Table of Contents
Why do I need a Tax Preparation Checklist?
“Why do I need a tax preparation checklist?” every Certified Public Accountant across the United States of America would say upon reading the blog’s title. And rightfully so. Tax preparation isn’t something new to CPAs; they have been doing it for years now; some might even say they’ve mastered tax preparation. Yet, right from the beginning of the dawn of the tax season, the CPAs get a flurry of paperwork and stress in equal amounts. Thus, the tax preparation checklist.
We understand that amid the busy tax season, a checklist is the last thing a CPA will need, but if we tell you that hidden behind this thoughtfully drafted tax preparation checklist is an opportunity to transform this tax season into an efficient, satisfying, and client fulfilling season, you wouldn’t mind going through it. Would you?
Through this blog, we will delve into the crucial components of tax preparation that are of utmost importance to the CPAs while taking a closer look at some of the often-overlooked aspects that can make a huge impact. We will highlight the importance of having client information readily available to monitor the frequent regulatory tax law changes; every step of the checklist will equip you with the information and tools needed to succeed amid the US tax season’s chaos. So, let us get started with our list.
Tax Season Preparation Begins with Pre-Season
The groundwork for a fruitful tax season begins with pre-season when most of the preparation must be done ahead of the chaotic season. As a CPA, the pre-season sets the tone for the season and ensures that your clients are on board. You can bifurcate your pre-season preparation into two below-mentioned periods –
- Information Collection
- Expectation Setting
Now, let us look at both those periods in detail.
Information Collection
As a CPA, you constantly deal with clients from diverse backgrounds, thus making the entire process cumbersome and error-prone. So, it is imperative for you to ensure that you educate your clients on the documents and information that you will need from them for successful tax preparation, along with the potential consequences of not doing so. You can do so through a detailed checklist for every client, depending upon the nature of their business. Remember to highlight the importance of readily available documents and filing taxes promptly. If needed, guide them in categorizing the documents and compiling the required information.
Expectation Setting
The expectation-setting phase of the pre-season tax preparation checklist is critical for the CPAs and their clients. From the CPA’s point of view, you will be able to set clear expectations with your clients regarding deliverables, fee structure, and impending deadlines. Also, inform your clients of any potential regulatory change that might impact them. Furthermore, from the client’s point of view, it is imperative to enquire about the scope of the work, the documents required, and the information security measures in place. This will ensure that all the information you share is safe and that you know all necessary documents and deadlines.
Types of Bookkeeping and The Right One for Tax Preparation Checklist for Certified Public Accountants (CPAs)
Once you’re done with your pre-season preparation, it’s time to dive deep into the core of tax preparation for your clients. Here, we have compiled some vital steps that you, as a CPA, must adhere to ensure that you and your clients have a fruitful tax season. So, here is the tax preparation checklist that we promised at the start of the blog.
Verify W-2s and 1099s
As a CPA, accuracy is paramount when preparing taxes for your clients. Hence, it would help if you made sure that you carefully verify all the documents related to the income reported on W-2s and 1099s. Furthermore, you must also enquire about any other potential source of income and reconcile the information reported through dividend statements (1099-DIV), interest statements (1099-INT), or any other income.
Verify Income and Expenses Through Self-Employment
With the rise in self-employment in the US, CPAs must be vigilant when verifying or reviewing bank statements, business income records, and self-employment records. You must adhere to IRS regulations when dealing with self-employed clients and adequately categorize the business expenses shown.
Deduction and Credit Analysis
Once you have received all the expense-related documents from your clients, you must conduct a thorough deduction and credit analysis. This will help you establish which deduction is more beneficial for your client, standard or itemized. As a CPA, you serve multiple clients from diverse backgrounds. Thus it would help if you stayed updated on the latest tax regulations to establish any possible credit or deduction, such as mortgage interest, charitable contributions, medical expenses, student loan interest, retirement plan contributions, or any relevant tax credits that might apply to a specific situation.
Communicate/Update Any Tax Law Change
As a CPA, you are primarily aware of any tax law change or an impending change; the same cannot be said about your client, however. Thus, it’s your responsibility to communicate any incoming or existing tax law change that can/will impact your client’s tax filing. You can always refer to the IRS Website to highlight any potential impact on the deductions, credits, or tax brackets.
Review and Quality Control
Upon carefully preparing the tax return for your client, you need to ensure a proper review and quality control check to ensure complete accuracy. This will also help you achieve higher client satisfaction. These review and quality control calls will be your chance to inform the client of their tax liability (or refund), taxable income, and any deductions or credits that they might not have utilized. Once the client is satisfied with all the information you have shared with them, you can proceed with filing the tax return for your client.
Enjoy A Stress-Free Tax Season
Contrary to popular belief, tax seasons don’t have to be stressful and anxiety-inducing. Sadly, though, they are. However, with meticulous planning and adhering to the tax preparation checklist we shared above, you should have a relatively stress-free tax season. This checklist will help you have a thriving CPA practice during peak season, but will also help carve a place among your clients as a reliable CPA practice.
If you feel overwhelmed by the checklist mentioned above, you can always outsource your tax return preparation. Outsourcing has emerged as the preferred option among the CPAs looking to have a stress-free tax season. If you want to be among them, write to us at [email protected], and we will help you get started with your tax return outsourcing and consequently help you have a stress-free tax season.
