WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service will hold a Webinar regarding the new registration requirements for professional tax preparers next week. The hour-long “New Requirements for Tax Return Preparers – Learn the Who, What, When and How" will be Webcast on Wednesday June 9 at 2 p.m Eastern time.

For the last few years, the changes to tax software have been more those involve evolution than revolution. But that's starting to change as major players have introduced their online tax platforms. Still, for most professional preparers, the evolutionary changes are the most important as they remain in the world on on-premise tax software. And with the buying season well underway, this article provides a look at those.

Although the Internal Revenue Service will require competency testing for paid tax return preparers who are not CPAs, Enrolled Agents or Tax Attorneys, those who register for an identification number before tests are available would have three years before they must undergo the examinations. Those remarks were made this week by David R. Williams, the Internal Revenue Service executive lead for implementation for the program, at the board of directors meeting of the National Society of Accountants.

Future-thinking firms are taking advantage of the latest and greatest technologies to elevate efficiency at all levels of operation. From automating tax document preparation to delivery of financial statements via portals, technology is at the heart of a well-run and profitable practice. But what about beyond core tax and accounting workflow? Read more...