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Tax Season Stress? Use Tech To Fight Accounting Burnout

Published on
February 3, 2025
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Tax Season Stress? Use Tech To Fight Accounting Burnout

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Introduction

Accounting operations professionals are intimately familiar with the challenges of tax season. While every department feels the pressure, you're in the unique position of having to maintain smooth operations while watching your team navigate these demanding months. Between managing time tracking accuracy, coordinating client and team communications, and ensuring integration across systems, the complexity can be overwhelming.

The pressure can take a toll on team performance and morale. You've likely noticed the signs: increasing utilization paired with decreasing realization, dissatisfied clients, and frustrated staff. These challenges are especially concerning when they appear during your busiest months.

The good news? Modern technology offers practical solutions to these operational hurdles. By strategically implementing the right tools, you can streamline workflows, improve accuracy, and — best of all — ensure your team is ready to take on the busy season with renewed energy.

Burnout vs. Stress: What's the Difference?

As you evaluate solutions for your team, you'll want to distinguish between regular stress and burnout. Stress is the body's natural response to challenges. It's the feeling of being temporarily overwhelmed, but often, you can bounce back with a good night's sleep or a weekend off.

Burnout, however, runs deeper. It’s chronic physical and/or mental exhaustion that develops when prolonged stress goes unaddressed. You’ve probably seen it manifest in staff as apprehension about going into work, difficulty focusing, losing patience with co-workers or clients, or even headaches.

You've likely observed these patterns in your own firm, and research from the University of Georgia confirms your experiences — burnout is pervasive throughout the accounting profession. Using the Maslach Burnout Inventory, researchers measured burnout across three key dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization (detachment or cynicism), and a low sense of personal accomplishment. They found that 99% of accountants are suffering from burnout, and nearly 40% of accountants report feeling an above-average level of burnout, citing long hours and high client expectations as significant contributors. 

What Causes Burnout?

In your role, you see firsthand how burnout develops, especially during tax season. Your team faces a perfect storm: a high volume of work compressed into a few months, complex client requirements, and the constant pressure of deadlines. Without the right operational systems in place, these challenges compound quickly.

You've observed how inefficient processes multiply this stress. When your team is managing workflows through disconnected tools like spreadsheets and emails, they're spending valuable time on administrative tasks instead of client work. Your tax preparers and CPAs find themselves working late not because of complex tax issues, but because they're hunting down client documents or sending status updates.

Client expectations add another layer of complexity to your operational challenges. New clients often don't understand the time required for accurate tax preparation, putting pressure on your already-stretched team to meet aggressive timelines while maintaining quality.

But none of this is news to you. The question is, ‘How do we address these challenges most effectively?’

While addressing burnout requires a comprehensive approach — including structural changes to workload management, staff development, and industry-wide cultural shifts — this article focuses specifically on the technological tools that can help reduce unnecessary stress. 

5 Ways to Fight Tax Season Stress With Technology

Technology alone won't solve burnout, but it represents a concrete first step that firms can take to eliminate many of the administrative friction points that exacerbate tax season pressure. When combined with other organizational initiatives like workload rebalancing and mental health resources, these technological solutions become part of a larger strategy for supporting staff wellbeing.

Let’s explore how technology can help lighten the load and keep your team motivated.

1. Implement Practice Management Software

Modern accounting practice management solutions do more than track time — they create a central nervous system for your firm. For example, platforms like Firm360 integrate project management, time tracking, document collection and communication, all in one place. This reduces the mental load of juggling multiple systems, helping prevent those frustrating data silos that often lead to extra work and stress.

Instead of chasing down client emails, your team will benefit from a single dashboard where they can see what needs attention, update progress, and collaborate seamlessly. The result? Less stress.

For instance, when Saranto P. Calamas CPA implemented an integrated practice management solution, the firm experienced a transformation in its operations and culture. By embracing a comprehensive, user-friendly practice management solution, the firm realized unprecedented levels of efficiency and employee satisfaction.

2. Automate Document Management

You know exactly how much time your team spends chasing documents and requesting missing information from clients — it's one of your key operational pain points. A robust document management system with client portal functionality transforms this process. Your clients gain the ability to upload files directly and securely, while your team benefits from automated document workflows. This eliminates hours of manual organization and follow-up, reducing stress during your busiest periods.

In practice, this means your team spends less time on administrative tasks and more time on valuable client work. Case in point, we return to Saranto P. Calamas CPA. After their adoption of an accounting practice management software, the streamlined document management process improved internal efficiency and delighted clients with its convenience.

3. Use Time-Tracking Tools with Analytics

Your current time-tracking challenges might extend beyond simply logging hours. Modern practice management tools for time-tracking give you the operational insights you need to prevent burnout before it starts. You'll be able to spot concerning patterns, like team members consistently logging excessive overtime, and redistribute workload accordingly. This kind of proactive management helps you maintain both productivity and morale during your busiest periods.

4. Deploy Communication Platforms for Seamless Collaboration

If you’re managing a hybrid work environment and dispersed teams, you understand the critical importance of clear communication. Your current process might involve juggling multiple communication channels, leading to missed updates and coordination headaches. By implementing a unified communication platform, you can transform how your teams collaborate. Instead of managing endless email threads, you'll have a single platform where all team members can share updates, files, and task assignments in real time.

5. Automate Reporting

If you haven’t yet implemented an integrated accounting practice management system, you're likely spending hours each week pulling data from various systems to create the reports your firm needs. By automating your KPI tracking and report generation, you can reclaim this time for more strategic activities. Picture having real-time dashboards that automatically update with the metrics you need most — from utilization rates to project status updates. Your team gains immediate access to performance insights without the manual work, and you get accurate data for decision-making without the late nights spent compiling reports.

Conclusion

Tax season will always be demanding, but technology can help transform it from overwhelming to manageable. By implementing the right digital tools before peak season hits, you can eliminate many of the administrative burdens that contribute to accounting burnout. When your team can focus on valuable client work instead of administrative headaches, you're not just improving efficiency — you're investing in their wellbeing and your firm's long-term success.

Firm360

Canopy

Karbon

TaxDome

Best For Firms That:
Need an expert-driven, robust solution with U.S. support
Focus on tax resolution services, but also need project management
Firms operating globally that consider AI a necessity
Require support for multiple languages & desire a heavily branded client experience
Document Management
Client Portal
Integrated Time & Billing
Basic Reporting Options
Advanced Reporting Options
At some plan levels
Payment Collection via Credit Card & ACH
E-signature
Via integration
Additional fee
Piloting as of November 2024
Project Management
At some plan levels
Additional fee
Automated Workflows
Additional fee
Advanced Integration Options
At some plan levels
Dedicated Customer Success Manager
At some plan levels
Unclear
Additional fee
At some plan levels
Strong Customer Service Reputation
U.S. Based Customer Support
Unclear
Unclear
Built by Accountants, for Accountants
IRS-integrated Transcript Retrieval Tool
Additional fee
AI Integration
Straightforward Pricing
Monthly Pricing
Based on annual billing and listed prices in Nov. 2024. *Denotes "per user"
$49 - $99*

Custom pricing for 20+ users.

3-user minimum for Standard & Premium plans.
$150 - $175 base price for client engagement platform only.

PLUS

$89 - $107 for remainder of modules for first user.

Small-firm pricing available with limited capabilities.
$59 - $89*

Enterprise pricing available.

Add-ons for implementation, training, customer support & more.
$58 - $66* depending on subscription length.

Seasonal users: $85.

Basic

Popular
$96/year
Basic features for up to 10 users with everything you need.
Get started

Business

$192/year
Advanced features and reporting, better workflows and automation.
Get started

Enterprise

$384/year
Personalised service and enterprise security for large teams.
Get started
Overview
Basic features
Users
10
20
Unlimited
Individual data
20GB
40GB
Unlimited
Support
Automated workflows
200+ integrations
Reporting and analytics
Analytics
Basic
Advanced
Advanced
Export reports
Scheduled reports
API access
Advanced reports
Saved reports
Customer properties
Custom fields
User access
SSO/SAML authentication
Advanced permissions
Audit log
Data history

Firm360

Best For Firms That:
Need an expert-driven, robust solution with U.S. support
Document Management
Client Portal
Integrated Time & Billing
Basic Reporting Options
Advanced Reporting Options
Payment Collection via Credit Card & ACH
E-signature
Via integration
Project Management
At some plan levels
Automated Workflows
Advanced Integration Options
At some plan levels
Dedicated Customer Success Manager
At some plan levels
Strong Customer Service Reputation
U.S. Based Customer Support
Built by Accountants, for Accountants
IRS-integrated Transcript Retrieval Tool
AI Integration
Straightforward Pricing
Monthly Pricing
Based on annual billing and listed prices in Nov. 2024. *Denotes "per user"
$49 - $99*

Custom pricing for 20+ users.

3-user minimum for Standard & Premium plans.

Basic

Popular
$96/year
Basic features for up to 10 users with everything you need.
Get started

Business

$192/year
Advanced features and reporting, better workflows and automation.
Get started

Enterprise

$384/year
Personalised service and enterprise security for large teams.
Get started
Overview
Basic features
Users
10
20
Unlimited
Individual data
20GB
40GB
Unlimited
Support
Automated workflows
200+ integrations
Reporting and analytics
Analytics
Basic
Advanced
Advanced
Export reports
Scheduled reports
API access
Advanced reports
Saved reports
Customer properties
Custom fields
User access
SSO/SAML authentication
Advanced permissions
Audit log
Data history

Canopy

Best For Firms That:
Focus on tax resolution services, but also need project management
Document Management
Client Portal
Integrated Time & Billing
Basic Reporting Options
Advanced Reporting Options
At some plan levels
Payment Collection via Credit Card & ACH
E-signature
Additional fee
Project Management
Additional fee
Automated Workflows
Additional fee
Advanced Integration Options
Dedicated Customer Success Manager
Unclear
Strong Customer Service Reputation
U.S. Based Customer Support
Unclear
Built by Accountants, for Accountants
IRS-integrated Transcript Retrieval Tool
Additional fee
AI Integration
Straightforward Pricing
Monthly Pricing
Based on annual billing and listed prices in Nov. 2024. *Denotes "per user"
$150 - $175 base price for client engagement platform only.

PLUS

$89 - $107 for remainder of modules for first user.

Small-firm pricing available with limited capabilities.Custom pricing for 20+ users.

Basic

Popular
$96/year
Basic features for up to 10 users with everything you need.
Get started

Business

$192/year
Advanced features and reporting, better workflows and automation.
Get started

Enterprise

$384/year
Personalised service and enterprise security for large teams.
Get started
Overview
Basic features
Users
10
20
Unlimited
Individual data
20GB
40GB
Unlimited
Support
Automated workflows
200+ integrations
Reporting and analytics
Analytics
Basic
Advanced
Advanced
Export reports
Scheduled reports
API access
Advanced reports
Saved reports
Customer properties
Custom fields
User access
SSO/SAML authentication
Advanced permissions
Audit log
Data history

Karbon

Best For Firms That:
Firms operating globally that consider AI a necessity
Document Management
Client Portal
Integrated Time & Billing
Basic Reporting Options
Advanced Reporting Options
Payment Collection via Credit Card & ACH
E-signature
Piloting as of November 2024
Project Management
Automated Workflows
Advanced Integration Options
Dedicated Customer Success Manager
Additional fee
Strong Customer Service Reputation
U.S. Based Customer Support
Built by Accountants, for Accountants
IRS-integrated Transcript Retrieval Tool
AI Integration
Straightforward Pricing
Monthly Pricing
Based on annual billing and listed prices in Nov. 2024. *Denotes "per user"
$59 - $89*

Enterprise pricing available.

Add-ons for implementation, training, customer support & more.

Basic

Popular
$96/year
Basic features for up to 10 users with everything you need.
Get started

Business

$192/year
Advanced features and reporting, better workflows and automation.
Get started

Enterprise

$384/year
Personalised service and enterprise security for large teams.
Get started
Overview
Basic features
Users
10
20
Unlimited
Individual data
20GB
40GB
Unlimited
Support
Automated workflows
200+ integrations
Reporting and analytics
Analytics
Basic
Advanced
Advanced
Export reports
Scheduled reports
API access
Advanced reports
Saved reports
Customer properties
Custom fields
User access
SSO/SAML authentication
Advanced permissions
Audit log
Data history

TaxDome

Best For Firms That:
Require support for multiple languages & desire a heavily branded client experience
Document Management
Client Portal
Integrated Time & Billing
Basic Reporting Options
Advanced Reporting Options
Payment Collection via Credit Card & ACH
E-signature
Project Management
Automated Workflows
Advanced Integration Options
Dedicated Customer Success Manager
At some plan levels
Strong Customer Service Reputation
U.S. Based Customer Support
Unclear
Built by Accountants, for Accountants
IRS-integrated Transcript Retrieval Tool
AI Integration
Straightforward Pricing
Monthly Pricing
Based on annual billing and listed prices in Nov. 2024. *Denotes "per user"
$58 - $66* depending on subscription length.

Seasonal users: $85.

Basic

Popular
$96/year
Basic features for up to 10 users with everything you need.
Get started

Business

$192/year
Advanced features and reporting, better workflows and automation.
Get started

Enterprise

$384/year
Personalised service and enterprise security for large teams.
Get started
Overview
Basic features
Users
10
20
Unlimited
Individual data
20GB
40GB
Unlimited
Support
Automated workflows
200+ integrations
Reporting and analytics
Analytics
Basic
Advanced
Advanced
Export reports
Scheduled reports
API access
Advanced reports
Saved reports
Customer properties
Custom fields
User access
SSO/SAML authentication
Advanced permissions
Audit log
Data history

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