How clearer communication, smarter automation, and proactive collaboration turn great tax work into lasting client loyalty.
Highlights
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Great tax work only drives satisfaction when clients understand its value.
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Automation creates the capacity for better client service.
- Modern collaboration tools improve client engagement and set the stage for stronger relationships.
You’re a tax professional, not a salesman. So how do you make sure that your excellent client service actually results in high tax client satisfaction? Let’s dive into the social side of client management and make sure that your services get the recognition and compensation they deserve.
Jump to ↓
Why firms struggle with tax client satisfaction
Why now is the time to re-examine your client service
How automation facilitates better tax client service
How better collaboration leads to higher client satisfaction
It’s time to make time for your clients
Why firms struggle with tax client satisfaction
Your educational background taught you how to be a great tax and accounting pro, but it probably didn’t teach you how to communicate that expertise to uninformed or uninterested clients. Without a strong pitch, good work goes unappreciated and advisory engagements that would benefit both parties fail to materialize.
Retail chains like Target and Kohls calculate and display the total savings amount at the bottom of each receipt. Whether your firm is proving speedy compliance, bookkeeping, or financial planning, how are you highlighting the time savings and value that’s being delivered?
The way you frame your services can transform your clients’ perception of them. For example, when you uncover a new strategy or technique that will save your client money, give them a projection of their total savings over the next five years. Alternatively, you can offer one small complimentary service and ask if the client wants to extend that expertise to other advisory areas.
Don’t expect your clients to connect the dots themselves. Make the connections for them and showcase the true value of your work.
Easing the pain of uncomfortable money conversations with clients
How mastering those delicate conversations can lead better client satisfaction and higher compensation.
Read more ↗Why now is the time to re-examine your client service
Right now, taxpayers are navigating Year 1 of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and many of them have questions. Research shows that the bill’s new provisions and adjustments are expected to increase the complexity of tax filing in the short term. Many are dissatisfied with their long-term finance goals as well, as a 2023 Northwestern Mutual study shows that 2/3 of Americans think their financial planning needs improvement. Both of these developments should spell opportunity for tax professionals willing to take the initiative.
How automation facilitates better tax client service
If you feel that your firm doesn’t have the time or resources to reinvent your tax client service approach, you aren’t alone. Preparation and compliance demands have extended many firms beyond their capacity, an issue that staffing shortages have only exacerbated.
That’s why automation has become an essential tool for client service-focused tax practices. Firms that use Thomson Reuters UltraTax CS with SurePrep end up saving as much as two hours per return to focus toward advisory services. Here’s how:
Simplified tax preparation
UltraTax CS addresses all possible client requirements with a full selection of federal, state, and local tax forms. It provides users with advanced calculations and diagnostics to handle complex tax scenarios and navigate outstanding issues with ease.
Less manual data entry
SurePrep 1040SCAN automates data entry, workpaper indexing, and data verification on more document types than the competition, including Federal Organizer pages, grantor letters, and Schedule K-1. It also identifies minor fields that other solutions ignore, including margin interest, investment fees, and foreign income.
Quicker review
SPbinder is a workpaper management tool designed to maximize preparer detail and reduce review time. Digital tick marks, notes, annotations, and hyperlinked cross references with up to four sign-off levels make review a breeze so partners and management-level staff can spend more time with clients.
How better collaboration leads to higher client satisfaction
Every firm deals with difficult and unresponsive clients, but that doesn’t mean those issues can’t be remedied. Think about your current collaboration workflow. Do you rely on outdated or piecemeal tools for gathering and delivery?
SafeSend condenses the entire process into a single award-winning platform. Clients can upload documents, review their tax return, complete questionnaires, and e-sign all in one place, dramatically improving responsiveness and reducing turnaround times. The platform’s built-in communication features encourage ongoing dialogue during tax season and beyond, keeping your firm top-of-mind throughout the year.
When clients can easily access their documents and communicate with your team through a modern, user-friendly portal, they’re more likely to reach out with questions and share important financial updates. This increased touchpoint frequency naturally opens doors to advisory conversations that might never happen with traditional tax client service models.
It’s time to make time for your clients
If bandwidth is an issue at your firm, then improving tax client satisfaction and service starts with upgrading your automation. When you spend less time inputting data and reviewing returns, you have more time to create financial plans and develop client communication strategies. The combination of efficiency, accessibility, and proactive outreach positions your firm as a trusted advisor rather than just a tax preparer, setting the foundation for a partnership that benefits you and your clients.
Check out our new white paper: “Mind the gap: Identifying gaps in your software this tax season” to see if your firm is missing automation opportunities with its current tech stack.
Exclusive white paper
Find the shortcomings in your tax workflow and learn what to look for in your next software purchase.
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