Guides
Tax preparer deadline audit: tests for each register row
A preparer deadline audit tests every register row for an owner, a backup, a named source, stored proof and reminders, then checks retention and payroll.
Desk
Standards Desk
Requirements, terms and the paperwork that decides whether the work stands up.
Guides
Tax preparation bookkeeping: cash flow, reserves and records
Tax preparation bookkeeping for a seasonal practice: the fixed monthly floor, the spring reserve, the PTIN fee and how long the IRS says to keep records.
Guides
How long is the CRA tax preparer record retention period?
CRA tax preparer record retention period is six years from the end of the tax year, with Quebec and GST/HST nuances. Learn what to keep and what happens if you miss.
Guides
State tax preparer engagement letters: what to include
How to draft a state tax preparer engagement letter: the scope items to include, plus the registration, posting, and e-file rules that sit outside it.
Guides
Tax preparation complaint handling: the parts worth your attention
A five-step sequence for resolving tax preparation complaints, plus how to define service quality and track near misses before they reach a client.
Guides
Taxpreparer Filing: California's E-File Mandate
Taxpreparer filing in California: learn the more-than-100-return e-file rule, required consent forms, and the usual April 15 filing deadline.
Guides
Taxpreparer filing: PTIN and Circular 230 overview
Taxpreparer filing basics: how paid preparers handle PTIN renewals, Circular 230 duties, firm oversight, due diligence and compliance calendars.
Guides
Taxpreparer guide to IRS Tax Pro Account authorizations
A taxpreparer guide to IRS Tax Pro Account: Form 2848 and Form 8821 authorizations, client approval, transcript pulls, and e-file duties under Circular 230.
Guides
Taxpreparer guide: California and Illinois e-filing mandates
A taxpreparer guide to California and Illinois e-filing mandates: each state's trigger, what it counts, the opt-out record, and the software settings.
Guides
What to put in a tax preparation business package for 2027
A 2027 tax preparation business package should name each service, its price tier, the staff who deliver it, and the client onboarding checklist.
Guides
Tax preparation business markets worth entering
Tax preparation business markets worth entering include named metros where tax offices can open in 2027, with the PTIN and e-file rules deciding whether each works.
Guides
Tax preparation pay: what is fair and what is sustainable
Fair preparer pay starts with local market data, the PTIN rule, the actual hours a return cycle takes, and what clients can sustainably afford.
Guides
How to keep tax preparation jobs on time for 2027
Five scheduling steps that hold a tax return from intake to closeout, plus the 2027 filing season dates that decide whether a practice files on time.
Guides
Which channels actually bring tax preparation clients back next season
Bookkeeper referrals, IRS Tax Pro Account, e-file confirmations and review profiles bring tax preparation clients back when each channel is tracked by source.
Guides
The tax preparation business plan: sections that matter
A tax preparation business plan maps return capacity, pricing inputs, staffing, cash flow, credentials, and recordkeeping for filing-season operations.
Guides
The margin math behind a tax preparation business for first-year owners
First-year tax practices fail on margin math, not effort. Here is how to build a break-even model using your own client volume and overhead numbers.
Guides
Measuring tax preparation service quality from review sheets
Tax preparation service quality shows up in review sheets, complaint logs, notices and amended returns. How to record them and read the pattern each month.
Guides
What to put in a tax preparation business package, explained
A tax preparation business package combines a scope document, a pricing schedule, and a staffing plan. This guide explains what each service tier must state.
Guides
Tax preparation tech stack and performance metrics for 2027
A working guide to the software stack a tax practice runs on in 2027 and the performance metrics that tell you whether the season went well.
Guides
Which permits a tax preparation business needs before opening
A tax preparation business needs an EFIN, a PTIN for every preparer, state registration, and a business license before it files a first return.