Lack of tax credit training prevents many CPA firms from offering professional tax solution services to clients. However, you cannot afford missed tax savings opportunities in an increasingly competitive market. If you don’t offer tax services, your clients are going to find another firm that does.

It’s time to bring your CPAs up to speed and train them to offer clients tax guidance. Partnering with an outsourced tax consultant is the most effective way to help clients pursue valuable credits, but your CPAs must still be able to speak intelligently about tax matters.

The specifics of your tax training program depend on what your CPA firm is trying to accomplish. Sometimes, the best course of action is to begin with a high-level overview of tax savings strategies. Then, you are able to focus on a targeted tax area, such as R&D tax credits or employment incentives.

With the help of a tax consultant’s expertise, you may be able to offer your own tax services in the future. However, recognize that your consultant is unlikely to give away all of their industry secrets, so you must learn some techniques on your own.  It’s important to partner with your tax consultant in a positive manner working towards a win-win scenario for both parties.

Still, your outsourced tax consultant is committed to providing your CPAs with an immense working knowledge of tax credits and incentives. When you request tax credit training for your firm, you receive instruction in the following ways:

Lunch-And-Learns

Bring your staff, including managers and CPAs, to lunch events with your tax consultant firm. Lunch-and-learns keep you updated about current events and changes in tax rules that may affect your pursuit of tax savings. These high-level discussions ensure your staff is aware of today’s tax issues.

Program-Specific Training

Program-specific training allows your CPAs to dive deeper into tax issues. Your staff needs to be knowledgeable enough to identify tax credit problems and hold in-depth conversations with clients. You may choose to take as many as four or five classes in a specific tax credit program as part of a training series. Plus, a flexible tax consultant firm gives you the option to either meet in person or participate in a webinar.

Involvement In Projects

When you outsource tax projects to a consulting firm, you play an active role in the tax credit process. You may choose to receive instruction as the project moves along, gaining valuable information and experience as you help clients increase their tax savings. This hands-on tax credit training opportunity is especially suitable for CPAs who hope to offer their own tax services in the future.

By learning as much as possible about tax savings strategies that benefit your clients’ budgets, you position your CPA firm as a reliable, knowledgeable advisor. Instead of losing clients to other tax specialty firms, you’re able to increase your customer base with expanded services and tax expertise.

Ready to offer more comprehensive tax assistance to your clients? Discover seven critical R&D tax credit services you must provide.