As a tax preparer, it’s understandable if you tend to forget about the correct order of things, especially if it’s about the tax season timeline. You have a lot on your plate, and there are many things you need to take care of, so it’s forgivable if the tax season timeline is confusing and difficult to memorize for you.
So, we’ve curated a simple tax season timeline guide to making your tax preparation more manageable and efficient.
Let’s get started!
Overview of the Tax Season Timeline
If you are a tax preparer for a company, you must have an overview of the timeline and crucial things that must be done in a year so that when it’s time to file the taxes, you already have all the resources you need without rushing yourself and the taxpayer. Here’s a simple timeline of the tax season you need to be aware of and prepare:
1. Months of December to February: Early Tax Season
December is usually the start of tax season, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) opens around January 28. Most tax preparers are often not that busy during this season because taxpayers are still waiting on the tax forms from their employers, so the tax preparer has nothing to take care of yet until January 31, which is the due date of the tax forms.
Months of December to January are the time for tax preparers like you to prepare for the next months and reach out to your clients to encourage their returning business. But, if you have an established practice, you may get busy as soon as the tax season starts because some clients fill up their calendar early to get their refund.
2. Months of March to April: Peak Tax Season
These months are the months where you’ll find yourself the busiest because you probably need to keep up with the taxpayer who’s rushing to file their taxes before the deadline, which is around April 15. To save yourself from the rush, give your clients solutions to speed up the filing process or set a deadline of your own.
3. Months of May to September: Off-Season for Tax Preparers
These months are the months for tax preparers to calm down and take a break because the tax season rush is finally over. However, not all tax preparers are not busy these months because different tax preparers have different clients and offer additional other services.
4. Months of October to November: Preparation for Tax Season
These months are your time to prepare for the upcoming tax season. It’s better to start early as soon as possible so that you can make a thorough preparation to avoid the rush and potential complications. The preparations you can do can include setting up your tax pro software, updating and testing all technologies in the office, renewing your PTIN, reviewing any tax law changes, and reaching out to past clients.
Conclusion
The responsibilities of a tax preparer are not that easy. If you are a tax preparer yourself, you should consider having professional tax preparation software to make your tax preparations easier to manage. It can make your life less stressful and complicated since you can easily track and monitor all your tax preparation requirements.
If you are looking for the best professional tax software, Keystone Tax Solutions has got what you need! Our software for tax preparers aims to help small and large tax offices with many employees grow their tax business. Get in touch with us to know more about our packages!
