The 
Easy 
Sell

"Certainty?" In this world nothing is certain but being able to finish this famous Benjamin Franklin quote. If someone offered you a nickel for every time you were lectured on "death and taxes," you would be a millionaire. (On the flip side, that would mean more to claim on your taxes.)

Of course, Franklin was on to something. Tax evasion is a federal crime, punishable by up to five years in prison along with a hefty fine.

While this may be bad news for singer Lauryn Hill, who recently pleaded guilty to tax evasion charges, it's good news for distributors. Because taxes are a permanent fixture in our country, tax form sales are a guaranteed way to continue upping profits. To put things into perspective, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released the following data for fiscal year 2010:

• Number of returns for individual income tax: 141,166,805

• Number of returns for corporation income tax: 2,355,803

• Number of returns for employment taxes: 29,787,494

• Number of returns for excise taxes: 836,793

• Number of returns for gift tax: 230,007

• Number of returns for estate tax: 28,780

Still, many distributors believe tax forms are difficult to sell. James Magdaleno, product manager of TFP Data Systems, Oxnard, Calif., disagrees. Partnering with an experienced supplier can eliminate unnecessary headaches.

With 45 years of experience, TFP's initial focus centered around government-approved forms and compliance products—tax forms were a natural fit. This level of knowledge puts TFP in a position to be a go-to resource for distributors.

"Distributors often ask us, 'What support can you provide to help me service my customers and increase sales?" Magdaleno remarked. "We provide free marketing tools to our dealers to support sales efforts, including catalog imprints, as well as customizable e-mails and flyers."