Tax season can be a challenging time for both accountants and clients, particularly when it comes to collecting accurate and complete tax information. A primary source of frustration for accountants is the use of traditional tax organizers, which are often cumbersome and ineffective in getting clients to submit necessary documents. Many firms still rely on these lengthy PDF organizers, but completion rates are typically below 50%. This results in accountants spending significant time chasing down clients for missing information, which disrupts productivity and adds unnecessary stress during a busy period.
The inefficiency of traditional tax organizers can be attributed to several key factors:
Lengthy and Irrelevant Content: Tax organizers can often exceed 20 pages, overwhelming clients with questions and sections that may not apply to their specific situation.
Lack of Fillability: Many organizers require clients to print them out and complete them manually, creating a barrier for those without access to printers or scanners.
Complex Return Process: Once completed, clients must either scan and send back the documents or physically drop them off, which is both inconvenient and time-consuming.
Given these issues, some firms have resorted to creating their own PDF organizers, but this approach loses the benefit of personalized data from the previous year’s tax filings. As a result, clients aren’t reminded of the specific information they provided in the past, leading to an increased likelihood of incomplete submissions.
StanfordTax is changing the game by replacing traditional organizers with digital questionnaires that prioritize client experience. Here’s how:
Personalized, Digital Questionnaires: StanfordTax integrates with various tax filing software, including Lacerte, ProSeries, Drake, UltraTax, and CCH, to generate individualized questionnaires. These questionnaires are not only pre-populated with prior year information but also tailored to each client’s needs, eliminating unnecessary questions and providing a more intuitive experience.
One Question at a Time: The digital format presents questions one at a time, skipping irrelevant sections. This streamlined approach reduces the effort required by clients and increases completion rates significantly.
Automated Error Checking: StanfordTax’s system automatically detects missing information by comparing current responses with previous year data, prompting clients to address discrepancies before submission. This minimizes the back-and-forth between accountants and clients, saving time and ensuring more accurate data collection.
By modernizing the tax organizer experience, StanfordTax has seen firms achieve completion rates well above the industry standard. With the ability to turn client responses and document uploads into a well-organized, bookmarked work paper, firms can maintain better organization and efficiency throughout the tax season. Ultimately, StanfordTax is not just improving completion rates but transforming how firms engage with their clients—making tax season a smoother, more productive experience for everyone involved.
Your first five returns are free with StanfordTax. Get started today.