Business Strategies

Prepare For the Day When You Don’t Have More Work Than You Know What To Do With

In the last few months, I have been getting "seems like old times" feeling as interest rates rise. They remain laughably low by the standards of my early days in the business. I can remember prime being 20%. And then there are all these issues with office rentals thanks to the aftermath of the plague.

One of the nice things about a career in accounting is that while you are affected by business cycles the need for our work is somewhat continuous. I’m thinking that now might be a good time to get ahead of the curve a little and study up on a Code Section that may be coming up a lot more – Code Section 108 – Income from discharge of indebtedness. Fortunately, a recent Tax Court opinion in the case of Michael G. and Julie A. Parker can provide us with a lesson in some of the important principles in this area.

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Think Outside the Tax Box provides tax reduction strategies along with practical implementation advice in order to reduce your clients’ federal tax bill with ease.

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CURRENT EDITION

How to Deal with Huge Tax Debt

Jeff Stimpson

The only thing scarier than owing Uncle Sam a lot in taxes is being unable to pay the bill. Luckily, the Internal Revenue Service has ways for you to whittle what you owe. Just make sure which method works for you, depending on such factors as the size of your tax debt and what you can afford to pay and when. Don’t panic. Here’s how individual taxpayers can proceed – and what to watch out for.

Client Retention Strategies for Accountants: Building Long-Term Relationships

Marie Torossian, CPA

Client acquisition is crucial for business growth in the fast-paced accounting world. However, retaining existing clients is equally important, if not more so. Servicing long-term client relationships is a testament to your firm’s reliability and is critical to sustained success. My first client is still with me, now more than seven years. Our relationship has grown and changed over time but has also strengthened.

Loyalty and commitment are two of my core values. I’m always looking to provide value to my prospects and clients to attract and retain them long-term. However, some clients do not fit those values, and I have decided to forgo working with them.

I believe that attracting and retaining the right clients starts with your mission, vision, and core values. However, it is also essential to have effective client retention strategies to ensure clients remain loyal and satisfied for the long haul.

Health Savings Accounts vs Flexible Spending Accounts

Timalyn Bowens, EA

With the rising cost of healthcare, our clients are looking to save money where they can, especially if they can save money on their healthcare costs and taxes at the same time. As their trusted advisor, you can offer them a basic understanding of what savings tools are available to your clients. Some of the tools available will come in handy if there is a minor unexpected tax bill this spring.

That is why today we’re going to look at the triple tax advantaged health savings account (HSA) and the health flexible spending account (FSA). We’ll look at what they are, who is eligible to open one, and how they can save your clients money each year.