Status of Paperless Initiatives
Source: CPA Practice Management Forum
Roman Kepczyk, president of InfoTech Partners North America Inc., reports on the Association of Accounting Administration survey of 221 firms (average size 67 people) on their paperless environments.
| Percent of Firms | ||||
| 2007 | 2005 | |||
| Tax | ||||
| Storage of digital tax returns | 87 | 76 | ||
| Due date updates in real time | 69 | |||
| Requesting missing information by e-mail | 54 | 37 | ||
| Tax info to clients in encrypted format | 45 | |||
| Central database for client contact | 72 | |||
| Use of client portals to store and send data | 22 | |||
| Tax people using dual monitors | 69 | |||
| Tax people using three monitors | 10 | |||
| Audit | ||||
| Request client documents in electronic files | 69 | |||
| Manage these files in an audit document retainer | 71 | |||
| Produce financials using electronic links (no re-entry of data) | 75 | |||
| Electronic linking of audit files to tax returns (no re-entry of data) | 64 | |||
| Personnel contact office using networks or remote access | 54 | |||
| Administration | ||||
| Document management | 55 | |||
| Centralized scanning | 67 | |||
| Electronic document destruction | 39 | |||
| Manuals, policies, etc. available via Intranet | 73 | 68 | ||
| Knowledge database | 19 |
* |
||
| Online or credit card payment of accounts payable | 34 | |||
| Electronic delivery of firm financials | 46 | |||
| Electronic delivery of less confidential management information | 67 | |||
| Creation of invoices on-screen | 51 | |||
| Electronic delivery of invoices | 13 | |||
| Use of notebook computers solely | 31 | 49 | ||
| Furnishing of remote access equipment or programs | 67 |
** | ||
| Use of digital fax | 50 | |||
| Web-based backup of files | 25 | |||
* may account for decrease in intranet availability of manuals, etc.
** may account for decrease in use of notebook computers
From CPA Practice Management Forum, CCH Incorporated, 800-449-8114, March 2007, p. 8. For the complete article, click here.
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