The Radical CPA: Remember Tax Season is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

It never fails, everyone freaks out in January.

And I mean everyone: team members, customers, and even seasoned partners. I’m not sure if it’s the after-the-holidays revved-up energy, the start of a brand new tax season, or the thought of all the work that is about come.

Customers are calling about appointments and organizers even though our software isn’t even ready. W-2s and 1099s have to go out, even though this year the IRS is updating its computers and not letting us file them up to January 10th.

The veteran tax season team members aren’t exempt from the January jitters either. They seem to get itchy about everything they know that needs to get accomplished in the next four months.

This year, even I freaked.

I reached out to a customer regarding the new 1065 filing dates, then I remembered when I double checked that they don’t begin until next year. Hello, January brain.

So I stopped, paused, took a breath, and reminded myself, it’s just January and every January seems to be trying to get the best of my mental sanity.

Then I remembered tax season is a marathon, not a sprint.

But, what I realized after a time-out, is that January comes every year. And every year W-2s get out, software gets installed, organizers find their way to old customers, and new prospective customers call. Oh yeah, and remember the Repair Reg freak-out from last year?

So, why are we all freaking out again?

Slow down, take a breath, be still, and get to work. Before you know it, the beginning of March will be here and then we will really have something to freak out about.

Side Note:  Freaking out can mean many different things to different accounting professionals, insert your personal freak-out when reading. I’m sure we can all relate.

Originally posted on The Radical CPA blog. For more content like this, directly to your inbox, sign up for The Radical CPA newsletter. Or buy the book.