Picture this scene: Boxes of paper receipt are piling up. Your resources are stretched to the max, and then more personal tax returns flood in. Sounds familiar? It must be tax season already! The run up to the 31 January self-assessment deadline is a tough time. But there are ways to reduce the headaches that come with it. By following these tips you can ensure there is no pressure on you and your team. Plan ahead so that business development doesn’t get left behind when the team focuses on meeting the all-important deadline. Learn to say no. It’s always the ‘yes’ people that suffer from stress. Impose your own deadlines, you can always post earlier than HMRC’s. Simplify. Make it easier for your clients to provide you information. Have them complete a tax return checklist before they schedule an appointment with you. Track progress. Have good systems in place to know where you are with each client. Keep an eye on completions, and check that your records match those in HMRC’s agent list. Set fees at an appropriate level. Charge higher fees if data comes in late, but it is better to reward a lower price for early or on-time data. Spread the workload. Aim to finish about 75% of your annual PTR work by the end of December, and 25% workload in January. Consider other options. Outsource anything that someone else can do cheaper than your own hourly price/value. Find out more about how QXAS can make the tax season more profitable. Email us at [email protected] Call 0845 838 2452 VISHAL KURANI Bringing forth rich marketing experience in the accounting industry, Vishal blends his wealth of knowledge and creativity to educate accountants about the pressing industry issues. He is passionate about marketing and helps accountants scale their practice through his detailed write-ups. Unauthorized copying or plagiarism of our content is a violation of intellectual property rights. We take such matters seriously and will pursue legal action to protect our original work. Anyone found engaging in such activities will be held accountable under applicable laws. Originally published Nov 13, 2017 04:11:18, updated Mar 22 2021 Topics: accountants, Tax outsourcing, Tax return Don't forget to share this post! Most Popular QX Recognised “Leader” by IAOP, Achieves “Sustained Excellence” distinction and “All Star” award QX INSIGHTS | 2 MIN READ Leading Women in Payroll: In Conversation with Lou Gray Growth | 10 MIN READ QB Connect 2020 : 11 Experts Reveal How to Own the Future in Accounting Growth | 6 MIN READ How Much Does it Cost to Outsource Accounting Services? Accounting & Bookkeeping | 7 MIN READ Pay-Roll, Camera, Action: Setting the Stage for Payroll 2021 Growth | 3 MIN READ Get a Free Strategy to Transform Your Business Operations Resolve the talent gaps, reduce costs, and improve your margins Get a Free Consultation