A Complete Post-Tax Season Guide for Tax Professionals: Prepare for Next Year

April isn’t the finish line for CPAs and tax preparers; it’s a turning point. The long hours, late nights, and pressure of tax season leave many accountants physically and emotionally exhausted. You’re not just preparing returns; you’re fielding endless client questions, fighting deadlines, and getting stuck between multiple complex filings.

However, there’s still important work; it’s also the ideal time to focus on your health and lifestyle.

This post-tax season guide for CPAs and tax professionals offers a practical and balanced approach to staying productive without burning out while planning the next year to serve future clients.

Year-Round Responsibilities for Taxpayers

Do tax preparers work year-round? The answer is yes! Even outside of tax season, many ongoing obligations and client needs fill your work calendar. These are:

Ongoing Tax Work:

• Franchise and state taxes: Stay alert to state-specific requirements, as jurisdictions like California and Delaware have deadlines and compliance obligations that extend beyond tax season.
• 5500 filings: Employee benefit plan returns are due in the summer. File for clients with employee benefits or retirement plans during this time.
• Entity closures: Guide clients in formally dissolving inactive or unused businesses to avoid unnecessary fees or compliance issues.
• IRS and state notices: Respond to IRS audits, identity verifications, or rejected returns to minimize penalties.

What Do Tax Preparers Do in the Off Season?

Your work as a tax professional continues to grow even after reducing the burden of individual income tax filings after tax season. Tax preparer off-season work includes:

Late Filers: A Second Wave of Deadlines

• Late filers: Some clients needed more time to file returns because they missed deadlines, leading to more penalties and interest. Help them file their returns to save time and money.
• Amended returns: Sometimes, individuals or organizations fill in incorrect information while filing their tax returns. Thus, they must file a 1040-X form to correct those errors.
• Extended returns: The most complex returns often require extensions, giving you six more months to file. File those returns, including any penalties and late fees.

Financial and Compliance Backlogs

• Bookkeeping: Clean up neglected books and fix issues missed during tax season.
• Financial reports: Provide clients with quarterly or monthly financial statements.
• Sales tax filings: Stay current on multistate and e-commerce thresholds and review tax-changing laws and regulations for a smooth e-filing process.
• Payroll corrections: Fix payroll errors in Form 941s for accurate wages and salaries.
• Estimated payments: Help clients prepare and submit quarterly estimates (especially Q2 due June 15).
• Client onboarding: Add new clients who missed filing deadlines or haven’t filed in years.

Remember, post-season work is different. Even with a complete to-do list, there are usually a few urgent tasks or issues to be done, but at a more manageable pace.

Segment Your Client Base

After tax season ends, it’s the perfect time to organize your client list and plan. Segment your clients based on their needs to manage your time better, meet deadlines, and provide better service. Start by breaking your client base into clear categories:

• Fiscal Year Filers: Corporations, nonprofits, and trusts file taxes outside the usual tax filing deadline. They may not need help right now, but might need it later.
• High-Touch Clients include estates, partnerships, and businesses that file in multiple states. They often need more attention and regular check-ins throughout the year.
• Passive Clients: Simple W-2 filers who may file returns annually.

A CRM (Client Relationship Management) system or a practice management tool helps you manage your client segments. You can create tags, set follow-up dates, and track key deadlines.

But beyond just organization, AI is transforming how accounting firms operate. From automated workflows to predictive reminders and intelligent categorization, AI can help you proactively manage client needs, prioritize high-value interactions, and reduce repetitive manual work.

Cloud-based QuickBooks is the most commonly utilized accounting software by CPAs and other accounting professionals, seamlessly integrating with tax applications such as Lacerte, Drake, and ProSeries.

However, there are different tools too that help with daily financial tasks. These are:

Focus on Staff Development and Culture

After months of handling multiple projects and client demands, your team needs more than just time off. Here are five practical ways to support your staff and boost morale:

• Flexible Schedules: Allow employees to take shorter workweeks, remote work, or extended lunch breaks. This flexibility shows that you respect their effort and trust them to manage their time well.
• Recognition: Celebrate their accomplishments, including big wins and quiet contributions. Host a team lunch, write personal thank-you notes, or give shout-outs during meetings. Recognition boosts motivation, increases loyalty, and maintains a positive workplace culture.
• Professional Development: Offer webinars, paid courses, workshops, certifications, or in-house training sessions to your employees. This enhances their skills and shows that your commitment to their career growth is not limited to their output during tax season.
• Mental Health Resources: Burnout is real. Provide access to therapy, counseling apps, and employee assistance programs (EAPs), and encourage employees to take mental health leave without guilt.
• Ongoing Wellness and Support Initiatives
  Consider setting up regular wellness check-ins or optional group activities like weekly guided meditations, lunch-and-learnings on stress management, or even informal coffee chats. Create a space for honest conversations to build trust and unity among team members.

Restart Your Marketing Tactics

Tax season is usually too busy for marketing, but now’s the time to invest in your business growth. These marketing strategies help you increase your visibility online as a tax professional:

• Update your website and service pages and create informative content related to tax planning, accounting tips, etc.
• Ask clients to share feedback online and add new testimonials.
• Run a referral campaign offering bonuses/discounts for loyal clients to increase your network.
• Host free webinars or send emails and newsletters to potential clients.
• Attending networking events or conferences to show your expertise in tax preparation.
• Promote yourself on LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and other platforms to gain visibility.

Offer Advisory and Strategic Services

CPAs and tax preparers today are becoming trusted partners who help businesses reduce risks, increase profits, and plan for long-term success. Clients seek more strategic guidance to navigate today’s business challenges.

• Tax Planning: Offer investment planning and education savings options such as a 529 plan to reduce 2025 tax burdens.
• 1099 Filing Preparation: File a 1099 form for vendors and contractors to report income other than your wages, salaries, or tips from part-time jobs.
• Entity Structuring: Review and advise clients on various business structures, including S-Corp elections, LLC setups, and dissolutions, as well as cash flow management and financial planning to avoid legal fees and compliance issues.
• Virtual CFO: Offers forecasting, budgeting, and strategic insights for small and mid-size businesses that lack financial guidance.

Plan for Next Financial Year

Post-tax season is the perfect time for CPAs and accountants to pause, reflect, and realign. With the busiest period behind you, it’s an ideal opportunity to reset, recharge, and refocus on optimizing your firm’s operations for the year ahead. Start by asking yourself a few important questions:

• Which clients caused the most stress or delays?
• Where did your firm lose the most time or money?
• What can you delegate or automate upcoming tasks next season?
• What worked well and what didn’t, and how can you improve for next season?

After months of long hours, late nights, and personal sacrifices, it’s equally important to prioritize your well-being. Take a well-deserved break or vacation to reconnect with family and friends, unplug from daily distractions like emails and client calls, and embrace self-care routines or hobbies to recharge and stay mentally refreshed.

Although work remains, this quieter period gives you the space to focus on your firm’s strategic needs, support your clients with greater attention, and lead your team with renewed clarity.

By taking stock now and making thoughtful changes, you’ll be better prepared for a more efficient and successful financial year ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When does tax season end?

Tax season generally starts on January 1 and ends on April 15 yearly in the United States. However, the due date is delayed for the next business day if day 15 falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday in the United States.

2. How long does a tax preparer take to file your taxes?

The duration of tax filing depends on the complexity of the returns. Most basic returns would take only a few hours. However, business owners with huge investments, property sales, business expenses, stock options, etc., could take 2-3 weeks.

3. Do tax preparers get paid by the IRS?

Tax preparers are paid by their clients, not by the IRS, depending on the services needed. If you pay a preparer to do your taxes, you must spend a minimum of around $100, and it can go up to $500+ if you have multiple businesses.

4. What should clients do if they miss the April 15 deadline?

Individuals and business owners who missed filing taxes on time should request an extension online. They can do this by filing Form 4868 without facing any legal costs or penalties.

5. When are taxes due with an extension?

If you submit the tax extension by April 15, it can move the tax filing deadline to October 15. However, missing the October due date will lead to legal fees and penalties.