Reader Mailbag

Editor:

Regarding the article "Outsourcing of Tax Returns Overseas Gains Popularity; Most Firms Plan to Increase Outsourced Returns Next Year," in your May, 2004 issue, I am bothered by some of the facts stated.

When 50% of the firms surveyed do not tell their clients about the outsourcing

Later in the article, Bruce Carlin mentions that the big benefit of outsourcing is not about making money. He's right: It is not about making money, but rather saving money on an entry-level graduate who would love an opportunity to work at a firm whose gross revenues range from $12.5 million to $90 million. Our economy has been in rough shape for the last three years, and people are going to college to find jobs for themselves. When firms such as the ones in your survey have the arrogance to ship out jobs that new graduates could take, and who could benefit the firm for longer than just four months, it just doesn't make sense.

Finally, Allan Koltin's comment about "screw[ing] up peoples' lives for four months a year and still expect [ing] young people to want to become part of public accounting is ridiculous. How are young people able to become a part of the public accounting sector when they find that all of the entry-level jobs have been outsourced to India?

Jill R. Voss, Manager-Client Services

The CPA Exchange, Lincolnshire, Ill.

Mr. Carlin responds: "First of all, our firm does disclose to clients that their work is being outsourced. Secondly, I don 'I know where all these entry-level graduates are that Ms. Voss refers to. Perhaps they're in Illinois, but they aren't in New England, where our firm is. There's a shortage of accounting graduates, and all signs indicate that the shortage will become worse. If we could find enough entry-level accounting graduates who wanted to do this kind of work, we'd certainly hire them rather than outsource to India." Mr. Koltin responds: "I'm not sure 47,000 other CPA firms would agree with Ms. Voss, who works for a recruiting company and not for an accounting firm."

Editors Note: INSIDE Public Accounting welcomes letters to the editor. Send yours to Letters To The Editor, INSIDE Public Accounting, 3340 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 2600, Atlanta, GA 30326. Or e-mail jlindy@hudsonsawyer.com with the subject line: Letter To The Editor.