In today’s fast-moving tax environment, clients expect clarity, speed, and proactive advice—yet most tax firms still hand over a 100-page PDF return that clients never read. The result? Missed opportunities, low perceived value, and untapped profit potential.
A new tool, Halista Plan, is changing that narrative.
Halista Plan allows tax professionals to turn a standard tax return PDF into a powerful, dynamic, and client-friendly report in less than 60 seconds. Beyond efficiency, it helps firms elevate their advisory services, improve client communication, and unlock new revenue streams.
Here’s a breakdown of why Halista Plan is becoming one of the most talked-about tools in the tax profession.
1. A 60-Second Transformation: Efficiency Meets Intelligence
The core promise of Halista Plan is simple:
Upload a tax return PDF → Generate a dynamic report in under one minute.
In a live demo, the entire process took 57 seconds.
This alone makes every 1040 engagement more profitable. Instead of a static document, firms can now deliver a clean, visual report that clients actually understand.
Security-conscious professionals will appreciate that the tool is AICPA SOC 2 Type 2 certified, meaning the platform maintains high standards of data safety.
2. Two Powerful Reporting Views
Halista Plan creates two tailored reports—one for the client and one for the tax professional.
a) The Tax Explainer (Client View)
This is the “explain it like I’m in 5th grade” version.
It breaks down:
- Income and wages
- What makes up Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
- How the tax was calculated
- Credits
- Refund or balance due
You can share this report with a secure link and passcode—making tax delivery cleaner, simpler, and more impressive.
b) The Tax Report (Professional View)
This is where the real work happens.
- Shows effective and marginal tax rates
- Displays only the relevant schedules (A, B, D, etc.)
- Allows you to hide, manage, or reorder sections
- Offers a presentation mode
- Lets you download individual charts and figures for client discussions or firm marketing
This dynamic view replaces cluttered tax software outputs with clean, digestible insights.
3. Proactive Planning Tools That Impress Clients
Halista Plan isn’t just a reporting app—it’s a tax-planning engine.
✓ Observations Section
At the bottom of the report is a curated list of “observations”—smart suggestions based on the client’s tax data.
Examples:
- “Consider making a Roth contribution”
- “Potential opportunity for bracket planning”
These insights help shift conversations from reactive reporting to proactive advisory.
✓ Scenario Analysis
Create new tax scenarios with one click:
- Copy the base return
- Project for future years
- Apply new tax rules
- Add overrides (like turning 65)
- Compare scenarios with a “delta column”
You can store scenarios in a handy “bank” for quick reference.
✓ Range Calculator (The Highlight Feature)
The range calculator visually shows how every additional $1,000 of ordinary income will be taxed.
This makes concepts like:
- marginal brackets,
- contribution limits,
- or Roth conversions
instantly understandable.
For example, you can show a client exactly how much more income they can earn before crossing into a higher bracket, or the ideal Roth contribution amount (e.g., $82,000 to stay within the 12% bracket).
This visual clarity is something typical tax software can’t match.
4. Four Monetization Strategies for Tax Firms
The tool costs roughly $22 per household (based on a 250-household plan), but firms can multiply that value easily. Here are four smart ways:
1. Include It in Every Tax Deliverable
Make the Halista report part of your default package.
Clients feel the value—and you look more professional.
2. Offer It as a Paid Upsell
Charge a fee for a simplified report clients can actually understand.
Perfect for firms wanting to increase per-return revenue.
3. Use It in Proactive Advisory Services
Integrate the insights into mid-year or year-end planning sessions.
It becomes a modern replacement for older tools like Planner CS or BNA.
4. Use It to Sell Planning Services
Show clients a preview from the app when pitching tax-planning engagements.
The visuals alone can justify your advisory fee.
Even using the tool for four test clients costs under $100—and if just one signs up for planning, the return more than covers the investment.
Final Thoughts: A Shift From Transactional to Advisory
Halista Plan gives firms exactly what they need to move beyond compliance work:
- Better client understanding
- Better presentation
- Better planning
- Better profitability
In a world where 1040 work feels increasingly commoditized, tools like Halista Plan help elevate a firm’s value and strengthen long-term client relationships.
If your goal is to deliver smarter insights and become a proactive advisor—not just a tax preparer—this tool is worth a serious look.
