TAX SEASON

Tax Prep Wages and Salaries Hit 4-Year High

By

Even as DIY returns cut into pros’ market share.

By CPA Trendlines

Wages for accountants and tax preparers are rising far faster than hiring as the 2026 filing season begins, even as early filing volumes trail last year’s pace.

Average hourly earnings in the accounting and tax preparation sector rose roughly 4 percent to 6 percent year over year, pushing pay for many accountants above $45 per hour, while employment across the tax and accounting sector is increasing only a few tenths of a percent.

MORE Busy Season

If current trends hold, the accounting industry will process about 150 million individual tax returns in 2026 — roughly 0.4 percent more than last year — with nearly the same number of workers..

READ MORE →

Cut Tax Season Stress: Twelve Tips

By

Happy businesswoman with laptop lying on the grass

Quick, low-cost ideas.

By Sandi Leyva
The Complete Guide to Marketing for Tax & Accounting Firms

I don’t want to stress you out, but we really do need to do something about our stress levels.

MORE by Sandi Leyva
GoProCPA.comExclusively for PRO Members. Log in here or upgrade to PRO today.

The American Psychological Association says our kids are getting headaches, having difficulty sleeping, and eating too little or too much because of pressure from school and household finances. The worst part is that  most parents were not aware of the severity of their children’s stress.
READ MORE →

Why Tax Clients Fire Their Accountants

By

Portrait of an angry man yelling on the phone

Here are 21 complaints. What could you be preventing?

By Ed Mendlowitz
Tax Season Opportunity Guide

Clients have many choices, including the choice of a tax preparer. Every new client an accountant gets is because that client left – fired – their previous accountant.

MORE by Ed Mendlowitz
GoProCPA.comExclusively for PRO Members. Log in here or upgrade to PRO today.

 

So why do clients leave?

Here are 21 good reasons why they should: READ MORE →

Get Your Fees Faster This Tax Season

By

Be sure to provide details.

By Ed Mendlowitz
Tax Season Opportunity Guide

Accounting is a business and businesses need to be paid.

It’s harder to justify prices when providing services rather than products. Products are usually priced before delivery while many times services are priced after delivery, i.e. performance.

MORE by Ed Mendlowitz
GoProCPA.comExclusively for PRO Members. Log in here or upgrade to PRO today.

Many accountants price tax returns before they are worked on, usually basing the fee on last year, or a rate schedule. Sending a bill with the return establishes the relationship that you should be paid promptly for the work done.

It shows that you run a business and also provides a courtesy to the client in that they can immediately evaluate the cost and value of what was done.

But just as importantly: READ MORE →