Bill Dodwell reviews developments in the preparation of tax computations
Once upon a time tax computations were prepared by hand. In my firm the assistant would be surrounded by audit files and add the details needed onto 14-column yellow paper. There would then be a complicated process to review the computation; reference all the numbers and check it all added up before handing over the computation to a typist. Finally the typed version would be referenced again. There was a real art to preparing the computation; the core skill was to provide sufficient clear details to minimise the volume of enquiries raised by the Inland Revenue.
The next step was the massively dangerous one of preparing computations on spread-sheets. This was a timesaver since the computer could do the calculations and corrections could be processed easily; the danger arose from the fact that the preparer...
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Home >Articles > Tax computations: the long and winding road...
Tax computations: the long and winding road...
Bill Dodwell reviews developments in the preparation of tax computations
Once upon a time tax computations were prepared by hand. In my firm the assistant would be surrounded by audit files and add the details needed onto 14-column yellow paper. There would then be a complicated process to review the computation; reference all the numbers and check it all added up before handing over the computation to a typist. Finally the typed version would be referenced again. There was a real art to preparing the computation; the core skill was to provide sufficient clear details to minimise the volume of enquiries raised by the Inland Revenue.
The next step was the massively dangerous one of preparing computations on spread-sheets. This was a timesaver since the computer could do the calculations and corrections could be processed easily; the danger arose from the fact that the preparer...
If you or your firm subscribes to Taxjournal.com, please click the login box below:
If you do not subscribe but are a registered user, please enter your details in the following boxes:
