When people think of filing their taxes, they probably also think of paper...lots of it! Our tax preparation business is consciously helping to cut down on paper use. We've added a new computer system that scans all of our client's documents such as W-2's that are needed to prepare their tax returns into a document manager system instead of making paper copies to keep in their files. Also, we give our customers their copies of the return on a CDR, which uses less paper. This is possible now for two reasons. First, the computer technology is available and second, the IRS now allows tax preparers to keep documents by electronic media. When I started preparing taxes 12 years ago, we were electronically filing tax returns, but we had to keep copies of clients documents on paper. We also had to provide the copies of the finished tax returns to clients on paper. Now we can store the papers we need digitally and digitally give people their copies. This considerably reduces our paper use.

Other steps In or Out Tax Service takes to be a more "green business" is, we use biodegradable cleaning products and instead of paper towels, our bathroom is stocked with cloths for people to dry their hands on. These cloths are then laundered (in energy efficient appliances) and reused.