Let's be honest, when you first heard about the IRS starting on schedule this year, you probably laughed. Between staffing shortages and the chaos of implementing brand-new legislation, a delayed opening seemed inevitable. Yet here we are, filing season launching on time with more guidance than anyone expected. Don't get too comfortable, though; this year still requires serious strategic adjustments.
The Real Problem (It's Not What You Think)
Most practitioners are bracing for IRS delays and unclear guidance. Fair enough. But the bigger challenge? Your clients are walking in with wildly inaccurate expectations fueled by social media tax "experts" and political soundbites. Picture this: every senior citizen convinced their Social Security is suddenly tax-free, servers expecting massive refunds from tip deductions they don't qualify for, and business owners certain their new corporate structure will slash their liability in half.
You're not just preparing returns this year, you're deprogramming misinformation. Budget your time accordingly.
Start Treating January Like November
The firms having smooth tax seasons stopped treating this like a four-month sprint years ago. They're running year-round operations where books stay current, clients upload documents as they arrive, and tax planning conversations happen quarterly, not in a panic on April 10th.
Here's a simple test: If a client sold investment property in March, did you know about it in April, or did you find out when their 1099-B arrived in February of the following year? The answer tells you whether you're running a tax practice or a crisis management service.
Your New Best Friends
Two underutilized tools will save you countless hours: IRS online accounts (both taxpayer and pro versions) and ruthlessly specific engagement letters. The online accounts now handle powers of attorney that used to take weeks; they're processed immediately. Get every client set up, even the technophobic ones.
On engagement letters, spell out everything: 48-hour response requirements, payment-before-filing policies, what happens with late documents, and rush fees for procrastinators. The OBBBA complexity gives you perfect cover to raise fees across the board.
Two Things That Died This Year
Paper refund checks are gone. So is the old postmark game, where you could drop returns in a mailbox at 11:59 PM and call it filed. Clients need direct deposit information on file, and anything mailed needs hand-stamping at the post office or certified mail tracking. Better yet, just e-file everything.
The Liberation Strategy
Keep a running list of clients who aren't worth keeping. When someone consumes three hours of your time for a $300 return and fights you on every recommendation, note their name. In October, send them a letter explaining you're raising fees, then quote them triple your normal rate. The problem clients disappear. The ones who stay become profitable.
Most importantly, the IRS isn't going to rescue you when things go sideways. Phone hold times are measured in hours, not minutes, and resolution timeframes span months. Your job is setting realistic expectations upfront, documenting everything obsessively, and communicating constantly.
We've survived worse tax seasons. You'll survive this one too, just don't try doing it the old way.
Christine Gervais is a licensed CPA, using her skills to help businesses grow and achieve their fullest potential. Christine has a Master’s degree in accounting from Southern New Hampshire University in addition to holding her CPA license for over a decade. Notably, Christine is a nationally recognized speaker providing education to other CPAs on how to best serve clients as well as instruction on a wide variety of topics for business owners on how to maximize success. Christine prides herself on the value she can bring to clients with her extensive tax knowledge and provides strategic, forward-thinking financial strategies to help clients grow. When not behind her desk, you can find Christine spending quality time with her daughter and stepson or tending to the family’s excessively loved farm animals.
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