With the 2018 tax season coming over the horizon, we're in good shape to handle the additional shareholder queries that arise during this busy time. In addition to ensuring quality shareholder service from our communications center, we continue to offer technology that delivers the best possible experience for clients, shareholders and employee plan participants. Here are a few examples:
- We initiated our recruiting cycle for the tax and proxy seasons last summer to ensure we have the staff in place and fully trained going into 2018.
- We were the first transfer agent to offer connection to TurboTax for registered shareholders and employee stock purchase plan (ESPP) participants. And we've further expanded those capabilities to include H&R Block's software. More than 160,000 shareholders took advantage of the TurboTax capabilities last year, and we expect the numbers to go up this year with the addition of H&R Block.
- Our popular "quick tax" link – used by nearly a quarter million shareholders last year – is back on the homepage of Investor Center to assist your shareholders as they prepare to file. This easy link gives shareholders direct and immediate access to the tax forms they need for their filings.
This year we're also launching a new program that will help shareholders and employee plan participants receive helpful tax information more easily while avoiding the need to wait on the phone. We're preparing a series of handy guides and videos that we will post on our website, Investor Center and Employee Online. These materials and tips will also be heavily featured on our social media channels, and those investors who have opted in to email and text message communications will be notified directly about IRS form availability.
We are continually working to develop a positive experience for all stakeholders, shareholders and employees. If Computershare clients have any questions about our efforts during the tax and proxy seasons, please contact your relationship manager.