Revised standards include a new structure to organize the SSTSs by type of work performed.

There are standards regarding reasonable safeguards to protect taxpayer data in all formats and a definition of when members may reasonably rely on tools of all types such as technology used in the performance of tax services.

In addition, the emphasis on representation of clients before taxing authorities has expanded from compliance services to include other services, in particularity a separate tax representation services standard.

Finally, existing Interpretations and FAQs have been updated to reflect the reorganization of revised tax standards with updated citations. 

The project reorganized the SSTS so that most existing standards have been incorporated into either general standards (SSTS No. 1) or compliance standards (SSTS No. 2). Because SSTS data protection and reliance on tools are applicable to different types of tax services, they are now included in general standards.

Bob Scott

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Bob Scott has provided information to the tax and accounting community since 1991, first as technology editor of Accounting Today, and from 1997 through 2009 as editor of its sister publication, Accounting Technology. He is known throughout the industry for his depth of knowledge and for his high journalistic standards.  Scott has made frequent appearances as a speaker, moderator and panelist and events serving tax and accounting professionals. He  has a strong background in computer journalism as an editor with two former trade publications, Computer+Software News and MIS Week and spent several years with weekly and daily newspapers in Morris County New Jersey prior to that.  A graduate of Indiana University with a degree in journalism, Bob is a native of Madison, Ind