Clientwhys Websites

Four Reasons Why Print Newsletters Should Have a Place in Your Marketing Budget

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:26:00 GMT

Just because tax season is over doesn't mean you should stop communicating with your client base. The stronger the client relationship, the more referrals, the higher the fees, and the better the communication between you and your client is likely to be. The growth of digital client communications for CPA and tax accounting firms has definitely provided more opportunities for you to touch your clients.

Use a Facebook Raffle to Drive Word-of-Mouth Marketing Results

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 04 May 2012 10:43:00 GMT

One of our savvier CPA firms recently finished its first Facebook tax season raffle (or commonly referred to as sweepstakes). While similar marketing promotions have been tried in the past through traditional media, this firm used social media and Facebook as the hub of its offering.

Preparing for the IRS Competency Test

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:30:00 GMT

There has been quite a bit of discussion within the CTEC and the IRS Tax Preparer community about how to prepare for the IRS competency test. The competency test includes 120 questions and covers the 1040 and ethics. The length of the test is 2.5 hours and costs $116. One of our product specialists took the test last month and thought it was very straightforward and relatively easy to pass. It is a open-book test, with the PUB 17 and the 1040 instructions provided at the testing center. Our recommendation at this point, is to take your annual CPE tax update course first, than schedule an appointment to take the test. If you feel you need additional preparation, the outline of the test sections are provided by the IRS below, although our feedback so far is that, if you are a practicing tax preparer, you will not need additional preparation.

Make Local Search Marketing your first off-season marketing project.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:01:00 GMT

Internet searches and online marketing have fundamentally changed the way consumers find information about you and your business. While traditional search optimization is still an important factor in your firm's visibility, local directories and local searches such as Google Places have taken a dominant position in your marketing needs.

How to Use Commenting to Become the Expert in Your Area

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:17:00 GMT

The tax accounting professional operates a pure service business, which means your reputation, relationships, and expertise have a direct bearing on your success. One of the easiest ways to strengthen your reputation is to comment on local blog, newspaper, and social media articles where you can add to the conversation. This can help you in a number of ways that I discuss below.

Updated - Foreign Related Reporting Issues (Including FBAR) Online CPE Course

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:53:00 GMT

The Foreign Account Reporting Requirements (FBAR) is a hot issue for all tax preparers. After completing this tax CPE course, the student will understand the many reporting requirements for foreign transactions, accounts, assets etc., including: Financial Crimes Network, Foreign Account Reporting Requirements (FBAR), Reporting Requirements for Individuals With Foreign Assets, Reporting Receipt of Foreign Gifts, Reporting Ownership or Transactions with Foreign Trusts, Canadian Registered Retirement Savings and Income Plans, Annual Information Return for Foreign Trusts With a U.S. Owner, Tax On Nonresident Alien Gifts of Property Situated in the U.S, Foreign Source Pensions, Foreign Rental Property, Foreign Pensions and 2013 FACTA Implementation Awareness.

California FTB Self-Employment deduction Change Will Trigger Tax Adjustment Letters.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:48:00 GMT

Some self-employed individuals will be receiving an adjustment letter from the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB). This notice will require the payment of a small amount of additional state tax.

The Tax Update Continuing Education program that keeps on teaching year-round.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:10:00 GMT

At ClientWhys, we go the extra mile for our students, providing them a comprehensive tax update bundle in both live seminar and self-study formats.

What do you do if Google Blacklists your domain name?

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:51:00 GMT

I have had two clients, whom we could not get ranked by Google search, regardless of what we did. Both clients had Web sites with other vendors prior to moving on to us, so we were not sure about the previous activity or "techniques" used to build the site. I spent hours and hours attempting different approaches. Normally, our sites show up on page 1 or 2 for our keywords within a number of weeks. A recent client ranked on page 1 of Bing and Yahoo but was non-existent on Google. We had verified the domain name using webmaster tools. We had even tweeted and blogged about the client with links to his or her Web site to no avail. The site included a valid sitemap; thus, all of the normal problem areas were not an issue. I then began looking deeper into Google support forums and found the instructions for what Google calls a reconsideration. Apparently, the domain name had lapsed at one point, and a Canadian pharmaceutical company had taken it over with illegal RX advertising.

California Real Property Tax Deduction--Where Do We Stand Now?

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:49:00 GMT

Last year, long before the beginning of the 2011 tax season, the FTB initiated a new compliance program that required every California county real property tax bill to be carefully analyzed to determine what portion of the taxes levied were deductible.

Do Bing and Google use data from social media sites in determining their search results?

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:32:00 GMT

Many of our CPAs and Tax Accountants are hesitant in using social media to market their practices. We usually discuss the Facebook success stories and they are convinced quickly enough. However, Bing and Google have hinted several times that they use the data from social media in their search results. Meaning, the more people talking about you and linking to your website, the better the benefit within the search results. One of our clients now has over 50 unsolicited positive reviews on their Facebook fan page alone. They are well on their way to building a exceptional reputation! We have included a video below with the Google take on the issue.

Tax accountants should be careful not to overthink search engine optimization (SEO).

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:26:00 GMT

One trend we have seen in the last year is the explosion of “expert SEO” providers across the country. They usually contact clients by spamming them. Many do not even have their own domain names in their email addresses, which is a big red flag. These so-called experts just confuse the issue or use quick fixes that do not last long-term. One of the biggest mistakes we see is keywords being stuffed in webpage titles, body copy, and meta descriptions. While it is important that keywords be on the page (otherwise, Google cannot index your page for that subject), keyword stuffing can result in awkward prose that loses readers. Thus, over-emphasis on SEO can actually end up hurting your results.

Meet your CTEC and IRS CPE Requirements with One Bundled Course.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Don’t wait until crunch time to comply with the new CTEC/IRS CPE requirements. Our low-cost, IRS Approved Krusemark courses are the best way to meet your annual CTEC CPE requirements.

Dealing With Conflicting CE Reporting Periods For CTEC and The IRS

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 18:41:00 GMT

With the advent of the IRS Registered Tax Preparer Program, California Registered Tax Preparers (CRTPs) are faced with dual continuing education (CE) requirements to annually renew their registration with the IRS and CTEC. To make matters more complicated, the CTEC CE reporting period is November 1 to October 31 while the IRS reporting period is a calendar year--January 1 through December 31.

Tax Professionals are now using skype for client tax interviews.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:47:00 GMT

This year we have seen more CPAs and Tax Accountants using skype for client tax interviews. The skype technology (and others like it) allow you to securely place calls to clients anywhere in the world. This can help in client retention when clients relocate or are traveling. All they need is a skype account and internet connection. The video below details how you can add the skype call buttons to your website. For more information visit the skype help section.

Marketing for Accountants: New Idea for Accountants - Use government unclaimed property Websites to build client good will and find new prospects.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 10:43:00 GMT

Recently, while researching where a missing tax refund was located, I found the California unclaimed property search Website. While I couldn't track down my missing tax refund (perhaps because the government owes it), I did find unclaimed property listings totaling almost $1,000 from a previous escrow and phone bill refund. I continued to research this topic, and found another nationwide Website that linked into all of the state unclaimed property Websites.

Stock Transactions Reporting (1099B) Can Be A Nightmare

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 12:40:00 GMT

Beginning with the 2011 tax return, reporting stock transactions has become significantly more complicated because of the new requirement for brokerage firms to track the purchase price of stocks acquired after 2010 and subsequent years and to include that information on the information-reporting document 1099-B.

Tax Professionals Need Legal Consent When Filing Registered Domestic Partner Returns

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 17:37:00 GMT

Filing returns for California registered domestic partners (RDPs) has been a complicated topic on our tax technical support forum, CW Connect, this tax season. To make things easier for tax professionals, ClientWhys has developed a free, downloadable, fillable PDF worksheet and engagement letter, as well as a Sec 7216 Consent to Disclose agreement.

Marketing for Accountants - What are QR Codes?

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 10:59:00 GMT

During the last few months, we have received quite a few inquiries from our CPA and tax accounting clients about QR Codes. QR Codes can be used to save information into a scannable barcode. Anyone with a smart phone (Android, iPhone, etc.) and a QR Code reader can scan the information. Even though QR Code usage is skewed to a younger audience, usage has picked up dramatically in the last year. The barcodes could include links to breaking tax alerts or your blog, your vCard for contact information, a link to a website, phone numbers, and much more. They also allow testing of different landing pages within direct marketing campaigns.

Receive Your Refund Faster With Direct Deposit

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:48:00 GMT

Want your refund faster? Have it deposited directly into your bank account. More taxpayers are choosing direct deposit as the way to receive their federal tax refunds. More than 79 million people had their tax refunds deposited directly into their bank accounts in 2011. It's a secure and convenient way to get your money in your pocket faster.

What the Facebook Timeline Update Means to your Tax Accountant Fan Pages

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:02:00 GMT

Facebook recently announced a mandatory change from the old interface to the new timeline look. This format change becomes mandatory on March 30th, 2012. ClientWhys has developed a couple of options to help manage this transition for our CPA and tax accounting professionals.

Streamlined Installment Agreements Raised to $50,000

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:59:00 GMT

The IRS as part of it's “Fresh Start” initiative to help struggling taxpayers is making Installment Agreements available to more people. The Fresh Start provisions also mean that more taxpayers will have the ability to use streamlined installment agreements to catch up on back taxes.

Mastering your federal tax update while meeting the IRS RTRP CPE requirements.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:08:00 GMT

There is a lot of confusion about the new IRS PTIN program and continuing education requirements. We have written a few blog articles breaking down the PTIN guidelines that may help clarify what is what.

Meeting the IRS Registered Tax Preparer (RTRP) 2-Hour Ethics Requirement

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 10:58:00 GMT

The new IRS 15-hour continuing education requirement includes a 2-hour Ethics CPE standard. Many live tax update seminars do not cover ethics, so it can be easy to forget your ethics hours. ClientWhys developed a 2-hour Ethics CPE course called Circular 230 & Preparer Regulations CPE to fill this need.

Tax season headaches caused by foreclosure and debt relief tax problems.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 10:54:00 GMT

Our ClientWhys Connect Tax Technical Support Forum has been buzzing with questions about issues facing clients with foreclosure and debt forgiveness issues. While these issues are complex, we have broken them down into an easy-to-master, 3-hour Foreclosure and Debt Relief CPE Course. Providing accreditation for CPAs, IRS tax preparers, enrolled agents, and CTEC tax preparers, our comprehensive course is the must-have reference one needs to get through these difficult client situations.

Two quick questions to ask at each tax appointment

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:58:00 GMT

The following may sound like common sense as a marketing for accountants best practice. But, it is something easily forgotten during the busy tax season. Client relationships are a CPA and Tax Accounting practice biggest asset, bar none. So why not take the time to manage your contact information using the following quick questions.

Beware of the AICPA Tax Return fraud notification email.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:41:00 GMT

There is a malicious email going around supposedly sent from the AICPA. Do not open this email and delete it from your email account. It references a notice of alleged assistance in tax return infringement. It claims failure to respond within the term will result in withdrawal of your CPA license. Just be careful this time of year of what you open. A sample of the email is displayed in this posting.

Browser Maintenance 101 - Clear your Cache

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:01:00 GMT

When you surf the web, accessing websites, files, images and other content, your browser caches, or stores, all that information on your computer. These files, which are called temporary Internet files, will quickly load each time you click the back or forward buttons. While this is convenient, you lose control over your privacy and these cached files will increase the amount of storage on your computer.

Why Passwords and Security are so important to your Tax Accounting Practice

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:53:00 GMT

We have recently heard of a few experiences where CPA and Tax Preparer email accounts have been hijacked. The harm this does to your business and finances can vary. Point blank...you need to protect your reputation and client data. If your email is ever hacked, change your password immediately. This includes other accounts where you may have used the same login. One of the best ways to minimize your risk is by following password and security best practices. We found this excellent article by Symantec that provides some insight into protecting yourself from unwanted harm.

1099-K Business Return Reconciliation Eliminated

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:25:00 GMT

The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 required third-party payment entities, such as credit card companies, to begin filing informational returns with the IRS reporting merchant card transactions, such as credit and debit card payments. The purpose was to give the IRS the ability to match a business’s credit and debit card sales with the amount the business reported on its tax return.

The 2012 ClientWhys Federal Tax Update & Review Seminar Seminar Schedule.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:31:00 GMT

We have finalized the ClientWhys 2012 1040/540 Tax Update & Review California Seminar Schedule. We are accredited to offer CPE for California CPAs, Enrolled Agents, IRS RTRP and CTEC Registered Preparers.

Taxbuzz.com Expands Tax Professionals Directory with Free Professional Profiles

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:43:00 GMT

For a limited time, tax professionals can create a free professional profile to be displayed in the taxbuzz.com directory. Each month, thousands of visitors search taxbuzz.com and the library of valuable tips and informative articles. It is the first glimpse of a professional's practice for many consumers using this site to search for a tax accountant. Taxbuzz.com's inbound linking and social media connectivity help drive traffic to tax accountants' Web sites, Twitter accounts, and Facebook accounts.

How often should Tax Accountants communicate with clients and prospects?

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:14:00 GMT

I hear the following from my customers from time to time, and it goes against everything I see from top producers: "I don't want to bother my clients by sending them a newsletter or other client communications." My guess is that you do not think you are sending them anything of value. But who wouldn't want to save on their tax bill? Perhaps Warren Buffet, but the rest of us would like to take every legal deduction possible.

Understanding Your Continuing Education Requirements

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:14:00 GMT

Beginning for the 2012 calendar year, all tax preparers who are not exempt are required to complete 15 hours of continuing education. CPAs, attorneys, and Enrolled Agents are exempt from those requirements because they have more stringent CE requirements imposed by their licensing authority.

Power of Attorneys Going to the Wrong Address?

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:11:00 GMT

Several practitioners have complained on “CWconnect”, the ClientWhys tax community, that their POAs were going to old addresses. In addition, there are instances where in audit, the examiner has questioned why the POA address is different from that on file.

When Must the Registered Tax Preparer Examination Be Taken?

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:13:00 GMT

All non-exempt tax preparers must successfully pass the registered tax return preparer one-time competency examination on or before December 31, 2013. Those who pass the examination and the subsequent tax compliance check and suitability check receive the designation “Registered Tax Return Preparer” (RTRP).

Did You Forget to Renew Your PTIN?

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:53:00 GMT

Paid preparers cannot prepare returns without a valid PTIN

Adding photos to your FaceBook Fan Page drives viral marketing results!

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:07:00 GMT

We now have a large group of Tax Accountants nationwide using our Facebook Social Media Campaigner. We get to see close up of what works in getting clients to comment or add unsolicited testimonials. We have also noticed that the tax accounting firms who are more personable on their page, get more client interactivity and have larger followings.

Add a Tax Deadline Countdown Clock to your Tax Accountant Website.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:41:00 GMT

Many of our website for accountants users like adding tax deadline countdown widgets to their websites. We have searched for a nice looking countdown clock and have been using Countingdownto.com for our client sites. They have a free option which is displayed below. You can go pro and alter the size and color scheme for a nominal fee. They will provide you with embed code that can easily be added to your website. If you are a current ClientWhys client and want us to add the countdown clock, please email help@clientwhys.com with 'Please add the countdown clock to my website' in the subject line. FREE COUNTDOWN WIDGET

How to Set Up the Tax Reminder System in Your ClientWhys Tax Accounting Website

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:54:00 GMT

The Tax Reminder system allows you to accommodate office tasks like appointment setting, appointment reminders, due date reminders and much more. This will lower your administration costs and improve the efficiencies in your office.

How to use the Public Lockbox in Your ClientWhys Tax Accounting Website

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:45:00 GMT

You can utilize a Public Lockbox to share documents across your entire client base. The Public Lockbox has been developed to upload Tax Organizers or other important documents.

How to Create Admin Rights in Your ClientWhys Tax Accounting Lockbox

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:40:00 GMT

We have two levels of security and admin rights in the ClientWhys Lockbox.

How to Add a New Client in Your ClientWhys Tax Accounting Lockbox

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:25:00 GMT

To add a new client, click on Create New under the Lockbox Menu.

How to Create Auto Campaigns in Your ClientWhys Tax Accounting Website

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:11:00 GMT

We have developed a feature that allows you to create and schedule an e-mail campaign. This module can be used to market to client niches, for tax planning consulting appointments, or even to cross-sell other services like wealth management. This can be a very valuable tool if used correctly. The auto campaigns would be in addition to your monthly client newsletter.

How to Create a Custom Subscriber Group in Your ClientWhys Tax Accounting Website

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:36:00 GMT

To create a custom subscriber group, go to Editor Home scroll down to E-mail Marketing. Click on the Custom Subscriber Groups link. Click on 'Add New' to create your new group.

How to Create a Custom Message in Your ClientWhys Tax Accounting Website

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:21:00 GMT

The first step in creating an email message is to click on Create a New Message.

Is Your PTIN Renewed? Ready for the New Tax Preparer Education Requirements? What About the Competency Test?

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:00:00 GMT

Have You Renewed Your PTIN? Just to remind you, unless you have already renewed your PTIN, it expired on December 31, 2011, and you cannot prepare returns once your PTIN has expired!

What's a blog?

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 10:23:00 GMT

A blog is a type of website or part of a website that is updated with new content from time to time. Frequency can vary, but nothing keeps readers away like dated content. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual or company with regular entries of commentary, breaking news, or other material such as graphics or video. They can be used to educate clients or to brand a business. Or both. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order.

Social Media 101 for Accountants

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 10:20:00 GMT

Much has been written about the social media explosion and whether it makes sense for CPAs and tax accountants to use the medium to market and communicate with their clients and prospects.

ClientWhys Holiday Schedule

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:44:00 GMT

Happy Holidays!

Tips to Make Your Tax Accountant Blog Work for You

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 10:26:00 GMT

There are many reasons why a tax accountant blog can be effective in marketing your practice. The updated content is indexed by Google and will increase the visibility of your website. The timeliness of the articles will also create frequent visitors to your blog. It adds to your credibility as an expert in your field.

Use Email to Gain Social Media Followers

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 10:13:00 GMT

Your email newsletter subscribers can be ambassadors for your brand, helping you gain new social media followers and spread your content beyond your existing audience.

Big Changes in Tax CPE for Enrolled Agents and Tax Preparers

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:46:00 GMT

Effective January 1, 2012, only continuing education offered by approved IRS providers will be acceptable education for meeting the continuing education requirements of Enrolled Agents, tax return preparers and RTRPs (tax return preparers who have passed the IRS examination).

Tax Preparers Need to File Form 8867 with All EITC Claims

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:17:00 GMT

Beginning January 1, 2012, (IR-2011-122) new regulations require paid tax return preparers to file Form 8867, Paid Preparer's Earned Income Credit Checklist, with any federal return claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). In past years, tax preparers have been required to keep copies of Form 8867, or comparable documentation, which is subject to review by the IRS. The new regulations also reflect recent congressional action to increase the penalty for noncompliance with the due diligence requirement from $100 to $500. Although as many as one in five eligible taxpayers fail to claim the EITC, some of those who do claim it either compute it incorrectly or are ineligible. The new requirement is part of the IRS initiative to ensure that the credit is afforded to taxpayers who qualify. More information about EITC and the due diligence requirement for tax return preparers is available on IRS.gov.

Marketing for Accountants Survival Guide

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:00:00 GMT

Our profession is still primarily a word-of-mouth referral business. Therefore, any marketing concepts that you utilize should start with your current clients and expand outward. I provide marketing consultations with literally thousands of CPAs, RTRP Tax Preparers, Enrolled Agents, and accounting firms across the country. It becomes very evident who is successful and why when you talk to them and observe practices they instill in their marketing communications.

Tax Accountant Password Policy Best Practices

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:03:00 GMT

A password policy is a set of rules designed to enhance computer and web security by encouraging users to employ strong passwords. A password policy should be part of an accounting practice policy manual. Viruses, malware and hacking are major issues facing tax and accounting professionals. Guarding client and practice data from unwanted attacks can be helped by establishing company wide standards and keeping security software up-to-date.

ClientWhys has been approved to offer CPE courses and credits for the new IRS Registered Tax Return Preparer (RTRP) program.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:26:00 GMT

ClientWhys (provider #VP8T3) is in the process of creating new continuing education (CPE) courses that will be released January 1, 2012. These tax update courses will meet the new CE requirements for the IRS RTRP program. ClientWhys will offer a bundled package that includes 2 hours of ethics, 10 hours of federal review and 3 hours of tax updates. Our comprehensive courses will include downloadable eBooks that can be used for reference purposes all tax season long.

How can I get more likes for my Tax Accountant Facebook Fan Page?

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 16:28:00 GMT

One of the keys to success when using social media to connect with your audience is building a large and qualified following. Clientwhys offers a turnkey social media program for CPAs and Tax Accountants that manages the entire process. Here is a tool that you can use within Facebook to gain more likes.

New IRS Federal Registered Tax Return Preparer (RTRP) CPE Guidelines Released

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 10:20:00 GMT

The Internal Revenue Service has announced the standards to become an IRS-approved continuing education (CE) provider and the requirements to become an IRS CE accredited organization. The guidance paves the way for the implementation of new CE requirements for certain tax return preparers starting next year.

How Will the US Post Office Shakeup Affect Your Tax Return Presentations?

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:37:00 GMT

Change is coming for tax professionals, whether you like it or not. The upcoming increases in postage and slowing of delivery will affect your client service and costs if you stay status quo with the way you process returns for clients. The Internet has fundamentally changed the way we do business. If you embrace these changes, you will find dramatic cost savings and improve your client service.

2011 Tax Update & Ethics CPE Courses for Enrolled Agents.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:28:00 GMT

The December 31st CPE deadline is fast approaching for enrolled agents. Lee Reams, Sr., EA, has authored several courses specific to enrolled agents to meet both your CPE requirements and prepare you for tax season. ClientWhys’ cost-effective course options include the industry-leading Big Book of Taxes and three options for Enrolled Agent Ethics. ClientWhys specializes in tax update courses and provides a more thorough review than found elsewhere. Visit our website at www.clientwhyscpe.com or click below for the individual course options.

Registered Domestic Partner Disclosure Consent and Conflict of Interest

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:58:00 GMT

We have given some thought to the Sec 7216 disclosure requirements and conflict of interest issues as related to preparing RDP separate Federal tax returns. We have come to the conclusion that it may be appropriate to have the partners sign a consent to disclose their tax information to the other partner since for federal tax purposes the other partner is a third party. In addition, we feel there are potential conflicts of interest in preparing their separate Federal tax returns and the partners should be made aware of the potential for conflicts of interest.

More Information about the RTRP Competency Examination

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:54:00 GMT

IRS has issued final regulations, accompanied by a news release and fact sheet, that provide additional details related to the registered tax return preparer (RTRP) competency examination.

ClientWhys' Website for Accountants Offers Built-in Holiday Greeting eCards.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:21:00 GMT

As more and more communication goes online, the ability to easily manage your client communications becomes even more important. Obviously, being environmentally friendly and reducing your postage budget doesn't hurt either. ClientWhys' website for accountants, along with its email marketing system, is filled with eCards for all occasions: birthday wishes, holiday and thank-you eCards. Nothing could be easier than using one of our templates to create a card and delivering professionally designed messages to your target audience.

Are bidding sites like Thumbtack worth your time?

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:44:00 GMT

Recently, we have seen a multitude of new directory sites that work somewhat like eBay for service providers. With Angie's List going public, awareness is even larger because of added media coverage.

2011 Federal Tax Update Courses

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:02:00 GMT

In these online self-study courses, Lee Reams Sr. covers the hot topics and issues you need to review before tax season. Use our bundled packages to save, 10 hours for $79, 24 hours for $129 or unlimited cpe firm wide for $229.

What is a backlink, and why should I care?

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:05:00 GMT

One of the most important aspects of online marketing - which is foreign to most CPAs and tax accountants - is backlinking. A backlink is a hyperlink pointed to your website from another site, or it can also be a link within your site that connects one page to another. Backlinks are one of the keys of online marketing for savvy webmasters, and they are essential to your website ranking higher in the search engines.

Lockbox Drag & Drop Now for Chrome and the latest editions of Firefox.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:30:00 GMT

The latest upgrade of firefox changed the way they handled the file drag and drop technology for our secure file sharing lockbox. We had to update our lockbox code to handle these changes. We also enabled the drag and drop feature for Google Chrome browser users. We are releasing this update on 11-15. Please report any user issues or problems to help@clientwhys.com.

What does social media have to do with promoting your Tax Accounting Firm?

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:27:00 GMT

There still seems to be confusion on how CPA and tax accounting firms should tackle social media marketing. I talk to clients every day who are either afraid of social media or don't understand how it applies to their practice. Recent articles from CPA Trendlines review many of the issues that face firms today, creating a group of practices that are either slow to adapt to new technology or are not adapting it at all, and explain what this means for their futures. Google results are starting to pull up more and more social media sites on important keyword searches. So what does that mean to you?

IRS PTIN Registration Opens with PROBLEMS!

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:57:00 GMT

2012 PTIN Registration opened on Wednesday with "you guessed it" PROBLEMS! Already one practitioner has told us that she was assigned a new PTIN instead of the one she has been using for years. Another firm called the IRS to report problems, and after an hour on the phone the caller was told that there were hundreds of practitioners who were having problems and it would be a couple of weeks before the problems would be straightened out.

Adding Google Maps to your Tax Accountant Website.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:38:00 GMT

All of ClientWhys websites include a link to Google Maps from the contact page of our websites for accountants. Some CPAs, Tax Preparers and Accountants want the map to be more prominent on their website. Making it convenient for clients to find your office is one of the primary functions of your website. Google allows you to embed the office map directly on your website. You can even control the dimensions.

Provide better client service across social media.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:23:00 GMT

Clients rely on Facebook, Twitter and Linked In, among other social applications to get information, solve problems and research companies and services. Is your tax accounting practice there with them? Or, are your marketing efforts bogged down with outdated infrastructure that doesn't meet you or your clients' needs?

8 Fastest Ways to Build Facebook Followers.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:50:00 GMT

We have had great success with quickly attracting followers to our Facebook Fan Pages for CPAs and tax accounting professionals. This post talks about the 8 fastest ways to get more people to “Like” your Facebook Fan Page. I would really appreciate it if you shared these blog tips with your friends as well.

CTEC Renewal CPE Deadline is just Days Away!

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:28:00 GMT

For those of you that are still in need of CTEC (California Tax Education Council) CPE for your October 31 renewal, we offer one of the most cost effective options available. Our Krusemark CPE course includes your federal, state and ethics requirements. Our easy-to-use self study version allows online test taking and retakes if needed. Once you score 70% or higher the system will automatically generate your CPE certificate and ClientWhys will report your hours to CTEC.org. You just need to send in your renewal information by October 31 to be in good standing.

Tax Accountant SEO Tune Up for Tax Season

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:55:00 GMT

We are offering our website customers a discounted Search Engine Optimization tune-up for the upcoming tax season. For $249 (a one-time setup fee), we will review your website and update the meta title, descriptions, h1 tags, and body copy of the entire website to properly fit your market and services. Our website for accountants always get well indexed, but we see times when the keywords do not match the market and adjustments need to be made. It takes time for Google to re-index the changes, so we suggest starting in autumn to prepare for the busy tax season.

GAO Wants Preparers Monetarily Penalized for Not E-Filing

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 11:37:00 GMT

For returns filed in 2011, preparers were required to e-file returns if they prepared more than 100 returns. In 2012 that requirement drops to 10 returns.

New EIC Compliance in the Works for Next Filing Season

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:12:00 GMT

On October 6, 2011, the IRS announced it was releasing proposed regulations (IR-2011-98) that would require all paid preparers to file the due diligence checklist, Form 8867, with any federal return claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Previously Form 8867 was only required to be completed and retained in the preparer’s records.

The Importance of .com in Your Domain Name

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:37:00 GMT

Maybe this blog article should be titled “The Risk You Take with .info in Your Domain Name.” While Google doesn’t go out and say it, recent experiences with a CPA website seems to say that a .info domain name is harder to get ranked than a .com. My belief is that since GoDaddy and others sell .info domains so inexpensively, that they are commonly used by spammers and content farms. This all has to do with the Search Engine Rank Position of .info compared to other top level domains like .com.

2011 "Big Book of Taxes" Update Self Study CPE Course has been released!

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:26:00 GMT

An extensive update has been completed to the Big Book of Taxes. Our comprehensive text provides 900+ pages of everything you need to know to prepare taxes in 2011 and beyond. It is more than just a federal tax update. It includes references and worksheets to help you get through the most difficult tax returns and is used as a reference year round. The Big Book of Taxes includes coverage of foreclosures, foreign reporting issues, gold and precious metals, domestic partners and much more. If you order the eBook edition you will receive access to updates throughout the year. The book offers CPE (continuing professional education) for CPAs, EAs and CTEC Tax Preparers.

Federal Tax Preparer Program CPE Starts January 1, 2012

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 10:34:00 GMT

We have been getting quite a few calls about the new IRS requirement for PTIN and continuing education for all registered tax return preparers (RTRP). First let’s make a distinction between who is covered under the new program and who stays with their old guidelines.

New Website and Lockbox Client Portal Encryption Features

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:34:00 GMT

We have added some new security features to our websites for accountants product line. These features include some advanced encryption systems on the back-end for both the website and lockbox client portal. We have also added the ability for clients to reset their passwords from the lockbox login link on customers websites. The client will get an email to their main account and follow the link to reset their password. Administrators can reset passwords from the clients detail section within the lockbox. We hope that this self serve feature will cut down on client support calls.

Facebook changes and RSS feeds.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:46:00 GMT

If you have been following Facebook you will have noticed they have made a bunch of changes. The downside to change is when Facebook eliminates a feature they used to support. This appears to be the case with the RSS feeds and notes. According to the latest from Facebook, "you cannot import an RSS feed directly to your Facebook Page's notes, but if you'd like, you can explore external apps that provide this functionality for separate tabs on your page." ClientWhys uses Hootsuite for our customers as an external application that manages the RSS feeds for clients social media sites. We suggest you look at your previous settings and upgrade if your account stopped working. To learn more about how Facebook works for CPAs and Tax Accountants visit our previous blog article and video tutorial.

Get the Most Out of Your Tax Accounting Website with these Nine Cool Features

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:51:00 GMT

With over 1,000 subscribers to our websites for accountants, we often get support calls requesting features that clients already have loaded in their subscriptions. We have gathered some of the most often requested tools and some valuable features that successful practitioners are using every day.

Case Study - How enrolled agents utilize their chapter website to communicate to their members

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:26:00 GMT

ClientWhys started designing chapter websites after several tax accounting website customers wanted us to help their organizations as well. We made some changes on content and feature tools and started rolling out the chapter editions last year. Wow—what a success! We have taken the IT mystery and support out of the equation for chapter leaders. We offer a turnkey solution that includes website hosting, email support, email newsletters, a tax research center, technical support forums and secure document sharing.

One easy marketing tip to dominate your local market

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:19:00 GMT

I have previously written about Patch.com as a great way to become the expert in your local community. Whether you are a tax accountant, CPA, or enrolled agent, you can build your reputation with little effort. If you don't have a Patch yet in your neighborhood, you can probably expect to see one soon. Patch basically is reshaping the local newspaper model. These newspapers are driven by contributors who post blog articles and offer advice. By adding yourself to Patch, you will improve your inbound linking and SEO position of your accounting website while establishing yourself as the local expert.

IRS Issues Additions Guidance Related to PTIN Renewal & Suitability Testing

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 11:16:00 GMT

Albeit a little slow, the IRS is finally providing additional information related to the renewal of the PTINs, the requirements for suitability testing and CPE requirements (Notice 2011-80). Here is a rundown:

Video tutorial covering Facebook best practices for CPAs and Tax Accountants

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:12:00 GMT

Social media allows you to cost-effectively converse with clients and prospects. You might think of it as an extension of your current tax and accounting newsletter. However, in using social media as marketing tools, the goal is to encourage others to comment on and share your posts. In this way, you gain a larger audience and exposure. Simply sharing articles from third parties does not get the results of our posts directly to your wall. We have compiled a video tutorial that goes through several best practices for CPAs and Tax Accounting firms.

Tax Update Mini CPE Courses Now Available.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 18:08:00 GMT

We have been busy updating and writing new tax update cpe courses all summer long. In addition to our popular 900+ page Big Book of Taxes, we offer all of our courses in mini formats that can be bought individually or under a discounted bundled hour package.

California Registered Tax Preparers don't forget your 2-hour CTEC Ethics requirement.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:55:00 GMT

CTEC now requires California Registered Tax Preparers to complete 2-Hours of Ethics for each renewal cycle. These hours are in addition to the normal state and federal requirements. Some California Tax Preparers have missed this requirement and are surprised when CTEC kicks back their renewal.

IRS Releases Specifications for the Tax Preparer (RTRP) Exam

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:29:00 GMT

Last Tuesday, September 6, 2011, the IRS released the specifications for the upcoming RTRP exam. We have it on good authority that the examination is going to be relatively easy for competent and educated practitioners and doubt that a test preparation course would be needed.

Single newsletter PDF Downloads are back!

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:11:00 GMT

Our Tax, Personal Finance and Accounting Article Library saves you time and money while providing your blog, website, client newsletter and social media sites with content that keeps your audience informed. We are your in-house copywriter and marketing expert for one low, monthly fee. Content is provided in PDF or Word formats.

Tips to make your Tax Accountant blog work for you.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 10:27:00 GMT

One of the best ways to make your Tax Accountant blog successful is to write about issues your audience and the search engines will find relevant. In other words, if you want people to read your posts, you need to make them more personal and talk about things your audience cares about: your unique services or your geographic area.

New CPE - 2011 & Beyond Federal Tax Update

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:45:00 GMT

Be prepared for tax season with this can't miss 4-hour federal update course.

How often are you communicating with your clients?

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:31:00 GMT

Depending on your CPA or Tax Accounting practice, you may see your clients just once a year or once per week. Virtual CFO services vary greatly from those of tax preparation providers. What they both have in common is the need to communicate openly with clients to best serve everyone’s interests.

The Ultimate Tax Research & Federal Update CPE Course Is Now Online

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 10:23:00 GMT

The Big Book of Taxes focuses on the key issues, and its breadth of coverage and ease-of-use make it truly unique. You'll love the Big Book of Taxes. New this year is our eBook version that allows subscribers 12 month of access, CPE options and year-round updates.

Budget Control Act of 2011 - Now What?

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:25:00 GMT

The new Budget Control Act of 2011 may have resolved the debt ceiling stalemate in Washington, but it leaves us hanging as far as long-term tax planning goes. Although the first $1 trillion round of deficit reduction over fiscal years 2012 through 2021 does not include revenue hikes, the second $1.5 trillion reduction over the same time period could include some fundamental tax changes.

New Ethics for California CPAs CPE Course

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 12:54:00 GMT

Brought to you by our friends at FER (Financial Education Resources), this comprehensive CPE course covers it all. The California Board of Accountancy ethics requirement is a 2-part requirement. ClientWhys is offering the 4-CPE hour Ethics for California CPAs course online. The 4-CPE hour Ethics for California CPAs course satisfies the ethics requirement that needs to be met EVERY time you renew (once every 2 years).

Important CTEC Renewal and Federal Education Requirements Update

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:39:00 GMT

There has been a lot of confusion surrounding the requirements for continuing education (CE) for both CTEC and the IRS. We would like to take a moment of your time to explain what is happening.

Case Studies - Building Client Relationships through Social Media

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:58:00 GMT

We launched our new Facebook Package two months ago. The response has been phenomenal, with CPA and tax accounting firms of all sizes launching their new social media presence. Our system will help make you the local expert by automating your social communications.

ClientWhys Fall Federal / California Review & Update Seminar Filling Up Fast.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:26:00 GMT

With 11 locations throughout California, the ClientWhys Fall 1040/540 Review & Update Seminar gets top reviews from our clients. Attendees have come to trust that we will cover the issues that matter most. Instead of flimsy outlines, all attendees leave with our industry-leading Big Book of Taxes with more than 900 pages. New this year is a downloadable eBook version of the Big Book of Taxes free to all attendees. We will update the eBook during the year as the tax law changes.

Google Places will stop displaying reviews from Yelp and other review sites

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:52:00 GMT

Under pressure for having too much control over local search results, Google Places has stopped displaying Yelp and other review sites client comments. This will put more emphasis on getting reviewed by your clients in Google Places to help improve your search results.

Tax Briefs Monthly Alerts

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:37:00 GMT

ClientWhys Tax Briefs are an add-on to our newsletter system. The briefs will be released on the 15th of each month. The articles will identify and promote unique tax planning opportunities--stimulating referrals and strengthening your client relationships. To attract a broader audience, the articles will be more casual than the features in our monthly newsletter. This will ensure that the briefs will get read by the initial audience and passed on to others.

New IRS Foreign Reporting Issues CPE Course

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 13:09:00 GMT

We have launched a new tax CPE course covering the Foreign Reporting Issues. This 1 hour course provides CPE credit for NASBA CPAs, Enrolled Agents and CTEC Tax Preparers. The course will help you understand the many reporting requirements for foreign transactions, accounts, assets, etc.

Lockbox Client Portal Maintenance Tips

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 10:30:00 GMT

Our Tax Accountant and Financial Planning customers use the lockbox either for secure filing sharing or as an online storage tool. For those that just want to share documents with clients for a temporary period of time, we have the File Purger feature to automatically delete older files. If you are not sure how much storage you are using, check the monthly activity report or login to your account and view the usage from the lockbox admin or newsletter editor.

PTIN Renewals Will Be a Calendar Year

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:03:00 GMT

Originally it was envisioned that tax preparers would renew their PTIN registration one year after they originally registered. In other words if you registered your PTIN on October 1, 2010 you would have to reregister the PTIN again on or before October 1, 2011. However, that conflicted with the October 15th extension deadline and could ultimately complicate continuing education issues for preparers since the fall updates represents important education time for tax professionals.

Tax Accountants Offer Free Tax-planning Strategies on Facebook

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:15:00 GMT

Facebook has become so mainstream that even tax accountants are now harnessing the power of Facebook and other forms of social media. CPA firms and tax accountants that utilize the ClientWhys Facebook App can now provide tax-cutting strategies directly to followers on Facebook. Custom landing pages welcome visitors to the accountant’s Facebook account and posts to the accountant’s wall inform, entertain, and provide some humor to strategies that will minimize tax bills.

Standard Mileage Rates Boosted July 1

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:07:00 GMT

The IRS in Announcement 2011-40 advises the public that the IRS is revising the optional standard mileage rates for computing the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, medical, or moving expense purposes and for determining the reimbursed amount of these expenses that is deemed substantiated. This modification results from recent increases in the price of fuel. These increased rates are effective July 1, 2011.

Tax Preparers Can't Use the Term RTRP until Passing The Exam

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:39:00 GMT

In Notice 2011-45, the IRS warns tax preparers that representing themselves as Registered Tax Return Preparers (RTRP) before passing the competency examination is misrepresentation and is subject to Circular 230 sanctions. This is true even though the preparer was issued a PTIN. The PTINs that have been issued to unlicensed preparers to date are “provisional” until such time as the preparer actually passes the competency examination, and the term “RTRP” applies only to those who have successfully passed the exam. Since the competency exams are not even available as of this writing, no one has the authority to refer to him or herself as an RTRP. The competency examinations are expected to be available by this fall.

Why building backlinks should be your #1 marketing project this summer.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 12:25:00 GMT

Inbound links or backlinks measure the popularity of a website. They are crucial to search engine rankings. The backlink must contain link text that includes the keyword for which you are seeking a ranking. For example, if you want to rank for “Naperville CPA,” you will need links to your site for which the link text contains “Naperville CPA.” By “link text,” I am referring to the underlined text in the link. So, in this example, you would want the link to your site to be Naperville CPA.

The Big Book of Taxes has Gone Digital.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:19:00 GMT

The industry’s most comprehensive 1040 tax update and review CPE course advances even further. We have just released the Big Book of Taxes in a digital edition that can be accessed online or even downloaded to your local computer. The digital edition of the Big Book of Taxes allows easy reference through our advanced search, notes, and bookmarking tools. Use it for your CPE with 24 hours of credit or as a low-cost year-round reference tool. With more than 900 pages of tax law changes, troublesome areas, and frequently encountered issues, the Big Book will have you covered throughout the year.

ClientWhys Tax Course of the Month for June - California Registered Domestic Partners

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 11:54:00 GMT

Our featured course for June is California Registered Domestic Partners. RDP issues continue to plague practitioners because of conflicting aspects created by the IRS Chief Counsel Advice conclusion that RDPs are subject to community laws and the IRS’s narrow interpretation of “spouse” under DOMA. The course reviews the definition of what is and is not community income and how to allocate income and deductions between the partners. The course also explores the inconsistencies in Pub 555 with the treatment of self employment income and options available to the practitioner. The course also deals with: How to claim head of household filing status for an RDP: application of federal credits to individual returns, application of self-employment tax, qualifications for various type pension plans, and more. Various reporting techniques are suggested as a means of avoiding IRS informational reporting mismatches.

New Cutting Edge Web Site Designs for Tax Accountants

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 11:26:00 GMT

ClientWhys has just released the next generation in web site design for CPA firms and tax accountants. Built from the ground up for search engine optimization and easy editing, ClientWhys allows professionals to easily establish their presence online and provide clients with a wealth of information and tools to attract new leads to grow your practice.

How to make your personal Facebook page hidden (almost) from the world.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:28:00 GMT

Some tax accounting firms want to use Facebook to connect and market to their clients, but do want to open their lives up through their personal accounts. Unfortunately, Facebook requires a personal profile in order to create the business fan page. But you can hide most of your account from outsiders to provide more privacy.

Keeping up with Google.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:09:00 GMT

Google has made a number of significant changes in the last 6 months to its methods of indexing websites. As a provider of websites for accountants and CPAs, we are always tracking the changes and modifications we need to make to our clients' websites. This behind-the-scenes work does not draw many accolades but does keep our clients' websites well indexed ahead of their competition.

Enrolled Agents (EA) With SSN Ending in 4,5 or 6 Can Now Renew!

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 17:31:00 GMT

For those Enrolled Agents with Social Security numbers ending in 4, 5 or 6. The EA renewal form (Form 8554) is now available on irs.gov and in electronic format on pay.gov. The renewal cycle will run from June 1, 2011 through August 30, 2011, with new EA cards being issued within 90 days following the close of the cycle. Please make note that the IRS changed the addresses where the forms should be sent.

Why local matters for CPAs and Tax Accountant marketing.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 26 May 2011 13:26:00 GMT

Cutting through the clutter of the internet and information is more important than ever. Focusing on specific geographic areas by keeping your message narrow will build more awareness of your brand and build a healthier practice.

5 Website Tools You May Not Know You Have

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 16 May 2011 11:51:00 GMT

Sometimes I think we don't adequately market our own product. I get calls from CPAs and Tax Accountants asking questions about practice management, including how they should handle scheduling appointments online, sending secure email, or writing a blog, and 95% of the time the tools are already included in the website package subscription. I have highlighted some of the most important features below with a corresponding how-to webinar video.

New Facebook "Like" invite email added to the marketing library.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 13 May 2011 17:20:00 GMT

Expand your network by inviting current clients and prospects to "Like" your Facebook Fan Page. Available to all accountant website and email marketing subscribers, we have included an editable email template that will drive readers to "Like" your page. This letter is written specifically for CPA and Tax Accounting firms. You may also want to review our Facebook design and auto posting package.

Easily grow your practice by focusing on a niche

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 10 May 2011 14:30:00 GMT

One of the fastest ways to grow your CPA or Tax Accounting practice is to position your firm in a specific niche or category. You will be perceived as the expert in that category, and you will be able to do your job more efficiently since you will be continually reviewing similar situations.

The Key to Generating More Referrals: Just Ask!

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 06 May 2011 17:28:00 GMT

When CPAs or Tax Accountants say they want to get better results from their marketing efforts, I always ask how they are handling their current clients.

May Tax CPE Course of the Month - Foreclosure and Debt Relief Issues

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 04 May 2011 00:01:00 GMT

Looking for tax education that will keep you on top of current issues? ClientWhys is in a unique position to understand troubling issues plaguing Tax Professionals. We field questions year round from Total Practice members and our CWconnect on-line community. Therefore, we have a unique insight into the instruction needed by today’s tax preparers. We started the “Course of the Month” CPE series to provide education related to issues we have identified as difficult and that have generated frequent questions from our customers. We encourage you to participate in this unique offering.

A powerful way to communicate, now branded with your colors.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 03 May 2011 12:01:00 GMT

ClientWhys has just launched a new subscription program that creates a custom landing page for CPA, Tax Preparer and Accounting firms’ Facebook pages, driving more followers and audience interaction. The biggest challenges professionals face in properly managing a Facebook fan page are the lack of content and consistency. The frequency and the type of posts are what help drive followers and business leads.

Using Client Surveys to Get Back "Lost" Clients.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:01:00 GMT

It can be an awkward situation for both client and professional when an appointment or even tax year is missed. We have been marketing our “Missed You Last Year” brochure for many years with huge success. Whether you use our printed version or create your own, the process opens the door to a conversation that might not take place without any correspondence. The reasons for a missed appointment are many, from health, marriage, or moving to dissatisfaction with services.

Websites for Accountants New Feature - Mobile Editions

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:01:00 GMT

With the rapid growth of smart phones and mobile devices, it is important that your website can display information for all types of visitors. We have created mobile editions of your website so clients and prospects can quickly find important information, like office maps, email addresses and phone numbers. The mobile editions will automatically display for mobile browsers, using m.yourdomain.com. We are working on adding online appointment scheduling and lockbox functionality to the mobile versions as well. You can edit your text and pages through the Page Set up tool in the editor. Please review the following tutorial for details or call us at 1.800.442.2477 x4 for more details.

Enrolled Agent Renewals - SSN Ending in 4, 5 and 6

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:07:00 GMT

The IRS has issued final regs that separate the enrolled retirement plan agent user fees from the enrolled agent user fees. In addition, under the final regs, the initial enrollment and renewal of enrollment fees for both are reduced from $125 to $30. These regs are effective Apr. 19, 2011.

Saying "Thank You" after Tax Time

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:01:00 GMT

Tax season is finally over and it is an ideal time to thank clients for their business and referrals. Gone are the days of paper cards and stressing about yet another postage increase. ClientWhys tax preparer and CPA website users have the ability to create and send eCards directly from their website. Users can select specific clients, all or segments of clients.

5 Reasons Why Tax Accountants Should Use Social Media

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 00:01:00 GMT

I work with thousands of tax professionals year-round with various ideas of what the internet means to their firm and future growth. There is quite a bit of noise out there from unscrupulous SEO "providers" and myths of what works. I always ask what a client wants to accomplish online. More clients? Better communication with current clients? The answer and the reality will shape your online presence. I always start with your current clients before embarking on an online client acquisition campaign. This will yield immediate results and are your greatest referral source. One very easy way to engage current clients is by building your social media networks, whether it be LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook. I have compiled 5 top advantages that Tax Preparers and CPAs can gain from having a social media presence. 1) Personal Engagement - Your clients are part of the story of their experiences with you and the benefits you provide. Social media provides the modern day referral. And by engaging with your clients and prospects online, you can solidify your relationships and may help you better solve their problems. If you aren’t on Facebook, that discussion can’t even take place. 2) Low Cost of Entry - Obviously, the cost of setting up your social media sites is free. If you need assistance, then a technician would charge you to set up your accounts, but it is still minimal. Your biggest issue is the time spent writing posts or building your network. We offer services to do both, write posts and set up social media sites if needed. 3) Direct Correspondence - Think of your social media network as similar to your e-mail newsletter database. While there are some nuances of how they want to engage, social media allows you to talk directly to your audience. And the best part is that they can then share what you are saying with their network, creating the best introduction possible. All virally. 4) Current and in Real Time - Want to let your audience know about a due date or a brand new tax law change? Post it and the news is sent out immediately. Perhaps you have a seminar and you want to invite attendees. Post it and let the viral aspects of social media draw even a wider audience. 5) Connect in Your Voice - Your practice is nothing more than your relationships. It is all about people. Social media lets your audience see a little bit more about you, making a stronger connection and driving more loyalty. Invite your clients to tell their stories. Feel like they are part of your success. I have witnessed the power of social media first hand with our clients and my own social networks. If you are not online, you would be shocked at how many recommendations are provided by peers through social media. From the local barber, pet adoptions to Quickbooks accounting, your clients and prospects are out and talking everyday. Social media is largely word-of-mouth marketing.

Federal Government shut down Sample Copy Added to E-mail Existing Messages Library and Blog Content Portal

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

We have added sample copy to the e-mail existing messages library and blog content portal. You can send this as a standalone e-mail or post it to your blog or social media sites. Click here to review sending a custom e-mail. We are also providing this copy free to ClientWhys customers who are not using our Tax Accountant website product line. Feel free to use as needed.Sample Client Copy Sample E-mail Subject: What happens with taxes if the Federal government shuts down?E-mail Message: A Federal shutdown will delay tax refunds for taxpayers who file their returns on paper rather than electronically. The IRS states that electronically filed returns have their refunds processed automatically. The April 18 tax deadline is still in effect for filing 2010 returns. So do not delay if you have not yet filed your tax return. Filing late with a tax due will incur both late filing and late payment penalties.The length of the delay will be dependent on how long the shutdown lasts. Last year, one in three taxpayers filed paper returns. Though with the new electronic filing mandate for professional preparers, that number will be lower for 2010 returns.This time of year, the IRS is flooded with returns ahead of the April 18 deadline. Normally it takes six to eight weeks to process paper returns and send refund checks to taxpayers via the U.S. mail. Refunds claimed with electronic returns and direct deposited into taxpayers' bank accounts are often paid within a week or so. The IRS did not address whether electronic returns that call for refund checks to be mailed would be affected if Congress fails to fund the IRS.The IRS stated that audits and customer service for taxpayer questions may be delayed during the government shutdown period. However, customer service for taxpayer questions may also be affected.

Enhanced 1099 Reporting Requirements Repeal To Obama for Signature

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

In response to objections from business leaders, business organizations and accounting professionals nationwide, Congress passed legislation repealing the 1099 reporting requirements enacted last year. The Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011 has repealed the expanded information reporting rules that would have required the filing of Form 1099 for: Payments of $600 or more by businesses to corporation(s) and for the purchase of materials; and Expense payments of $600 or more with respect to rental property. To pay for the cost of repeal, estimated at approximately $25 billion over 10 years, the legislation increases the amount of overpayment of health care credit that is subject to recapture. The House passed the measure on March 3, 2011, followed by the Senate April 5, 2011. The legislation now goes to President Obama for his signature.

New Technical Support Forum and Knowledge Base

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

We have created a new Google Group called ClientWhys Sites specifically for web product users. The group will allow you to post technical support questions and search the current knowledge base. It is brand new and we will start adding content in the coming months. As time passes on, the knowledge base will grow and you will easily find answers to commonly asked questions. We are also going to start posting breaking news and product tutorials on our Facebook page. If you have not already liked our page, please visit http://www.facebook.com/clientwhysPlease Bookmark the ClientWhys Sites Group -http://groups.google.com/group/clientwhyssitesPlease Like Our Facebook Fan Page -http://www.facebook.com/clientwhysSubscribe to ClientWhysSitesEmail: Visit this group

First-Time Homebuyer Credit Repayment Delays Refunds

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

In 2008, the first-time homebuyer credit was actually a 15-year interest free loan that had to be paid back beginning in 2010. The maximum credit for 2008 was $7,500, which results in a repayment of $500 for most taxpayers.

Speed Up Your Web Surfing By Clearing Your Browser Cache

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

One of the most important tasks when using the internet often is clearing the cache of your browser. Basically, browsers will save in your history web pages that were visited previously. This allows these pages to load faster when you visit again.

ClientWhys Launches an "Automated Blog" for Tax Accountants

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The ClientWhys Blog allows Tax Accountants to add engaging content and articles to their website. It is included in the ClientWhys website product or can be added to your current website.

The 2011 ClientWhys Tax Update & Review Seminar Schedule

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

We have finalized the ClientWhys 2011 Tax Update & Review California Seminar Schedule. We are accredited to offer CPE for California CPAs, Enrolled Agents and CTEC Registered Preparers.

Using Google Translate to add multiple languages to your Tax Accountant website

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:01:00 GMT

We have been experimenting with the Google Translate plug-in and have had good results with multiple designs and languages.

Using Google Alerts to Monitor the Web for Interesting New Content

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Google Alerts are free e-mail updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic.

Lockbox Activity Reports

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The lockbox allows you to be notified every time a new file is uploaded to your client portal. This notification is sent via e-mail.

Save Time with our Secure Document Sharing Client Portals

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Lockbox has been getting a ton of usage this tax season. We wanted to list some important tips when utilizing the tool. You can also review the following tutorial videos for more information.

Become the Tax and Accounting Expert in your community with Patch.com

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Patch.com is a community-specific news and information platform dedicated to providing comprehensive and trusted local coverage for individual towns and communities. It is a great way to become the expert on taxes and accounting issues in your local community.

Can You Grow Your Tax Practice Using Craigslist?

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Craigslist is free way for tax professionals to post services in their local community. Craigslist is the largest online listing service and has localized directories in most areas.

John Hewitt, Jackson Hewitt Founder and Liberty Tax CEO Predicts Mom and Pops Will Close Doors

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

John Hewitt, the founder of Jackson Hewitt and now CEO of Liberty Tax says that the little tax preparer will be no more.

New Lockbox Tool - Disable Auto E-mail Notification

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

We have added a tool that allows users to disable the auto notification e-mail when a document is added to the lockbox. This is helpful when a new document is being added to the public lockbox or a user is simply replacing a current document.

New Tax Accountant Website Feature - Custom Font Selections

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

For website customers that are using the custom color schemes, we have added the ability to select a variety of font combinations for headlines and articles. These font options will meet anyone's creative desires and help spruce up the website copy.

5 Tax Season "Must Do" Online Marketing Tips for CPAs and Tax Accountants

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Here are some valuable online marketing tips to help you grow your business and retain your clients.

ClientWhys Websites - New Image Placement Tools and Borders

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

We have been adding new features to the Tax Accountant Website Editor over the last month. The first release is the new border and image placement tools to start giving your pages more life.

Add Facebook "Like" to your website

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

You can now turn the FaceBook "Like" tool on globally or for specific sections of your website or online newsletter.

New Tax Accountant Thank You Cards added to the E-mail Newsletter Section

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

By adding the Thank You Card eGreetings to our existing library of pre-populated messages, it will make it easy for professionals to quickly acknowledge their clients for their loyalty and client referrals.

New 4-Hour 2010 Tax Relief Act CPE Course Now Live!

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The 2010 & Beyond Federal Update CPE course is accredited for CPAs, Enrolled Agents and California Tax Preparers (CTEC). It is a can't-miss update of the latest tax legislation.

ClientWhys Updates Website Content Library with New Tax Law Changes

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

In line with our policy of keeping our website library up-to-date, the tax and financial content has been entirely updated for 2011 inflation adjustment and values. Most importantly, it has also been completely updated for the just-enacted 2010 Tax Relief Act (also known by the longer name �Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act Of 2010�).� Updates include a summary of the law changes under �New Tax Laws� and each individual article of our extensive content reviewed and updated as necessary for the provisions of the 2010 Tax Relief Act.

ClientWhys Tax Accountant Websites Offer Full Coverage of the Tax Cut Agreement

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We have added 5 articles covering the extension of the Bush Tax Cuts. We are including these articles in the January edition of the E-mail Client Newsletter.

Get Results for your Tax Accountant Marketing Efforts! 2011 Pocket Tax Planning Guide is Ready for Release.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We are just waiting for Congress to vote and we will be ready to go to press on the 2011 version of the Pocket Tax Guide. Our brochure provides highlights of the year's tax law changes and lists the most important applicable tax rates. It includes deadlines and tax rates that your clients and prospects will need during the year. Impress your clients with this timely and up-to-date tax guide!

It is CPE Crunch Time with Tax Season Right Around the Corner!

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

ClientWhys specializes in Tax Updates to prepare you for tax season. We concentrate on new tax law changes and economic-driven issues like foreclosures and Roth IRA conversions.Our library of online, self-study courses is second to none for tax update specific courses. With tax season coming soon, you can refresh your mind by ordering a discounted bundle package or individual courses.

Tax Accountant and CPA Website Upgrades and New Tools

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We have been busy launching new features before tax season is upon us. Our goal in product development is to provide you with web-based tools that will help automate your administration procedures. Obviously, cutting costs is a big feature and our new Tax Reminders eliminate the human side to reminding clients about their appointments, cutting down on no-shows and labor costs. Our new eGreeting card line is another cost-saving tool that will provide professional greetings without the cost of postage and card printing.

Tax Law Agreement Article Available to Website and E-mail Subscribers

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Subscribers to the ClientWhys Tax Accountant Website and E-mail Newsletter now have access to our new "Is The Tax Stalemate Finally Broken?" article covering the recent agreement between the President and the GOP.

Tax Accountants Automate their Holiday and Birthday Wishes with ClientWhys eCards

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

ClientWhys has launched eCards for CPA and Tax Accounting firms to deliver high-quality greetings via e-mail. The line includes Holiday and Birthday wishes and can be easily sent via e-mail to select clients or your entire database.

Tax Refund Debit Cards Fill the Void of Refund Anticipation Loans

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Last year, ClientWhys partnered with CardFlex, one of the leading debit card providers in the country to offer Tax Professionals an easy vehicle for underbanked and unbanked clients to receive their refunds via direct deposit. Our inaugural year was very successful, and we are gearing up for a new tax season.

Show your clients you're a True Expert with Client Newsletters that get read! Designed for CPAs, EAs, Financial Advisors and Tax Professionals.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

With multiple tax law changes and economic stress, it is more important than ever that your CPA Marketing efforts include important tax planning strategies to help minimize your clients' tax liability. With ClientWhys, we make it easy and affordable to stay in touch with clients on a regular basis.

Google Places Steps Up the Importance of Local Search for CPAs and Tax Accountant Websites

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

If you do not have a Google Places directory listing by now, you are going to start seeing your Tax Accountant website fall farther down the Google results. Google is making a play on monopolizing local search and putting the Google Places listings above the traditional free organic search listings.

Registered Tax Preparer CPE Requirement Dropped for 2011

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman, in an October 26 speech before the AICPA Fall Meeting in Washington, DC, announced that the IRS intends to waive the continuing education requirements for registered tax return preparers during the first registration cycle (2011).

Generate Tax Planning Appointments with your E-mail Newsletter

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Whether you provide free year-end tax planning or charge for these consultations, it is important for CPAs, Tax Accountants and Enrolled Agents to communicate directly to clients before time runs out.

IRS Delaying Enrolled Agent Renewal for SSNs Ending in 4, 5 or 6

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 10:17:00 GMT

Update: June 2, 2011 - For those Enrolled Agents with Social Security numbers ending in 4, 5 or 6. The EA renewal form (Form 8554) is now available on irs.gov and in electronic format on pay.gov. Read More.

It is Not Too Late to Attend Our California Two-Day 1040/540 Tax Update and Review Seminar

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The tax changes keep coming with the recent 2010 Small Business Jobs Act. Unlike our competitors, all we do is this two-day live seminar series where we focus on providing you with the best update available, ongoing support with our 900+ page textbook, free research CD and customer-only technical support forum. No other seminar can touch what we provide at just $338.

ClientWhys Joins Forces with FER offering Live Accounting and CPA Ethics Courses

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

ClientWhys and Financial Education Resources (FER) have joined forces to provide our customers with the top Live Accounting and CPA Ethics Seminar for California-based CPAs, Enrolled Agents and Tax Accountants.

New LockBox Feature - Spouse or Additional Contact Notification

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We have added a new feature to the lockbox client portals that allows the addition of a spouse or secondary contact in the main lockbox contact account.

ClientWhys Sites Launches New High Performance SEO Tax Accountant Website Loaded with Content

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

ClientWhys has just launched their latest design template that is sure to draw comparisons to a completely custom site at a fraction of the cost.

Growing Trend for Tax Accountants with Referrals from Facebook

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Many of my Tax Accountant website customers have Facebook accounts where we post their online newsletter articles automatically as they release. CPAs and Tax Accountants have very strong opinions about social media. Some just don't get it and others are afraid.

Google Search Engine Upgrades

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We have been making some adjustments to our Tax Accountant websites so they can get better results from Google. These adjustments include quite a few programming changes that will help get our content indexed higher and improve the amount of pages that Google indexes.

PTIN Registration Site Is Up�But Is It Running?

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I received an e-mail from the IRS and two of the EA Associations I belong to announcing that the IRS site for online PTIN registration was now available. I'm sure other tax-related organizations also notified their membership.

Affordable Tax Update Online CPE Training for Your Entire Firm

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We are experts at Taxation and have one of the most extensive tax update and review online, self-study libraries in the profession. We have recently updated the majority of our courses and have highlighted some of the best sellers below. Check out our firm-wide bundle packages (starting at $79 for 10 hours) where you can share hours with multiple professionals at one low price.

Do You Still Need Room in Your Budget for Yellow Page Ads?

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I would go as far as saying that yellow pages ads are no longer on my list of the top 6 items for your CPA marketing program. The explosion of the Internet and local search engines like Google Places, Yahoo Local and Bing Local make it a luxury item, not a must have. You can invest that same money and get much larger exposure and leads than ever before.

Tax Accountant Client Portal Hygiene

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

There are two philosophies that we see as the best way to implement an online document storage client portal. One is to simply share documents with clients and delete them after a set period of time. The other is to provide an online storage option where clients can download and add confidential tax and financial documents within their portal as an ongoing storage location.

Is Your Tax Accountant Website for Clients or Prospects? Or Both?

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

One of the first issues that CPA and Tax Accounting firms need to address�when planning their website design and content is to determine their targeted�audience. If the website is primarily designed for prospects, then�being more focused with the content and search keywords would lower�bounce rates and increase leads to the website.

New Lockbox Feature - Firefox Browser Users Can Quickly Share Client Documents Online with Drag and Drop Tool

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

ClientWhys Client Portal Lockbox now allows Firefox Browser users the ability to drag and drop multiple files directly into their client lockbox folders. This easier way of securely sharing files online will save valuable time when sharing confidential documents.

More Information Related to the Preparer Registration Program Released By the IRS

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The PTIN and preparer registration will be an annual event.o The PTIN and preparer registration fee for the first year will be $64.25.o Online registration is expected to start mid-September.o Existing PTIN Application (W-7P) process to suspend operations effective Aug 22, 2010.o Multiple sections of Circular 230 are being modified to accommodate the new registration program.

Debt Indicator for the 2011 Tax Filing Season Removed By the IRS

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

On August 5, the Internal Revenue Service announced that starting with next year's tax filing season, it will no longer provide tax preparers and associated financial institutions with the "debt indicator," which is used to facilitate refund anticipation loans (RALs).

Publishing Coupon Codes to Drive Traffic to Your Tax Accountant Website

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We have been testing to see how long it takes for a Coupon Code that is added to Facebook or Twitter to be picked up by the Coupon websites. So far, we have seen good results in as little as 3 days. How can this benefit you?

Updated Online Tax CPE Courses - August 16, 2010

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We have updated 14 online tax cpe courses for www.clientwhyscpe.com.

Updated Tax CPE Courses - August 12, 2010

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We have updated the following online tax cpe courses for www.clientwhyscpe.com.

Updated Tax CPE Courses - August 11, 2010

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We have updated the following online tax cpe courses for www.clientwhyscpe.com.

ClientWhys Sites August Product Update and How-To Tutorials

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We have been busy in development of some new tools that will help make your daily tasks that much quicker.� You will start hearing the term �Automation� in our marketing efforts as we start taking over previous manual tasks with new web-based functions.� We think you will be pleased with these upgrades so stay tuned in the coming months.

Sign Up for our Free Technical Support Forum, Product News and Best Practices

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:01:00 GMT

Welcome to the ClientWhys community, a rich, multimedia resource for you to learn about the latest tax law changes, innovative ideas and best practices on customer strategy.

Ready-to-use Articles for your Website, E-mail Newsletter, Blog and Social Media Sites

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

ClientWhys has just released its August newsletter articles and new website content covering the Health Care Act and other important client issues. Our ready-to-use content is expertly written and can be added to your website, e-mail newsletter, blog or social media sites.

Tax CPE Time is Right Around the Corner

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The many tax law changes from 2010 and the growing uncertainty for 2011 and beyond makes your choice for your tax updates bigger than ever. At ClientWhys, we develop CPE courses for small- to medium-sized CPA, Enrolled Agent and Tax Preparer firms.

2 Simple Ways to Automate Your Newsletter and Social Media Sites

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A busy CPA or Tax Accountant does not have the time to write, edit and distribute client communications to their client base. Most firms that try to start a newsletter program usually loses steam after a couple of issues. However, with the many varied options that technology offers, there's no more room for complacency.

Will Congress Take Action Or Allow Taxes to Increase?

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Normally, one would think that Congress would have to take some action to increase taxes. However, it is quite the opposite for 2011. If Congress fails to take action, in spite of the fact that President Obama vowed no new taxes for individuals earning less than $200,000 and families earning less than $250,000, there will be an unprecedented tax increase affecting just about everyone in every tax category. To stop these tax increases from taking place requires Congressional action.

Get SEO Results for CPA Websites, Tax Accountant Websites and Enrolled Agent Websites

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

ClientWhys CPA websites get you on the first page of Google and the other search engines. We know the tax accountant profession and what keywords work. Watch this SEO Video about local and organic search results.

CPA Marketing Domain for Sale - CPAtaxpreparation.com

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Anyone interested in this domain? Give me a call at 1.800-442-2477 x222 or via e-mail - CPAtaxpreparation.com.

IRS Phases in the 2011 Federal E-File Mandate

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 included a provision that requires tax preparers, beginning for the tax season in 2011, who expect to file more than 10 individual, estate, or trust returns to file them electronically. However, the IRS on its website has announced that it has decided to phase in the e-file mandate over 2011 and 2012.

Practitioner Actions Resulting in Referrals to OPR

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

IRS recently revised portions of the Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) dealing with return preparers (IRM 4.1.10.1.1). The updated information provides insight on when tax preparer misconduct might trigger a referral to the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). It also provides guidance to IRS employees as to when a referral is discretionary or mandatory.

IRS National Tax Preparer Registration Program - The Basics

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We have created this section to highlight the new Paid Tax Preparer Registration program and how it affects CPAs, Enrolled Agents, CTEC Tax Preparers and the new IRS regulated federal tax preparers. We will update this blog with the latest news and answers to your questions.

New Local IRS Tax Problem Websites for Tax Accountants

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

ClientWhys has launched a new Tax Accountant Website geared�specifically to market IRS Tax Relief to local consumers. The website�comes loaded with IRS Tax Problem content, a local domain name (http://irstaxrelieflongisland.com/), an e-mail client newsletter with monthly tax problem articles and�a secure online document sharing lockbox.

New Health Care Legislation: We Have Tax Accountants Covered

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

When we started ClientWhys, our mission was to create educational content that served Tax Accountants and their clients. It is one thing to be an expert on a subject, but entirely different when communicating the tax law changes and planning strategies to clients.

Tax Accountant Websites using Google Analytics to Track Website Traffic

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

ClientWhys Sites is designed to integrate with Google Analytics to allow a free way to track sources of website traffic and keyword searches. The first thing you will need to do is to set up a Google Analytics account.

Use your Tax Accountant Website to Securely Share or Store Client Tax Returns and Accounting Documents Online

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

ClientWhys Tax Accountant Websites are set up to allow CPAs, Enrolled Agents and Tax Preparers to create online storage for important client documents or to temporarily share documents and purge them from the system at a later date.

Tax Accountant Marketing Tips - Follow Us on Twitter and Facebook

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

There are several ways we communicate with CPAs, Enrolled Agents and Tax Preparers with our CPA marketing tips, tax accountant website how-to articles and tax law updates.

E-mail Newsletter Server Upgrade and E-mail Address Hygiene

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We have upgraded our e-mail newsletter server and delivery software to provide better tracking and increase deliverability rates. We have also corrected over 7,900 e-mail addresses that had extra spaces and were not being delivered on previous sends.

Move Your Tax Accounting Firm to the Top of the Local Search Results

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

If you are not paying attention to your local search listings, then you should be. The local search results are what you see when a prospect does a search (for example, Los Angeles CPA), and the map and markers are displayed within the first page of the local search results. You will notice that the results push down the organic search listings. Meaning, the big three search engines, Google, Bing and Yahoo, are not putting more emphasis on building the local search results for clients.

New Image Rotator Tool

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We have added a new tool that allows users to create rotating images on their website. By using Javascript instead of flash, the images will be seen on more browser windows, including the iPad. In addition, this new feature can dynamically cut down on flash development costs, providing a user editable tool to create their own series of image animations.

How to Add a YouTube Video to Your Tax Accountant Website

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

YouTube.com allows you to upload videos and audio recordings to their server that can be shared with the public. This makes it easy to make presentations accessible to your clients at a click of a mouse.

New Improved SEO Tools for Tax Accountant Websites

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We have added a new feature that allows ClientWhys website customers to add keywords to every article in their master library of content.

CA Domestic Partners Subject to Community Property Laws for Federal Purposes

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Chief Counsel Advice 210121050 has concluded that a California registered domestic partner (RDP), for tax years beginning with 2007, is subject to the community property laws and therefore should report one-half of all community income, including compensation for personal services or income from property on their Federal tax return.

Tax Accountant Website Content Update Summary

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We have just finished a comprehensive update of the website content library. With tax law changes piling up on top of tax law changes, it is important to keep clients up-to-date with the latest issues that will affect their financial position. We believe the quality of the ClientWhys content library is one of the main attributes that really differentiates us from our competitors.

PTIN for Tax Practitioners

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We have been getting quite a few calls about the new IRS Tax Preparer Registration Program and have provided the following article about the PTIN registration.

Tax Accountant Website SEO TipUsing the Share tool to improve your website search results

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 26 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

One of the fastest ways to get articles and your tax accountant website indexed is to start using the share tool at the bottom of your website articles. The share tool encourages your users to share your content or for you to proactively share it yourself (on Digg, Twitter, Facebook, etc).

IRS National Program to Register Tax Preparers Q & A

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 25 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The following set of questions and answers are provided based on the best information available at this time. The National Program to register tax preparers is a work in progress. Not all the details are fully available yet, and the information provided here is from various sources. We will update the information as further details become available. (Last Update: June 25, 2010)

New Tax Accountant Website Feature - "Read More" Article Links Optimized for Google

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 24 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We have added a new feature that will take the title of an article and include it in the URL for the "read more" link. If you include Google keywords in your article title, this will help get your pages indexed better.

The Importance of Client Satisfaction Surveys for Tax Accountants

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

With tax season over, it is the perfect time to send out a client survey. While the main goal is to pinpoint any areas that you may need to improve, you might also find out some important red flags before they become harmful.

SEO for Tax Accountant Websites - The Basics

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 14 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

As a website developer, we review client websites on a daily basis. There seems to be a misconception on how Google and search engines work and how this relates to Tax Accountant websites. This tutorial will review the basics and provide readers the knowledge to improve their search results with some minor changes.

New Tax Cpe Course (2 Hours) "Selected Tax & Other Provisions of the 2010 Health Care Act" by Danny Santucci

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 13 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Acts of 2010 represent the most sweeping and controversial public health care program since the creation of Medicare.

Adding traffic to your website with a TaxBuzz.com Profile Page

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 11 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Search engine results are very important to a business. We created the TaxBuzz.com directory to ensure that our website customers reach maximum search visibility. As a ClientWhys website customer, you'll get your first profile free ($19.95 to non-website users) as part of our service. Your profile is your online firm brochure, passed to thousands of people every year.

Online Newsletter Content

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 05 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

ClientWhys client newsletter widget is perfect for Tax Accountants looking for new marketing ideas. ClientWhys newsletter widget is added to your website, and will update every-time new content is published. An easy way to keep your Tax Accountant website up-to-date with breaking news and tax tips.

Online Tax CPE Course - Debt Cancellation and Foreclosure Issues Webinar

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 04 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We have recently launched our two-hour webinar covering the complicated Debt Cancellation and Foreclosure issues faced this tax season. Similar to live CPE, this webinar provides an audio presentation with powerpoint slides and examples. You do not need to do additional study to meet your CPE requirements.

Tax Accountant Marketing - Publishing your blog posts to your Facebook fan page

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I hear this constantly, where CPAs and tax accountants are overwhelmed by the thought of using Twitter or Facebook to expand their marketing communications. The trouble with that logic is that hundreds of millions of people are using social websites everyday. So if you are not providing them information, someone else will. Hopefully, not your competition!

Tax Accountant Marketing - Maximize Client Retention with Newsletters

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Connecting with clients is crucial to maintaining your relationships. Your client newsletters act as an off-season presence, generating goodwill, off-season consultations and referrals. Our newsletters cover the issues your clients need to know about, with the May releases highlighting the Health Care legislation and Jobs Act. By keeping your clients updated regularly, they will appreciate you even more.

2010 ClientWhys Tax Accountant Marketing Catalog has been released!

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The new catalog is in the mail and will start arriving this week. If you want to review the catalog now, click here to download the PDF version.We have added several new products to our suite, including expanding our online PDF marketing library and adding online advertising through our taxbuzz.com profile pages.

New Tax CPE Course - Roth IRAs & Qualified Roth Contributions

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

This tax cpe course explores the various aspects of the Roth IRA and Qualified Roth Contributions to 401(k) and 403(b) plans in light of the removal of the conversion limits for years after 2009.

New Tax CPE Course - Debt Cancellation and Foreclosure Issues

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

This tax cpe course looks at the implications of debt relief as it applies to a number of situations, including foreclosure, repossession, voluntary reconveyance, short sale, abandonment of secured property and cancellation of debt. It explains how to report the various transactions for tax purposes and how to exclude debt relief income using the various Sec 108 exclusions, including insolvency and home mortgage debt relief exclusion.

May Release of the Client Newsletters - Order by May 1 and Save 15%

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The print subscription to our client newsletter is now up for renewal. We extend a 15% discount to all renewing print newsletter clients. Please review the newsletter order form or visit our website at www.clientwhys.com. When placing your order, use Coupon Code NL0410.

New CA Home Mortgage Debt Relief Income Exclusion

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Governor has signed into law the new CA Home Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Income Exclusion retroactive to January 1, 2009 and through 2012.�� This is an amended opportunity where taxpayers have already filed their returns and were unable to exclude the debt relief income using the insolvency exclusion.� For those clients you have on extension awaiting this news, you can complete them.

A Tax Accountant's Guide to Google Search Engine Results

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

New Employee Hiring Incentives

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:01:00 GMT

The "Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act of 2010," more commonly referred to as the HIRE Act, was passed by Congress and recently signed into law by the President.� The Act provides employers with incentives to hire unemployed individuals.� The provisions of this new legislation apply to workers hired after Feb. 3, 2010, but only for wages paid after March 18 (the date the legislation was signed into law).

How Will the Health Care Bill Affect Your Taxes?

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law the new health care legislation. The legislation will affect virtually every individual in one way or another and will significantly impact tax returns in the future. The following overview of the tax-related provisions of the legislation is based upon the House of Representatives’ version and the one signed by President Obama on March 24, 2010. At the time this article was prepared, the Senate was taking up the measure, but it is expected to pass without changes since only a simple majority is required.

Expensing Limits Boosted For 2010

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Generally, taxpayers can elect under Sec. 179 to expense the cost of business machinery and equipment placed in service during the tax year, instead of depreciating it over a number of years. As part of the stimulus legislation, these amounts had been temporarily increased for 2008 and 2009 and were scheduled to return to normal levels in 2010.

Tax Accountants Cut Down Their IT Costs By Using Outsourced E-mail.

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We see this everyday with our Tax Accountant website customers. They are still using an Outlook exchange server for their e-mail. What they don't realize is that unless they are a large firm with multiple preparers and e-mail accounts, they could be saving hundreds, if not thousands, on their IT costs by using a web-based e-mail solution.

New "Follow Us" Widget Tool for Social Media Sites Like Twitter

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

ClientWhys has added a new tool that allows Tax Accountant Website users to dynamically link to their social media accounts like Facebook and Twitter.

California Winter Storm Victims Get Disaster Tax Relief

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The President has declared the counties of Calaveras, Imperial, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Siskiyou a major disaster on Monday. The federal declaration was a result of a series of winter storms that brought high winds, heavy rainfall, and severe mud and debris flows during the period of January 17 to February 6, 2010.

New Dynamic Website Colors for Tax Accountant Websites

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

ClientWhys has added the ability to customize the color scheme on every design in their website library. You now have the option of choosing a pre-designed color scheme or customizing to match your logo and branding.

New Online Tax Appointment Widget

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We have added a new widget that allows users to review your open appointment schedule. The online appointment widget syncs with Google Calendar and Outlook, providing a seamless process for clients to select open times from your website or social media site. We allow you to cut and paste the widget code for use on other websites. You can add the widget through the widget list under "Website Pages" in the Editor.

Long-Range Tax Planning Clouded

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Long-range income-tax planning for individuals has always been challenging, what with the steady stream of changes and last minute action by Congress. This year, it goes to an all-new level taking into account the sunset provisions for many current benefits - those provisions that were enacted with a specified ending date - and the President's 2011 budget proposals.

National Tax Preparer Program Details Slowly Emerge

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

After years of debate and an extensive six-month study by the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility, the IRS is finally moving forward on their proposed National Tax Preparer Program with initial implementation scheduled for September 2010.�

Client Security is No Longer Optional with the New FTC Red Flag Rules for Identity Theft

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Most CPAs, EAs and Tax Preparers don't realize that they are subject to the Federal Trade Commission's �Red Flag� regulations.� Although these regulations have been in place for some time, enforcement has been delayed until sometime in 2010, giving small firms the opportunity to comply with the regulations. Click here to�review�the ClientWhys analysis of how these regulations apply to CPAs, EAs and Tax Preparers.

Promoting Other Services in the E-mail Newsletter

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Users of ClientWhys website and e-mail newsletter will notice that banner type ads can now be added to promote other services and announcements. This is a key feature since the e-mail newsletter is pushed to your readers versus them coming to your website. Banners can be created to fill up a seminar, cross-sell other services like insurance or mortgages, or make monthly practice announcements.

Get your firm listed on local search

lee2.reams@clientwhys.com (Clientwhys Websites) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Local directory advertising is free and effective and will help prospects find you online. You will notice that most search engines now respond with local business links near the top of the search results.