CPA Firms Show Signs of Profit Weakness, Even as Fees Strengthen

The Numbers Explain Why 2026 Feels So Difficult.

**Revenue expectations** held through the season, while profit expectations declined sharply, creating today’s widening margin gap. (CPA Trendlines Busy Season Barometer 2026)

By CPA Trendlines

Across every major metric, CPA Trendlines is finding the same pattern: Firms are doing more work and generating more revenue — but keeping less of it.

MORE Busy Season Barometer

The dynamic was unearthed in gory detail by the Busy Season Barometer. fron-inr \isteb=ning from The Busy Season Barometer. The numbers through tax season didn’t break all at once. Instead, they had been drifting apart.

Posted on April 21, 2026

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