16 Big Questions for Tax Season

How's busy season so far? Join the survey. Get the results.
How’s your busy season measure up? Join the survey: Get the metrics.

What’s your busy season forecast? Join the survey: Get the results.

By Rick Telberg
CPA Trendlines

The government shutdown could not have come at a worse moment for the Internal Revenue Service.

The tax season will bring its annual avalanche of returns. The IRS was already working with fewer agents than it had a few years ago, and now it’s even more shorthanded.

The new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act tax code is poorly understood by agents who need to be trained and taxpayers and tax preparers who need to be informed. Even after the shutdown ends, the backlog will be overwhelming.

The biggest problem may be the uncertainties. We can think of at least 16: