How to manage client expectation during the tax season?

For CPAs and accountants, accounting service providers, tax season is the most productive period of the year. This is also a stressful period, and getting beaten up by peak tax season workload is typical, as are sleepless nights, worry, and a constant sensation of not being capable of accomplishing enough. The 2021 filing season for the 2020 tax year will provide unique problems. Aside from all of the work that CPAs have, they also have to deal with unsatisfactory customer expectations. Many outsourcing companies, with their proven track record of enabling CPAs, EAs, and accounting firms to resource themselves through flexible engagement models, offers the solution.Nothing beats having a proactive dialogue at the start of the tax season to set correct expectations. This makes it easier for CPAs to set clear limits and effectively plan their workload.

How to manage the client expectation during the tax season?

Here are some proven ways that can help you in managing client expectations during tax season:

Clearly defined deadlines:

Set time limitations for collecting customer data and remember to bring the tax training date. This will start the process of real-time data transmission, which will help complete tax returns on time and keep consumers satisfied.

Define Service Level Agreements (SLAs):

Ascertain that you and your clients are on the same page in terms of deliverables and scope of work. An engagement letter is a wonderful idea for bringing the job scope to the client's attention and ensuring that they understand what you're delivering and when.

Client doubts:

Clients' skepticism of outsourcing is reasonable, but you must be able to articulate the benefits of outsourcing in a way that allows them to see the strategic advantages of outsourcing. Accounting outsourcing isn't a brand-new concept. For a long time, many businesses have outsourced their accounting and tax preparation responsibilities. They are not only lowering their costs, but they are also gaining a strategic edge as a result of this decision.

Adapting to current circumstances:

To thrive in today's accounting, businesses must be totally linked with digital transformation. The problem is with investments. Adopting the most up-to-date accounting technologies is critical, but COVID-19 and the resulting precarious financial condition of both businesses and their clients implies that technology investment may or may not be viable. It is necessary to embrace new technologies and make investments. Working with an outsourcing partner who uses cutting-edge technology and can ensure that the advantages of that technology are passed on to you is a simple way out of this difficulty.

Review your progress and reaffirm your expectations:

If things don't go as planned, keep your customer and team up to date on any changes to delivery dates. Micromanaging is not checking to see if the engagement is on track on a regular basis. Don't get the two mixed up. It's critical to be in touch on a regular basis to work through schedule issues and unanticipated research.

Operating as a single entity is one of the firm's basic beliefs. This means to work together and inspire one another during stressful moments and when dealing with the most difficult customer situations. Every member of the team is equally essential. We hope that these pointers reduce stress on your team and allow them to focus on surpassing client expectations.