​​​​​​FAQ on NATP's Research Service

We're excited to announce that starting Oct. 1, 2024, NATP members will gain select access based on membership levels to Ask Blue J, a cutting-edge tax research system designed to answer your tax questions quickly and accurately. This new benefit will replace our current research service, which will be discontinued on Nov. 15, 2024.

Over the years, we've observed a shift in how members access tax research, with many preferring digital tools, 24/7 access, and other resources. Although our traditional research service has served us well, times have changed, prompting us to adopt a more sustainable and advanced solution that aligns with our members' evolving needs.

The new benefit:

• Professional level members will have access to 7 consecutive days of unlimited questions, once per membership year
• Premium level members will access 14 consecutive days of unlimited questions, once per membership year

All NATP members receive 60% off Ask Blue J license fee, making it an exclusive $720/year. To receive the special pricing, please visit this members-only page.

Key dates to remember:

• Oct. 1, 2024: Ask Blue J available to Professional and Premium members
• Nov. 15, 2024: Final date to submit questions to the current research service
• Dec. 6, 2024: Members who submitted their que​stions by Nov. 15 should receive their response by no later than this date
• Dec. 31, 2024: Deadline for follow-up questions

We believe Ask Blue J will enhance your research capabilities and support your needs in today's fast-paced tax environment.

Why is NATP discontinuing the research service?

Our current research service originated before the days of the internet and continued to be an invaluable resource for many years. However, with the evolution of digital tools the need for 24/7 access and educational resources, the usage of our research service has steadily declined. This is why we have chosen to discontinue research service and instead offer an additional research tool, Ask Blue J, which will better meet the needs of our members in today's information-driven digital age.​

What is Ask Blue J?

Ask Blue J is a state-of-the-art tax research tool that answers your tax questions quickly and accurately. It allows you to search through various sources, highlights relevant passages for easy verification, and provides access to related cases, statutes, and regulations. The tool also features a natural conversational interface for follow-up questions, making it a powerful resource for your tax research needs.

When will members have access to their Ask Blue J benefit?

The benefit will be available to NATP Professional and Premium members on Oct. 1, 2024.

What if I never used the research service but valued having it just in case?

We understand that many members appreciated the reassurance of having access to the research service. With Ask Blue J, you will have 7 consecutive days per membership year (for Professional members) or 14 days (for Premium members) to ask unlimited questions, ensuring you have the support you need.

As a Professional member, can I get a credit or cancel my membership?

Membership benefits are subject to change, and no credits will be provided related to this transition. However, you can submit any remaining research questions to the NATP research department by Nov. 15, 2024. Additionally, your new benefit with Ask Blue J can be activated any time after Oct. 1, 2024, providing ample support throughout your membership year.

As a Premium member, can I get a credit or cancel my membership?

Memberships are non-refundable, and the benefits are subject to change. You may submit your research questions to NATP by Nov. 15, 2024. After that, you can activate your 14-day Ask Blue J access anytime after Oct. 1, 2024. You will also continue to have access to TheTaxBook WebLibrary Plus. If you still have concerns, please contact Member Services at 800-558-3402.

What if I don't use my Ask Blue J access this year?

Access must be used within your membership year and cannot be carried over to the following year. You will get a new access period when you renew your membership.

What about follow-up questions after the research service ends?

The research team will accept follow-up questions until Dec. 31, 2024, to ensure you have the necessary support as we transition to Ask Blue J.

Why did NATP choose Ask Blue J over other tools?

After thoroughly evaluating various AI-driven tax research tools, we selected Ask Blue J for its comprehensive search capabilities, accuracy, and ability to provide supporting documentation. This ensures that our members receive the most reliable and efficient support available.

Important Dates

• Ask Blue J Benefit Available: Oct. 1, 2024
• Service End Date: Nov. 15, 2024
  
• Final Response Date: Dec. 6, 2024 (It is our intention to respond to all pending questions by this date.)
• Final Follow-Up Date: Dec. 31, 2024 (Follow-up questions will be accepted until this date.)

FAQ about Ask Blue J from Blue J

How robust is Ask Blue J against inaccuracies?

We've carefully trained Ask Blue J to minimize inaccuracies, often called 'hallucinations' in AI. Ask Blue J is configured to draw information primarily from trusted and thoroughly vetted sources. We meticulously curate and clean this data, and the large language model is instructed to consider only this pre-validated information after surfacing the most relevant documents. This approach reduces the chances of Ask Blue J providing inaccurate answers, ensuring you get well-grounded and reliable responses.

What data privacy protections do you employ?

We take data privacy and security seriously. We are SOC 2, Type II certified, one of the world's highest recognized standards of information security regulation. Using OpenAI's enterprise API also has strict agreements to protect your data. We also ensure anonymity through our API, and access to your data is limited to instances where you explicitly opt-in for data sharing or choose to provide feedback, which directly helps us improve Ask Blue J. For more information, go to bluej.com/security.

What sources inform your data?

Ask Blue J answers US federal income tax law questions. Ask Blue J aggregates thousands of data points across authoritative sources such as Internal Revenue Code and Treasury Regulations, Revenue Rulings, Revenue Procedures, PLRs, Technical Advice Memorandums, Notices, FSAs, CCAs, Actions on Decisions, case law and more.