a living wage salary in only 4 months? Yes, a seasonal tax preparer can earn a living wage salary in only 4 months, but that doesn’t mean that all the work stops after April. Some […]
10 Dos and Don’ts of Starting a Tax Preparation Business
Dos: 1. Find tax software that meets your needs. Do you need the ability do corporate returns or other special module types of returns? Do you need the ability to prepare prior year returns? Generally speaking, additional years and specialty modules are not included so be mindful of what you are actually getting in your […]
Federal Direct Office Closed in Observation of Memorial Day
The Federal Direct office will be closed on Monday, May 29th in observation of Memorial Day. Office hours will resume Tuesday, May 30th at 9 am EST. Have a happy and safe Memorial Day!
Check Cashing Guidance
The last few days the IRS released its largest funding ever. While our systems are functioning properly there may be times over the next 24-48 hours where delays are experienced due to high traffic on our Interactive Voice Response (IVR) check verification system. In order to streamline your customer’s experience with tax check cashing, we’d […]
California Tax Preparer CTEC Deadline Warning
To all California tax preparers: Stay up-to-date with CTEC renewal deadlines. Sunday the 15th is the last day to renew your CRTP license with CTEC for the coming season! Preparers with access to our California renewal package should verify that they have obtained five (5) hours of California credits, and fifteen (15) hours of Federal […]
The Only EFIN-way: Online System to be Juggernaut of EFIN Acquisition.
The IRS recently released a statement saying that EFIN applications by paper will no longer be accepted. Effective October 1, 2012, applications to become an IRS e-file provider must be submitted online. The IRS will no longer accept paper e-file applications. Become an e-file provider in 3 easy steps: 1. Create an IRS e-Services account. […]
Changes to the Online PTIN User System
Why does it seem that just before something is fully functional and working well that it needs to be changed? The IRS has made several new changes and “improvements” to the online PTIN registration portal. Hopefully, these changes improve it’s capacity in registering and renewing preparers’ PTINs. Hopefully, there won’t be three weeks just before […]
Bruce Grant in Serious Hot Water in Chicago
I’ve begun so many stories of fraud the same way, “it’s a story we’ve come to know so well.” I’m tired of all this fraud. I don’t know if it just seems that so many “big fish” have been caught lately, or the IRS is really cracking down, but I am, firstly, saddened by the […]
Just Announced: Report On Fraud in the ITIN Department
Yesterday afternoon, the findings of the investigation of the ITIN Department of the IRS were released in a report that showed blatant and easily detectible fraud. The report finds that the “higher-ups” involved in the ITIN tax fraud cared more about processing as many applications as possible, as opposed to properly processing only acceptable ones. […]
House Passes Bill to Extend Bush Tax Cuts to All Income Levels
The Republican held House passed a bill today extending the Bush tax cuts to all taxpayers at all income levels. This is in response to the Democratic bill that was passed through the Senate last week where the tax cut extensions would have left out MFJ filers with income over $250K. The stalemate continues between […]