Drake Software blog for tax pros, covering tax, IRS news, and more

Bob Williams

Forget genes; I’ve got words in my DNA. Communication has been part of who I am nearly all my life. From a long career in radio news to another one in newspapers – and a University of Georgia journalism degree sandwiched between the two – language has been my life. I’ve also been fortunate to have learned the tax business from the ground up here at Drake, starting with 1040.com online forms some years ago before moving on to work on the Web. In all things tax-ish, we aim to give you tools you can use.

Additional Security Measures Added to IRS Online Tools

Bob Williams - December 13, 2016

The Internal Revenue Service has toughened its security for their online applications. The upgrade was taken this year in an expanded effort to protect the nation’s taxpayers from identity theft. The new process means a few more steps for taxpayers using the IRS tools – but much better security in the long run.…

Senate Action Draws Praise from Business Group

Bob Williams - December 10, 2016

This week the Senate passed legislation that eliminates the IRS’ tax penalty on employers who reimburse workers for the cost of health insurance premiums. A similar measure was passed in the House last week.…

Scammers Turning up the Heat on Taxpayers

Bob Williams - December 09, 2016

Apparently the Internal Revenue Service and tax professionals aren’t the only ones getting ready for income tax season. Scammers and identity thieves are getting busy as well, hitting taxpayers – and…

New Security Safeguards Coming in 2017

Bob Williams - December 09, 2016

All week, we’ve been passing along tips to guard your financial data as part of National Tax Security Awareness Week. And hopefully we’ve given you some important points to ponder, then put to use. But what’s next?…

When That Call from the IRS Isn’t

Bob Williams - December 08, 2016

It always seems to happen when you’ve just settled down for dinner. You get a phone call out of the blue and the man on the other end of the line says he’s Agent Such-and-Such from the Internal Revenue Service, Badge number something-or-Other.…

Tax Professionals May Be the Next Ground Zero in Cybersecurity Battle

Bob Williams - December 07, 2016

America’s income tax professionals are being enlisted into a growing force of industry partners who are focused like never before on protecting their financial information – and that of their customers.…

Don’t Get Hooked by a Phishing Expedition

Bob Williams - December 06, 2016

Every day, taxpayers fall victim to scams through emails, websites, texts or phone calls and turn over data thinking they’re dealing with an official agency or business. But that email, web page, text, or call is a “spoof,” a fake that only appears to be the real thing.…

Stopping the Barbarians at the Gates: Password Tips

Bob Williams - December 05, 2016

Drake has joined with the Internal Revenue Service, state tax agencies and income tax industry partners to highlight National Tax Security Awareness Week this week. And we start just where you should start – by looking at your passwords and how to make them stronger.…

National Tax Security Awareness Week Begins

Bob Williams - December 05, 2016

December’s the time for a lot of holiday sport events, and the IRS and its Security Summit partners are putting on a full-court press of their own against identity theft and tax fraud. The week of Dec. 5-9 has been designated “National Tax Security Awareness Week,” and will see the IRS, state tax agencies and the tax industry share a wealth of information with taxpayers.…

Taxpayers Get New Online Tool to Access Tax Info

Bob Williams - December 04, 2016

The new feature is part of a planned suite of new capabilities the IRS plans to add to their platform as they come online. Taxpayers can already use the site for online payment of their tax due, using their choice of direct pay, pay-by-card, or Online Payment Agreement.…