I'm leery of in software counters. It tracks how long the file is open, but that doesn't mean work is being done. I get called away from returns all the time - phone calls, email, employee questions, etc.
Would the exact seconds include to time to select the worksheet and click the stop timer box?
And what if you were to doublecheck to see if the direct deposit box was checked or not, and it was already checked? Is that part of tax preparation or just the preparer unsure if he/she already selected it? Would it include printing the return? Uploading the return to a cloud-based server? Saving the return? Updating the client status?
When does a return really get finished!! A few returns may seem like indigestible meals that never quite go away.
Maybe Jim could provide some guidance on this one. I'm guessing he is probably one of the few preparers here that would be keeping track of his day by the second. As for myself I am still old school. I scribble down on a post-it pad what time I start and "punch out" when I get side tracked on something else and sign back in on the post-it when I am hunkered back down. I would keep track by the second, but the time it takes to write down the seconds is a second or two I could use to actually prepare the return 😁
