On the technical side, tax season is about filing at the right time, ensuring all documents have been uploaded correctly and the clients get the maximum returns, there is something inherently critical for tax professionals – to survive the tax season chaos. This season brings a whirlwind of stress and anxiety due to the long, never-ending hours. There is constant pressure to meet deadlines, navigate complex tax codes, stay updated with the latest regulations, and handle last-moment client requests.
All of these add up to burnout, sometimes beyond recovery. There is no doubt in the fact that tax season is chaotic and that is why it is essential to be prepared. Many accountants are leaving the industry and one of the key reasons is burnout. In this article, Finsmart Accounting – globally trusted for outsourced bookkeeping services – will share major reasons behind tax season stress and expert tips to recover from tax season madness.
Let’s start by understanding the major reasons why accountants need to take care of themself during the tax season.
Reasons to selfcare during tax season stress
We can all agree that the duration from the middle of January to the middle of April seems endless. Accountants find themselves in a constant loop of stress and frustration. Being prepared both physically and mentally to deal with the season is key. Here are the top reasons why you need to take care of yourself amid the madness:
1. Stress levels are at an all-time high: The pressure to maintain deadlines and accuracy, and keep clients and bosses satisfied increases the stress levels among the accountants during this time. The fear of audits and penalties in case they make an error takes a toll on their mental and physical well-being.
2. Extended hours and tight deadlines: During tax season, accounting professionals end up working for 70-80 hours. The long hours are sometimes way longer than they had signed up for. The professionals are often not given a choice. The relentless pace and tight deadlines lead to fatigue. This season also leads to a significant amount of neglect towards personal needs and family life. This aggravates tax season stress.
3. Client demands and expectations: In the tax season, accountants are expected to be available for clients round the clock. While the clients are often not available in the official hours, they expect the tax preparer to attend to their needs constantly. The expectation of quick responses and flawless results makes the process even more draining and exhausting.
4. No time for physical health: As the lines between personal and professional continue to blur during the tax season, professionals are not left with much time to eat healthy, exercise, or even rest well. It weakens their immune system and there is a chance of falling ill. But no matter what, they are expected to cater to the needs of the hour constantly. This increases tax season stress.
Read on to discover how accountants can deal with tax season stress in the right way.
Ways to deal with the tax season stress
Tax season is a season of feeling overwhelmed. You are overwhelmed because you have been glued to the screen all day long, your client feels overwhelmed and overwhelms you because tasks are behind deadlines and your family is overwhelmed because you have no time for them. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Times are changing and surviving tax season shouldn’t be this difficult. As an accounting firm owner, you should learn to beat the stress better, you should also encourage your team members to take the steps that help them.
No matter the tax season advice, if you are failing to make things better for yourself here are a few tips that can help you take baby steps:
1. Prioritize heavily: As the tax season approaches, you will find your team dealing with thousands of tax returns. Have a plan of attack in place, along with a short-term goal that is not too hard to follow. Use the resources available well to designate the number of tax returns that need to be completed by a certain person on any given day. This also gives you the clarity to get back to your client with the answer “when will my filing be done?”
2. Be proactive, instead of reactive: The first step here is to start early. Have a large window of time during which you can obtain documents from clients, and indulge in all the back and forth. It gives you an ample amount of time to arrange the papers before you start with the actual filing. Set internal dates for your team to get the documents in place. If you know a client will undoubtedly cause a delay, start dealing with them early on. Send out as many reminders as needed so that you don’t fall behind due to tax season stress and rush.
3. Manage expectations: If one of your clients constantly asks you “what’s the status”, it doesn’t mean you have to attend to them right away. Right from the beginning, establish a point of contact and turn around time. It is important to align the expectations so that there are no last-minute surprises. In case they continue to breathe on your neck, it’s time to have a clear chat with them. A candid way to manage tax season stress and trusted by CPAs and accountants across US.
4. Learn to say no: Just because you can doesn’t mean you have to. Time is of the essence during the tax season. Make sure you plan for the season in advance so that you can anticipate the volume of work. Avoid taking up additional jobs in case it is closer to the tax season. Learn to say no to clients and preach the same to your team of accountants. You will do yourself and your team a huge favor. Use the rest of the year to experiment with new clients or new businesses.
5. Ask for help: It is important to acknowledge that it is almost impossible for one person to complete everything during the tax season. You can do everything to accomplish a task, and still can fall behind – if you are not taking help. As a firm owner, you should know this is key to surviving tax season properly. Your experienced team members can help you with the filings or reviews that you have to personally oversee. For other members of the team, teach and encourage them to delegate or request backup.
Recommended: Learn about accounting outsourcing services cost in India.
6. Give yourself a break: You can only do so much in a day. But you and your team need to keep burnout at bay if you want to survive tax season with complete sanity. As a firm owner, you need to set an example for your teammates. Take short breaks to relieve yourself of the physical and mental tension. Collect your thoughts and go for a walk, stretch or briefly engage in a chat with your colleague. Rest your strained eyes, take a few deep breaths, and clear your mind as much as possible. This is the easiest way to manage tax season anxiety and stress.
7. Take care of yourself: Especially as an accounting firm owner, you might be drawn towards working 24/7. Firstly, it takes a toll on the physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Secondly, it creates additional pressure for the team members to deal with an extremely problematic way of working. It might seem extremely difficult, but make time for yourself – go for a walk, sip on that juice, step out for lunch even if for 15 minutes. Working all day isn’t a recipe for success, and it most definitely won’t help you achieve the productivity you seek.
Managing tax season madness and stress: Wrapping up
No matter what the tax filing situation is today, remember that the season will pass, but the stress may not. Amidst the madness, it is important to prioritize yourself. If you can maintain physical, mental, and emotional well-being, you can be productive and help your clients achieve what you promised. Implement practical strategies not just for yourself, but also for your team members as they struggle to meet all the targets of the season. Even for your team members, make sure to display empathy. Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish, it is important to deliver your best work and thrive through the season.
If every tax season gets extremely overwhelming despite your best efforts to maintain calm, you should consider outsourcing, where a team of tax experts helps you navigate through the complexities seamlessly, enabling you to cater to your clients in their best interest. Write to us at connect@finsmartaccounting.com to know more!
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Director Growth Strategy & Alliance
Maanoj Shah is a finance and outsourcing expert with strong Business Strategy and Scaling-up experience. Over the last 20 years, he has incubated multiple businesses and helped build global enterprises in verticals as diversified as hospitality, technology, and healthcare.
