The CA Thingy
How Not to Burn Out During Tax Season
April 19, 2025
For most CA firms, tax season feels like a war zone—late nights, endless client follow-ups, and non-stop chaos. But it doesn’t have to be this way. With the right prep and systems, you can get through peak filing months without burning out your team—or yourself. Here's how.
1. Start Early, Not Just Fast
- Don’t wait for April to start preparing. Begin outreach and data collection at least 30–45 days in advance.
- Send document checklists early. Set internal deadlines well before the official ones.
- Build a tax-season calendar and communicate it clearly to your team and clients.
2. Build a Filing Pipeline, Not a Backlog
- Segment your clients based on complexity and readiness.
- Tackle easy cases first to create momentum and reduce pile-up.
- Use a central task dashboard to track who’s filed, who’s pending, and who’s stuck.
3. Automate Repetitive Touchpoints
- Send automated reminders for document submissions and payment links.
- Use templated replies for common queries: “What documents are needed?” or “What’s the due date?”
- Even better—offer a self-serve portal for clients to upload and track progress.
4. Protect Your Team’s Energy
- Don’t normalize overwork. Block time for breaks, food, and rest—even during crunch weeks.
- Assign team members to roles clearly: who’s handling queries, who’s reviewing, who’s communicating.
- Reward effort with shout-outs, bonuses, or even just a pizza day. Small morale boosts go a long way.
5. Clients Respect Clarity, Not Chaos
- Set realistic turnaround expectations from the beginning.
- Keep them informed with simple, non-jargon updates.
- When clients feel looped in, they’re less likely to panic—and less likely to panic you.
Final Thoughts
- Burnout isn’t a badge of honor—it’s a systems problem.
- Tax season can be a sprint without being a mess.
- Plan ahead, lean on tools, and keep your firm (and mind) running smoothly.