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How Do You Take Notes?

PostPosted: 10-Oct-2022 7:46am
by warnickcpa
There's a lot of different ways to take notes nowadays, typing, iPad/tablet, or old fashion paper. Honestly, old fashion paper and pen is the way that I like. The major downfall is that I have notes all over the place and then sometimes I leave my one notebook at home or at the office, etc. I'm mostly electronic with all my workpapers, but notes as I mentioned I prefer to take pen and paper.

The other major downfall with notebooks is that once you start to accumulate them it can be hard to go back and reference a single client's item if you're not 100% sure what notebook something is in.

I look forward to other's opinion!

Re: How Do You Take Notes?

PostPosted: 10-Oct-2022 8:05am
by CornerstoneCPA
If I'm taking notes during a call, I use Word and save it to a "prospective client" folder or under the client's folder.

If I am taking physical notes in-person, I have a remarkable2 that so much nicer than using a standard tablet. I'll occasionally let it connect to my phone's hotspot and it uploads the notes to the Remarkable app which syns across all devices it is installed on, creating a digital copy of the notes. I do not use it to its full potential but this works well for me.

Re: How Do You Take Notes?

PostPosted: 10-Oct-2022 9:33am
by CathysTaxes
If it's tax related, I will put it in the Note form in my tax software. The Note form has a section that will always carry to the next year.

If accounting related then a note in QB.

Or, summarize in email, send it to client and file it.

Re: How Do You Take Notes?

PostPosted: 10-Oct-2022 10:29am
by CaptCook
I use the Rocketbook tool.
I, too, like to have a tangible item on which to make notes. At the end of the week, I'll review my notebook and use the app to upload these notes via pdf to the client file, if I haven't already. Sometimes, my assistant will do it.

Once the note has been uploaded, the page can be wiped clean for re-use. There are some special characters that allow the title to be automated, but I haven't had great success with that so far.

Re: How Do You Take Notes?

PostPosted: 10-Oct-2022 10:37am
by SumwunLost
I use an iPad, with 2nd Generation Apple Pencil. I have an app, PDF Expert by Readdle, which allows me to write on the iPad, then I just upload it to iCloud and download it to my hard drive. There is a way to transfer directly between iPad and desktop but I have never got it to work.

For "pens," I have favorites set up - blue, red, turquoise, purple, green, yellow highlighter, eraser and an underline tool, in red. I don't suppose it would be for everyone, but it works for me. What I like about it over the built-in Apple apps is that each page is separate. With Notes and Pages, it is continuous, so a whole line of writing can get split over two pages when you convert to PDF. PDF Expert doesn't do that.

I tried Rocketbook for a couple of years but I found that my writing didn't always make it to the PDF unscathed. I think I may have left some pages unwiped for too long.

Re: How Do You Take Notes?

PostPosted: 10-Oct-2022 12:53pm
by TheAnswerMan
I use pen and paper during client meetings that is later scanned with the PDF tax workpapers. If the notes are extensive or rambling, sometimes I'll summarize better in word and then add to the workpapers. For quick phone call notes I have a yellow legal pad. Depending on the topics importance and if it relates to the future, I will sometimes create a note in the tax software as well.

Re: How Do You Take Notes?

PostPosted: 10-Oct-2022 2:36pm
by ItDepends
I have an Excel spreadsheet system that I started very crude but has gotten more complex over the years.

I also use the Drake software return prep notes as appropriate.

Perhaps my most useful habit is with emails.

If it is an important email, I archive (save the email to PDF) and put it in the appropriate cloud folder. For example, John Smith/2022 Tax Documents.

If it is in person, on the phone, or directly from a colleague, I'll jot it down on a scratch sheet of paper and transfer it to excel, Drake, or scan it to the cloud folder as appropriate.

Re: How Do You Take Notes?

PostPosted: 11-Oct-2022 5:53am
by smtcpa
If I am on a phone or video call, I handwrite them. When the call is over I put them into Word embellishing them with the details. For all other notes, they go into a Word document. I don't like putting notes into the tax software, or CRMs because if we change software, the notes are either gone or difficult to extract. Plus they are accessible to someone not using the software (like admin).

Re: How Do You Take Notes?

PostPosted: 13-Oct-2022 10:43am
by ATSMAN
If I am on the phone, I make the notes either on my paper pad or the preparer pad on my software if the basic info of the return was already inputed. I make electronic copies of all notes and archive it with the returns.

Re: How Do You Take Notes?

PostPosted: 19-Oct-2022 8:11pm
by MWEA
CornerstoneCPA wrote:If I'm taking notes during a call, I use Word and save it to a "prospective client" folder or under the client's folder.

If I am taking physical notes in-person, I have a remarkable2 that so much nicer than using a standard tablet. I'll occasionally let it connect to my phone's hotspot and it uploads the notes to the Remarkable app which syns across all devices it is installed on, creating a digital copy of the notes. I do not use it to its full potential but this works well for me.


I got a Remarkable2 after reading this post, love it. I’m using it for client meeting notes and then emailing it to my assistant as a PDF to place in Karbon. But more so, I’m using it for all my notes throughout the day as well. Way less clutter than post it notes and yellow pads. I create a new notebook for each day and it’s a work in progress all day.

Re: How Do You Take Notes?

PostPosted: 24-Oct-2022 6:17pm
by jefffou
MWEA wrote:
CornerstoneCPA wrote:If I'm taking notes during a call, I use Word and save it to a "prospective client" folder or under the client's folder.

If I am taking physical notes in-person, I have a remarkable2 that so much nicer than using a standard tablet. I'll occasionally let it connect to my phone's hotspot and it uploads the notes to the Remarkable app which syns across all devices it is installed on, creating a digital copy of the notes. I do not use it to its full potential but this works well for me.


I got a Remarkable2 after reading this post, love it. I’m using it for client meeting notes and then emailing it to my assistant as a PDF to place in Karbon. But more so, I’m using it for all my notes throughout the day as well. Way less clutter than post it notes and yellow pads. I create a new notebook for each day and it’s a work in progress all day.


Same. Love my remarkable2