“The concept of April 15 is only important if you haven’t preplanned,” Rachlin Cohen & Holtz’ Managing Partner Larry Blum told AccountingWEB. “Our clients are confident that everything is done because we have been continually communicating with them. And most staff members carry cell phones or blackberry-type devices, so from a communication standpoint it is business as usual.”

Year-round tax planning and quarterly reviews have helped Rachlin Cohen & Holtz eliminate the last-minute frenzy often found at other firms. Keeping the firm’s 5,000 clients, including some of the nation’s largest corporations, informed regarding the latest tax developments and financial trends help to ensure the work is really done by December 31.

“The key is to try to get what you need from clients ahead of time and take the guess-work out of the process,” Blum told AccountingWEB. “Proper planning eliminates the need for working until midnight on tax day.”

Instead of working late, Rachlin Cohen & Holtz employees will be rewarded with a celebration for their hard work, including dinner and festive activities at Dave & Busters Restaurant.

“Providing dinner and fun on tax night is a reward for all the extra hours our employees have been working. We want to congratulate our employees for achieving the needs of our clients and taking care of the tax concerns in such a timely manner,” Blum said in a prepared statement.

Expanding on that for AccountingWEB he says, “Everyone is very organized. It’s very gratifying that everything is non-chaotic during the last few days of tax season.”

Rachlin Cohen & Holtz offers accounting and advisory services from offices in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.

Stephen Hovey , 18 April 2006 @ 19:50 PM  We really take the afternoon off - all of it. Our firm, currently with 10 professionals, 10 paraprofessionals, and 5 support staff, has a heritage of 35 years. For as long as any of us can remember, we have closed our offices at noon on the last day of tax season. The staff is treated to a fine meal and beverages of their choice at a local restaurant, and then they enjoy the afternoon off, with pay. Our clients are well aware of our tax day routine, and they appreciate the planning and work that goes into our ability to avoid the "last-minute frenzy". We like it, too. Steve H.,CPA, Michigan

Kendall Wheeler , 18 April 2006 @ 19:03 PM  We close early also! Moore Grider & Company is celebrating their 50 years serving clients and we have been closing at NOON on tax day since the beginning. Various activites in the afternoon for staff have included a catered lunch, miniature golf course complete with water and sand traps IN the office, and golf outings.