Discussion:Tax Preparer's Checklist
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Www.cpa1.biz (talk|edits) said: | 3 March 2007 |
| Alamanacers,
What items do you all have on your checklist before you send it out the door. I mean, I have check TP's social with W-2's and addresses as well but what other things do you all double check on before a return goes out the door? BJ | |
Death&Taxes (talk|edits) said: | 3 March 2007 |
| What is your review process for the return? Working alone, I had someone add Blocks 1 & 2 of W-2s, plus the State blocks and any 1099R Blocks 2 & 4 and compare them to that on the return. | |
| March 3, 2007 | |
| Agree with Kevin. Did I get paid?
I double check everything entered on a return, as I'm entering the info, and quickly scan the copy, after it's printed. I double check with everyone if their bank account for direct deposit is the same as last year. Just check everything, BJ. | |
Www.cpa1.biz (talk|edits) said: | 3 March 2007 |
| hahahah,
Ya thanks. Actually, I do an excel reconciliation on the tax numbers with source documents and compare that to the tax return on the software. If anyone needs the excel spreadsheet, I can email it. It works great but ya, like I said, your part on the checking account info is just I what I am looking for Deback. Thanks! | |
Actionbsns (talk|edits) said: | 3 March 2007 |
| W - I might be interested in that spreadsheet. Is it something my assistant could do? She's not up to snuff to do a tax return, but I'd sure like something more reassuring to help with the review. If she could pluck info off the data we get, put it on a spread sheet that I could then compare my final return with, that may be an immense help. I do something similar with payroll and I love how it works. It's a 5 page spread sheet first page is the annual totals, second through fifth are for each quarter, the numbers are connected to the first page so after each quarter they automatically flow through to the first page. At year end, we enter the numbers from the W-2's, the formula subtracts out the annual totals, if we don't get all zeroes, we know we have an error. My assastant is able to do all the data entry on that, I just need to check to ensure the results are what they should be. | |
Wkstaxprep (talk|edits) said: | 3 March 2007 |
| seems like a lot of extra work to re add numbers on a separate sheet but if it works well for you that's all that matters.
i think if you just enter the numbers carefully the first time, give the return a second look and be sure all withholdings add up correctly you're good to go. | |
| March 3, 2007 | |
| Why would you do the work twice? Geez. I guess our checklists come from things that burned us in the past and that the software doesn't automatically look for. On mine, Is there a change of address? Are they over age 70? Were estimates made? Is there S corp SH health insurance flowing thru to the 1040? Is this an S corp SH with a K1 to include? (That's an extremely painful one and the dollars are high!) Away from desk, but that's all but one as I recall. | |
Www.cpa1.biz (talk|edits) said: | 4 March 2007 |
| Well,
Two things: The spread sheet takes only minutes to do. Also the check lists could be beneficial when double checking social security numbers, bank accounts, addresses and amounts withheld... | |
Www.cpa1.biz (talk|edits) said: | 4 March 2007 |
| Action,
What is you email. I will send it through. Could you send me your payroll spreadsheet? That would be great! | |
| 4 March 2007 | |
| I've got a checklist with everything I might forget to check just going from top to bottom. It's a full page, and has every error I find that tends to happen frequently. | |
Actionbsns (talk|edits) said: | 4 March 2007 |
| W - I just left my e-mail address at your message center through Taxalmanac. I'll send you mine when I get into the office on Monday. Lizzit, are you able to share your checklist? Is it in a Word format, or something? | |
| 5 March 2007 | |
| I'll send my checklist privately if you want - but most of the errors have to do with either CCH ProSystem FX or international tax issues. It does make a great outline to adapt to other kinds of errors though, as it breaks down errors into pre-prep, during prep, pre-print, and review stages; has tick boxes for the preparer to check and the reviewer to check; and even ensures that a topside review will be completed if required. Send me an email address and I'll send the Word doc. | |
Mtmckeecpa (talk|edits) said: | 5 March 2007 |
| PPC has a checklist for 1040, 1065, 1120 & 1120s that I use. | |
Actionbsns (talk|edits) said: | 5 March 2007 |
| Lizzit, I just left my e-mail address on your message center via Taxalmanac. I look forward to receiving your check list. | |
Actionbsns (talk|edits) said: | 6 March 2007 |
| Ztom, there are two spread sheets discussed above. If you want mine for payroll, I'd be glad to forward it. | |
| 6 March 2007 | |
| We use the AICPA checklists and have for years. They are required to be completed for every retrun that goes out the door. I can send you a copy of one if you leave your email address in the next response - it is a word document | |
Actionbsns (talk|edits) said: | 6 March 2007 |
| Debenz, I'd like to see that checklist. Could you e-mail it to actionbsns@aol.com? | |
| March 6, 2007 | |
| I also use the AICPA checklists, but they are long. The short form for an S-corp is 12 pages. (I don't even know how long the long form is.) | |
