Steve Anderson

Steve Anderson

Steve Anderson learned that he could help his tax clients by adding services to make their lives easier.Yet it was technology that most recently allowed this New Jersey tax preparer to learn a new way to serve clients better.He's moved away from paper, and in the process discovered economies at many turns.
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Steve Anderson, ProSeries Tax Preparer
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Steve Anderson learned that he could help his tax clients by adding services to make their lives easier.Yet it was technology that most recently allowed this New Jersey tax preparer to learn a new way to serve clients better.He's moved away from paper, and in the process discovered economies at many turns.

Going Paperless

These days Steve offers electronic filings.He processed about 100 of them during this last tax season.With one electronic tax season behind him, he has become a big fan of a paperless approach.

Overwhelmed at first with the mechanics of electronic filing, he persevered, learning how Intuit® ProSeries® tax software would support electronic filings.He obtained his EFIN number from the IRS.He sent letters to his clients, explaining the benefits.

As it turned out, clients loved the new approach, because they got their money back quickly.Steve liked that the new process was easier and more cost effective.

Scanning: Documents In

As part of the transition, he invested in a mid-market scanner and uses it to store all of the documents clients give him for the preparation of their tax returns.The particular scanner is from Fujitsu (model fi-4120c).Some 12 months ago it cost about $850 and includes a 25-page-per-minute document feeder.This model was recommended by a client, a broker dealer, who used the scanner to deal with the huge amount of paper storage required by regulations in his industry. (It was also recommended by a speaker at the 1040 tax seminar Steve attends every year.) Steve says this scanner is much more useful than a low-end office scanner.

PDFs: Documents Out

The ProSeries software allows for easy conversion of a tax return to a Portable Document Format file (PDF).1 He adds and imports scanned, supporting documentation to the clients' return and winds up with a complete PDF package of a client's tax records.That move has proven to be beneficial in many ways.

First, when a client calls with a question or needs a copy of their supporting tax documentation, Steve can obtain it quickly and e-mail it to them.As a result, goodwill has soared.He says, "A typical client comment is that I saved them a ton of time.
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All of these cost savings allow Steve to charge low, flat rates for tax return preparations.When he does raise rates for long-term clients, he does so slowly and painlessly.

How He Started

Steve worked in public accounting, then moved to the corporate world with a Fortune 500 company.But Steve says he always wanted to be in business for himself.

So he prepared tax returns, after hours and on the weekends, while keeping his day job."Once the number of clients increased, I left my job to go out on my own.Because I started out small, I stayed focused on 1040 clients."

Services

As the business grew so did the services Steve offered.Today the services he provides include
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Steve says, "I don't prepare individual tax returns.I prepare tax returns for whole families!"

Quality of Life

This type of seasonal schedule works well for him, Steve says.
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Steve has been in business full time for 12 years.At this point, business growth originates exclusively from referrals.

He never did a lot of advertising, he says.In the beginning, he went to the county courthouse and researched information on new businesses.After obtaining all of their contact information, he called them."I was doing what my wife says I do best-talk."He also bought a small practice to get started.

Steve's advice?
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Steve doesn't charge clients for casual telephone consulting work he does on their behalf.This approach has positives and negatives, he says.
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Steve Anderson, ProSeries Tax PreparerAnderson & Anderson615 Franklin Turnpike, Suite 2Ridgewood, NJ 07450Tel.: (201) 612-8855Stevea@aafinance.net
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When a client calls with a question or needs a copy of their supporting tax documentation, Steve can obtain it quickly and e-mail it to them.As a result, goodwill has soared.He says, "A typical client comment is that I saved them a ton of time.

ADVISOR SPOTLIGHT: STEVE ANDERSON, PROSERIES TAX PREPARER

Steve Anderson learned that he could help his tax clients by adding services to make their lives easier.Yet it was technology that most recently allowed this New Jersey tax preparer to learn a new way to serve clients better.He's moved away from paper, and in the process discovered economies at many turns.

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