SURVEY RESULTS: Bullish on Busy Season 2017

Busy season bulls outnumber bears three to one. Via CPA Trendlines Research

Profession plows ahead with high hopes.

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By Rick Telberg
CPA Trendlines Research

If expectations pan out, Busy Season 2017 might be a banner year, according to the first soundings from the 18th annual CPA Trendlines Busy Season Barometer. There’s optimism in the air.

A full fifth of respondents tell us they foresee a busy season “much better” than last year’s. And more than a third—36 percent—believe their season will be at least “somewhat better.” Together these optimists make up 56 percent of respondents, more than three times the number who are dreading a tougher slog than last year.

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Granted, that number isn’t as high as 2016’s, when 61% reported improvements over 2015, but 2015 was the infamous annus horribilis, the year of tax prep hell. It wasn’t hard to imagine the next year being better. So 2016 wasn’t so bad, making it surprising that so many see 2017 turning out even better. Three upbeat respondents typify the three main causes of optimism.