SURVEY RESULTS: Who’s Afraid of Busy Season 2017?

CPA Trendlines Research projects shake-out of weaker firms.

Join the survey. Get the results.

By Rick Telberg
CPA Trendlines

The difference between the potential winners and losers this busy season could hardly be more stark, according to a CPA Trendlines analysis of the annual Busy Season Outlook tracking survey.

While some 56 percent of accountants so far say they’re looking at a “better” or “much better” busy season this year than last year, a distinct minority of about 16 percent is bracing for problems, trouble and setbacks.

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The annual survey tracks the attitudes, behaviors and benchmarks of tax and accounting professionals throughout the season, providing real-time metrics and trends by which practitioners can chart and steer their business plans. The survey remains open throughout the season, as an invitation to professionals to participate regularly. As a reward for joining the survey, participants are provided the first look at new topline findings. Join the survey; Get the Results.

In examining some of their other responses, the reasons emerge with clarity. For instance, those expecting a “worse” year, are three times more likely than those expecting  “better” season to cite the “general economic situation” as a chief concern, twice more likely to blame “competition from others,” a third more likely to report “technology or software problems, and a quarter more likely to be having problems with “new accounting and auditing” and staffing” issues. Those issues cut to the heart of fundamental and basic operations.