IMGCAP(1)] It’s already started and I don’t want to hear it.
It’s that time of the year when CPAs are bragging about all the tax season work they do.
This is what I have to say about that: get over it.
Bragging about working a gazillion hours during tax season is just not cool. I don’t care. I work a lot of extra hours during tax season and in the “off-season.” Nothing drives me more insane than all the complaining - even some sick folks celebrate long hours - like they are better professionals because they work all the time.
Do you ever hear a gardener complain about spring?
Do you ever hear a surgeon whine about a late-night emergency surgery?
Do you ever hear a retail store owner moan about Christmas sales?
Then stop complaining about a “season” your business is built around. And I shouldn’t even have to say it, but don’t discuss it with customers! If you are an auditor, you know tax season affects audit season.
It’s time to readjust your attitude and celebrate the season.
I once heard someone call tax season "opportunity season." I always thought that was a cool, positive name.
Whether you own your own firm or you work for someone else, you have the opportunity to make a decision after April 15th: is this the way you want to work for another year or for the rest of your life?
If your environment is so poor that you don’t like or enjoy tax season, either your firm, your way of managing a practice, or your profession is not the right fit. Something needs to change.
So, my challenge to you is to go into this tax season with that thought.
And after tax season, we can talk about how to change it.
Jody L. Padar, CPA, MST, is the CEO and Principal at
