Mastering Tax Season
Tax season can be a stressful time for both tax professionals and their clients, especially when dealing with those who are unprepared or running behind schedule. While some clients are highly organized, others may wait until the last minute, leading to rushed filings, missing documents, and unnecessary frustration. Fortunately, there are strategies to manage late or unprepared clients effectively—while also leveraging software like MyTAXPrepOffice to streamline the process and keep everything on track.
1. Perform a Client Audit
There will always be clients in your growing client list who aren’t prepared and cause headaches.
The basic idea of the client audit is to look at your entire list of clients and judge whether it’s worth dropping a few of them. To do that, you need to evaluate a few things:
How valuable is this client? This could be annual revenue, potential revenue, or even the potential for the client to refer others.
How much effort are they? Unprepared clients cost you more to serve.
Do they value your time and advice?
Are they inside your area of expertise?
If the effort it takes to serve them greatly outweighs the value they have for you, maybe it’s time to release those clients. If you want to break your relationship, be honest with the client why you aren’t the best person to serve them.
2. Start-of-Season Tax Explainer Video/Email
Every tax season, send clients a short video or email explaining how your services work, what they need to do, and next steps. It breaks down how the portal works, how to sign the engagement letter, what the general deadlines are, fees, common mistakes clients make, and how to get prepared for taxes.
And if you really want to make sure clients are prepared this season, send them an FAQ page. Link it in your email signature. Give thorough answers to all your most frequently asked questions. If clients ever ask one of them, instead of replying directly, just forward them your FAQ page.
3. Set Clear Deadlines and Expectations
One of the best ways to minimize last-minute chaos is by establishing early deadlines for document submission. Communicate these deadlines clearly via email, text reminders, or client portals. Let clients know that missing these deadlines may result in delays or the need to file an extension.
How MyTAXPrepOffice Helps: With MyTAXPortal, you can securely request and collect documents online, allowing clients to upload forms at their convenience. Automated reminders ensure they stay on track and meet deadlines without constant follow-ups.
4. Use Technology to Your Advantage
Paper-based tax preparation is outdated, inefficient, and prone to errors. Digital solutions help automate data entry, track missing information, and reduce back-and-forth communication. Using an all-in-one cloud-based tax software ensures that no matter where you or your clients are, everything is easily accessible.
How MyTAXPrepOffice Helps: MyTAXPrepOffice offers no networking or downloads. You can move seamlessly from the office to home. Work from anywhere, anytime, on any device. Our software runs on a browser so your work stays synced on all your logged-in devices.
5. Be Proactive with Extensions
Some clients will inevitably miss deadlines, no matter how many reminders you send. Instead of scrambling at the last minute, be prepared to file extensions early for those who may need them. Educate your clients on the importance of filing an extension rather than rushing and risking costly mistakes.
How MyTAXPrepOffice Helps: Easily generate and e-file extensions directly through the platform, keeping track of who still needs to submit documents. This ensures no client falls through the cracks and allows for a more organized, stress-free approach to handling late filers.
6. Charge Late Fees or Implement Priority Pricing
To encourage timeliness, consider charging additional fees for clients who submit documents past a certain deadline. This incentivizes them to act sooner while compensating you for the extra workload that last-minute filings create. Alternatively, offer priority pricing for clients who commit to early submission, rewarding those who plan ahead.
How MyTAXPrepOffice Helps: With custom invoicing tools, you can easily track client billing, apply late fees, and ensure payments are collected efficiently—all in one place.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal tax advice. Advanced Tax Solutions is not liable or responsible for any damages resulting from or related to your use of this information. It is your responsibility to refer to official IRS documentation for information regarding any tax laws or tax information shown here.
