Get Ready For 2026 With Tabs3 Billing Reports

With Q4 just around the corner, law firms are poised to dive into budgeting and planning work. Tabs3 Billing Reports empower you to make smart, data-driven decisions for a more prosperous 2026. There are benefits for stakeholders throughout the firm:

• Firm leadership can see how the current strategy is playing out.
• Accounting staff can spot areas for collections and trust compliance improvement.
• Partners can find collections problems early enough to boost compensation.

You get flexible, powerful reports right out of the box when you choose Tabs3 Billing, part of Tabs3 Cloud.

👉 Want to learn more about Tabs3 Cloud? Schedule a demo today!

Understand time and billing trends

Most firms monitor time and billing data monthly. In Q4, you can assess year-to-date data and look for broader implications.

How are individual timekeepers performing overall?

This question is especially relevant in Q4 if your firm has annual performance goals and/or determines bonuses based on timekeeper productivity. The earlier you check the reports, the more time you will have to course-correct before year-end. You can use these reports to inform strategic planning for 2026, too. For example, you can see what matters each timekeeper spends the most time on. You might also study performance by task code to identify work that could be done more efficiently.

Reports to consider:

• Allocated Payments Report
• Client Realization Report
• Detailed AR Report (Platinum users can sort by timekeeper)
• Productivity Report by Category for Each Timekeeper
• Productivity Report by Tcode for Each Timekeeper
• Timekeeper Analysis Report
• Timekeeper Status Report
• Write-Up/Write-Down Report
• Write-Off Report

How much work time do timekeepers spend on billables vs. non-billables?

To maximize billables, you need to understand where the time is going. With these reports, you can drill down on individual timekeepers, clients, and practice areas to find places to improve.

Reports to consider:

• Client Analysis Report
• Client Productivity Report
• Recap of Hours Report
• Timekeeper Productivity Report
• Transaction File List
• Task Code Billing Report

Which of our practice areas are the largest, and how profitable are they?

By looking at these numbers, the firm can make better decisions about how to allocate resources and where to seek new business. There is a report for this specific purpose (Category Productivity Report), and you may find reports that sort by client useful if each client is a meaningful proxy for a practice area. For example, if your small business clients only engage you for commercial leasing, client-based reports could be helpful.

Reports to consider:

• Category Productivity Report
• Client Productivity Report
• Client Realization Report
• Top Client Report

What unbilled work has been “lost” and could be invoiced this year?

Both individual partners and firm leadership have an interest in identifying revenue problems. Individual partner compensation may be based on revenue brought in, and the firm itself needs to keep cash flowing. Early in Q4 is a good time to search out “lost” time if you do not already have a system in place.

Reports to consider:

• Aged Work-In-Process Report
• Client Budget Report
• Client Productivity Report
• Detail Work-In-Process Report
• Summary Work-In-Process Report
• Task Code Budget Report
• Timekeeper Status Report

See how invoices turn into revenue (or not)

Your firm can only realize time and billing improvements if invoices are paid. Now is the time to assess your accounts receivable process and plan for improved collections in 2026.

What could still be collected/allocated this year?

The Q4 collections push is proverbial. Finding and applying unallocated payments can also boost your revenue. You can use reports to look at firm progress overall, as well as studying individual timekeeper collections results so you know where to focus collections efforts.

Reports to consider:

• Accounts Receivable by Invoice
• Accounts Receivable by Timekeeper (Tabs3 Cloud and Platinum Edition only)
• Client Funds report
• Collections Report
• Detail Accounts Receivable
• Pre-Bill Tracking Report
• Recap of Hours Report
• Summary Accounts Receivable
• Timekeeper Realization Report
• Timekeeper Status Report
• Unallocated Payments Report

Where are we collecting efficiently (or not)?

Examining your 2025 collections trends can help you spot areas for improvement in 2026. For example, you might ask which timekeepers are most efficient in collections to help you determine what factors drive their success. You can also assess collections by client to aid decisions about ongoing representation and/or client management adjustments.

Reports to consider:

• Client Realization Report
• Collections Report
• Receipt Allocation Report
• Timekeeper Analysis
• Timekeeper Productivity Report
• Top Client Report

How much are we collecting in fees versus other categories?

It may be useful to understand how revenue breaks out across multiple categories. For example, excessive finance charges could indicate a problem upstream in the collections workflow. Tracking the growth of fees, as well as costs, can offer insight into overhead trends and business growth.

Reports to consider:

• Client Realization Report
• Receipt Allocation Report

👉 Check out The Midsize Law Firm Survival Guide for more information about how Tabs3 can benefit your firm

Track invoice adjustment patterns

Analyzing statement adjustment practices can reveal opportunities for improvement, too. You can use reports to track write-ups, write-downs, courtesy discounts, and write-offs.

Is courtesy discounting negatively impacting the firm’s revenue?

Offering a timely discount is an important client management and collections tool. It is difficult, however, for individual decision makers to spot problematic trends in the moment. In Q4, there is ample year-to-date data available and time to change practices for next year. You may also think through how discounting should impact next year’s rates.

Reports to consider:

• Client Analysis Report
• Client Rate Report (to see current timekeeper rates)
• Receipt Allocation Report

Are attorneys writing down time (or writing up time) excessively?

Actively controlling write-downs (and write-offs) is key to long-term profitability. Excessive write-downs can not only reduce profits, but also point to performance problems and/or client management problems. A rise in write-ups could indicate problems with timekeeping. To keep bill adjustments under control, keep your eye on the big picture.

Reports to consider:

• Client Analysis Report
• Client Productivity Report
• Collections Report
• Timekeeper Productivity Report
• Write-Up/Write-Down Report

Finally, be on the lookout for “silent write-downs,” where attorneys do not enter time. Often, there is an appropriate reason (like correcting a junior’s work), but big shifts in time billed could point to timekeeping problems.

Is the firm writing off debt excessively?

Write-downs and write-offs are distinct in terms of accounting procedures and tax implications. Too many write-offs can trigger accounting and/or tax concerns, so write-offs and write-downs should be tracked and assessed separately.

Reports to consider:

• Client Analysis Report
• Client Productivity Report
• Collections Report
• Timekeeper Productivity Report
• Top Client Report
• Write Off Report

👉 Schedule a demo to see Tabs3 in action!

Stay in-the-know on other success indicators

Should we raise our rates and/or flat fees?

Rate increases are often announced at the beginning of the calendar year, so Q4 is the right time to assess whether your current rates are aligned with your goals. You can evaluate trends throughout the past year to inform your predictions about the 2026 market.

Reports to consider:

• Client Budget Report
• Client Productivity Report
• Client Rate Report
• Client Realization Report
• Fee Compensation Rules
• Top Client Report

Is task-based billing going smoothly?

If your firm uses task-based billing, checking relevant reports annually can help you spot any issues that might be missed in day-to-day billing management.

Reports to consider:

• Task Code Billing Report
• Task Code Budget Report

Client reports for task-based billing clients can also be a helpful source of information.

Are we in compliance with our trust accounting obligations?

The reports listed below are in addition to normal accounting reports, required recordkeeping, and regular three-way reconciliations.

Reports to consider:

• Client Funds Report
• Collections Report

The reports you need right now, right out of the box

Tabs3 Billing comes with all the reports you need to prepare for a more prosperous 2026. Our extensive knowledge base includes a helpful Report Finder and a comprehensive guide to each and every report. Demo Tabs3 Billing in Tabs3 Cloud today.