Today's Features
BUSY SEASON MANAGEMENT

The IRS in 2026: Quiet Backlogs, Harder Fixes, and Late Guidance

Less capacity, more obligation.

By CPA Trendlines Research

Identity theft is becoming one of the biggest time drains for tax professionals this filing season, and the IRS may be less equipped than ever to handle it.

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According to the IRS Advisory Council—the body representing tax professionals—identity-theft refund cases now take nearly two years to resolve, as staffing cuts and system limits slow IRS response.

But identity theft is only one of a long list of problems that can only get worse this year. Tax professionals are bracing for prolonged client disputes and frustrating follow-ups with an understaffed, ill-equipped IRS.

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CLIENT SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

Six Times to Pick Up the Phone This Tax Season

Businessman talking on phone in the office

The personal touch goes a long way toward client retention.

By Ed Mendlowitz
Tax Season Opportunity Guide

Clients are not numbers on a list that needs to be reduced. They are all individuals and consider themselves very important people and want professionals who treat them accordingly.

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It is attitudinal and accountants must adopt that mindset and transmit that through to their culture. So you need to know when it’s essential to pick up the phone.

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PRO Member Exclusive

Succession Planning? Time Is Running Out

Businessman running after clock in silhouette

M&A BONUS: A 22-point due diligence kit.

By Domenick J. Esposito
8 Steps to Great

Much has been written and discussed regarding succession planning at CPA firms driven by the vast number of founders, leaders and rainmakers who are retiring at a record pace.

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Key takeaways in this post:

  • Mid-market sustainable brands generally combine practices as opposed to acquiring or buying practices.
  • Spend time to make sure it feels right.
  • The easier part is getting the contract signed; the harder part is the integration of the two practices and to make sure 1 + 1 at least = 3.

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ADVISORY & CONSULTING

Busy Season 2026: The Year CAS Firms Seize the Lead

Why is the busy season better for CAS accountants?

CAS Comparison: At firms where CAS is the leading fee-generator, CAS accountants are handling half the book (left) and collecting 10 times the fees (right).

By CPA Trendlines Research

With busy season 2026, accountants specializing in client accounting services are reaping the benefits of a year’s worth of hard work, in a smoother path to April 15, more compliant clients, and higher fees, according to the CPA Trendlines Busy Season Barometer.

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The Busy Season Barometer marks the 2026 tax season as the breakthrough moment when CAS crosses from merely an aspirational experiment to a routine part of the service mix for small and midsize firms.

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ADVISORY & CONSULTING

How to Build a Scalable CAS Practice

cloud computing enables digital growth with secure data storage, scalable infrastructure, and strategic cloud-based business solutions

Consider delegation vs. automation.

By Hitendra Patil
Client Accounting Services: The Definitive Success Guide

Client Advisory Services (CAS) are much more than just a passing trend or buzzword. They represent a fundamental shift in how accounting firms define their value and interact with clients. Offering CAS means your firm is adopting a new approach to practicing accounting, one that changes how services are provided, how clients view your role, and how your firm builds long-term revenue. It’s not just adding another service line; it’s a strategic change shaping the future of the profession.

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According to survey insights, 59 percent of accounting firms currently offer CAS. Among these, 73 percent have been providing these services for over five years. However, for many, offering CAS and growing it are two different challenges.

The key question is no longer, “Should we offer CAS?” but:

“How can we expand CAS without adding complexity, chaos or costs?”
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