Case study
CPA firm saves 167 hours on 500 returns
See how one boutique firm said goodbye to paper cuts while slashing its processing time from 25 minutes to five per return with SafeSend Tax Returns
The firm: Therrien & Associates, P.C.
Therrien & Associates, P.C. is a boutique CPA firm specializing in high-income and high-net-worth clients in Fairfield County, Connecticut. Like many tax firms, the company relied on a paper-intensive process for tax-return preparation, requiring extensive printing, assembling, and delivering of physical documents.
500
tax returns processed annually
167 hours
saved per year
5 minutes
per return instead of 25
The challenge: Paper processes ate up time
Paper processes were inefficient and physically taxing for firm staff. "When I came here we were doing everything with paper, and I couldn't stand it," recalls Lisa Goldbecker, Administrative Assistant at Therrien & Associates, P.C. "My hands were getting all dried out assembling so many returns." Before SafeSend Tax Returns, processing a single return took anywhere from 20 to 25 minutes. With over 500 returns to process, this manual workflow consumed considerable time and resources.
Beyond efficiency concerns, the firm wanted to address its environmental impact. Goldbecker began researching digital solutions that would streamline their paper processes while remaining easy to use for both staff and clients. "We were trying to be conscious about the environment. So, I started researching products that would deliver an easy-to-use solution," she explained. Simplicity was paramount — the firm needed a program that didn't demand extensive training or technical expertise.
Goldbecker evaluated multiple options by watching instructional videos to assess user-friendliness. "I always had to watch videos a few times. With SafeSend Tax Returns, I watched it once, and I totally understood it after the first viewing," she noted. This clarity and intuitive design made SafeSend Tax Returns the clear choice.
“Before SafeSend, it was taking anywhere from 20 to 25 minutes to do a tax return. If you're doing over 500, that's quite a lot of time."
Lisa Goldbecker
Administrative Assistant, Therrien & Associates, P.C.
The solution: Automation simplifies the workflow
Implementation began with a straightforward setup process. "I called SafeSend, and we set up an appointment," Goldbecker explained. "They sent us the information and helped us set up step by step. They were always available for questions, and they usually got back to us within 24 hours." The company's commitment to customer service extended beyond onboarding — SafeSend consistently acted on enhancement requests. "Every year I kept sending more and more enhancement requests, and every year SafeSend would make it happen," Goldbecker commented. "SafeSend is the only program we use that when we send suggestions they get back to us, and they want to find a way to improve the program."
SafeSend Tax Returns' integration with Therrien & Associates' existing tax software proved seamless. As a CCH Axcess user, the firm found the process simple and straightforward. "There's a green CCH circle on my SafeSend Tax Returns screen. I click on that and then drag and drop all the tax returns," explained Goldbecker. "It's perfect. I just click and off I go." The solution became so valuable to the firm's operations that they made it a requirement for all new clients.
The outcome: 167 hours gained, paper eliminated
Therrien & Associates achieved dramatic efficiency gains by switching to SafeSend Tax Returns. By reducing processing time from 20 to 25 minutes per return down to just five minutes — a 75% to 80% reduction — the firm recovered nearly 167 hours annually. This time savings directly improved the firm's bottom line and client service quality. "We're completely paperless except for a few clients that do not use the computer," emphasized Goldbecker. "Anyone that comes on board now has to use SafeSend. That is one of the requirements when we onboard new clients."
The environmental impact proved equally significant. The firm previously ordered 40 cases of paper annually to process tax returns. After implementing SafeSend Tax Returns, they reduced that consumption to approximately three cases per year. Paper costs alone dropped substantially — a single case of 10 reams cost over $50 — meaning the firm saved hundreds of dollars while reducing its environmental footprint. Staff morale improved as well; Goldbecker no longer dealt with dried-out hands and the physical strain of manual assembly.
The anytime, anywhere access of SafeSend Tax Returns emerged as a game-changing feature that enhanced client satisfaction. When clients were stranded overseas during the pandemic, they could still receive, review, and sign their tax returns via the platform's secure portal. "Our clients told us they sat down for dinner and said, 'It was so good to get our tax returns done.' The people at their table said, 'What do you mean you got your tax returns done?' And our clients replied, 'Oh, the CPA sent it to us a few hours ago, and we just looked them over and signed them. We're done,'" Goldbecker recounted. This level of service became a compelling word-of-mouth recommendation that benefited the firm's reputation.
At a glance
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