Extended In-Season Support Hours

Extended In-Season Support Hours
The TaxAct® Professional Support Center will operate on extended in-season hours beginning Monday, January 21. Updated hours can be found here. All hours listed are Central Time. Exceptions to these hours will be for peak season (late January/early February) and prior to the April tax filing deadline.  January 26 (Saturday): 9 am – 8 pm  January 27 (Sunday): 10 am – 8 pm  February 2 (Saturday) : 9 am – 8 pm  February 3 (Sunday): 10 am - 8 pm  April 13 (Saturday): 9 am – 8 pm ...
Posted on by Amy Roepke
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(Completed) System Maintenance Scheduled for 01/15/2019, 01/17/2019

(Completed) System Maintenance Scheduled for 01/15/2019, 01/17/2019
In order to get our systems ready for peak filing season, TaxAct will be performing scheduled maintenance during the next week. During these times you will not be able to access TaxAct Professional software or website. Tuesday, January 15, 2019, from 3 am - 4 am CT  Thursday, January 17, 2019, from 4 am - 6 am CT Watch for an update regarding Tuesday's scheduled maintenance. Thank you for your patience as we get our systems ready to support your successful filing season.
Posted on by Amy Roepke
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reCAPTCHA: What it is and How it Protects You and Your Client Data

reCAPTCHA: What it is and How it Protects You and Your Client Data
Every tax professional is a potential target for highly sophisticated, well-funded and technologically adept cybercriminals around the world. No one can fight this crime alone. It takes all of us working together. That is why the Security Summit - the unprecedented partnership between the IRS, state tax agencies, and the private-sector tax industry - came together to form a united and coordinated front against this common enemy. One of the changes for TaxAct® 2018 Professional includes a r...
Posted on by Amy Roepke
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PTIN Renewal Period Underway

PTIN Renewal Period Underway
Your PTIN expires December 31. You must renew it before submitting any returns during the upcoming tax season. Apply for or renew your preparer tax identification number (PTIN) annually. If you prepare or assist in preparing federal returns for compensation or you are an enrolled agent, you must apply for or renew your PTIN each year before you can file any returns during the upcoming tax season. The application and renewal period began in November. The fastest way to renew is using the IRS o...
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TaxAct Professional 2018 System Requirements

TaxAct Professional 2018 System Requirements
Are you prepared for the upcoming tax season? One item that might get overlooked is your computer system. Make sure your computer meets the minimum requirements for TaxAct® Professional 2018. Current system requirements are: Operating System: Windows® Users: Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 Macintosh® Users: We’re sorry - TaxAct Professional Editions are not available for Macintosh Display Resolution (in pixels): Minimum: 1024x768 or larger Recommended: 1920x1080 or higher Web Browser: ...
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How the New Tax Rates Affect Your Clients’ Individual Income Tax Returns

How the New Tax Rates Affect Your Clients’ Individual Income Tax Returns
The federal income tax rates for almost all taxpayers changed in 2018 due to tax reform. These changes will affect some of your clients’ rates more than others. Here’s how the new tax rates will affect your clients. How did tax reform change the federal income tax rates for 2018? Most income tax bracket rates went down between 2-4 percent due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The lowest rate – 10 percent — didn’t change. Check out the new tax rates below for single filers and those married filing ...
Posted on by Amy Roepke
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HD Vest: Common Myths About Offering Portfolio Management

HD Vest: Common Myths About Offering Portfolio Management
You’ve built a successful tax practice, but are you leveraging your deep knowledge of your clients’ financial situations to support their growing need for the level of objective and holistic advice you can provide? Have you ever considered offering portfolio management? In our experience, we have found that many investment planners (and tax professionals) are unaware of the tax implications associated with certain investment decisions. They also may not have as full of a view of the client’s ...
Posted on by Amy Roepke
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HD Vest: Discover 1040 Analyst – Your Unique Advantage This Tax Season

The 1040 Analyst® can provide that comfort – meticulously designed with our Advisors in mind. It is a unique data mining tool with automation that allows you to seamlessly integrate your clients’ tax data from the Form 1040 and provide a customized client report highlighting financial services opportunities that may help them chart a new course. Watch the 1040 Analyst Webinar: Explore 1040 Analyst® and try 1040 Analyst Lite HD Vest Financial Services® is the holding company for th...
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Track1099: Form 1094-C and 1095-C Information, Including Coverage and Safe Harbor Codes

Track1099: Form 1094-C and 1095-C Information, Including Coverage and Safe Harbor Codes
Form 1094-C and 1095-C Due Dates March 31, 2016: supply 1095-C to employees either electronically or by mail June 30, 2016: e-file 1094-C and 1095-C to the IRS Note: 1095-C dates have been revised as per IRS Notice 2016-4. Who Must File Employers with 50 or more full-time employees (including full-time equivalent employees) in the previous year use Forms 1094-C and 1095-C to report the information required under sections 6055 and 6056 about offers of health coverage and enrollment i...
Posted on by Amy Roepke
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Biz2Credit: Four Tips for Advising Clients Who Want to Start a Business

Biz2Credit: Four Tips for Advising Clients Who Want to Start a Business
Among the many factors potential business owners should consider when deciding whether to start a business are tax implications. As your clients' tax expert, it's important you know the fundamentals of business structures and different ways to secure financing. Knowing how to advise your clients in these matters allows you to expand your services and enhance your client relationships. Here are four tips to help you guide aspiring entrepreneurs. #1 – Help clients create a business pl...
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HD Vest: Tax Alpha Video Playlist and Why HD Vest?

Our 30-year history of working with CPAs and tax professionals who decided to reinvent their practices by adding financial services to their client offering has resulted in a one-of-kind business model built around the services, training and support needed to be successful in your new endeavor. In support of HD Vest Advisors in 2014, we evolved a big idea into a firm strategy called “Reinventing Growth Strategies.” This plan and approach has been transformational in providing all our Advisors wi...
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Webiquity: Local Business Advertising on the Internet

Webiquity: Local Business Advertising on the Internet
Local Business Advertising on the Internet  Is the idea that small businesses should have a strong online presence just a trend, or is there something more to it? Webiquity created this infographic to show just how important it is for small business owners to be tapped into all things internet. The combination of your company website, social media, review websites and your site’s mobile responsiveness determines the level of success that any given business will have. This infographic an...
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Webiquity: Why You Need a Mobile Website Now

Webiquity: Why You Need a Mobile Website Now
Google recently updated their ranking criteria algorithm in strong support of mobile-friendly websites, making it more difficult for non-optimized sites to be found and clicked on mobile devices. Changes like these prove that mobile isn’t just a trend. If search result placements, website traffic and user satisfaction are concerns for your digital presence, it might be time for your site to go mobile, too. Here are just five reasons you need a mobile site sooner rather than later. More ...
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Surgent: Six Reasons to Become an Enrolled Agent

Surgent: Six Reasons to Become an Enrolled Agent
Looking for opportunities to increase client engagement and billable hours? Consider becoming an enrolled agent (EA). EA certification is the highest tax credential awarded by the IRS. In fact, EAs are the only professionals that the U.S. government directly grants the right to practice. While having a PTIN (preparer tax identification number) allows you to represent your clients before IRS agents and customer service representatives, a PTIN does not allow you to perform services such as sign...
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