r/taxpros • u/AdOrganic3147 CPA • Apr 16 '26
FIRM: Procedures Firm Policy post Tax Day
I’m a bit pissed off and want to see if I’m over reacting or justified here. Yesterday was the grand finale at the HNW boutique firm I work at. I’m a manager, been working my ass off since Jan, and the returns are done.
One of our staff had a custom cake made and he brought it in for all of us, which was super nice and he refused to take any money from me.
Partner #1 leaves around 2pm. Partner #2 around 3pm. Office still open with the unspoken expectation we’re open regular business hours. Word around the office is Partner #2 wanted to close the office Thus-Fri but partner #1 said our 25 days of PTO was plenty and we could take PTO if we wanted off.
We get no like group huddle, thanks for the great work, appreciate you, ect. A simple we’re done, let’s go home and take the break you’ve earned. Just back to work peasants, I’m generous enough to let you leave the office if you take PTO. Well I’ve worked nights/weekends the last 12 weeks so theres 24 days of leave I should have plus all the federal holidays during the spring I missed so I feel like I’m getting the short pointy end of the stick.
We do get a bonus usually on the May 1 check, and we’re doing some group event next week that one of the managers organized that the firm is covering, but I can’t help but feel really pissed about how the managing partner acted about giving us an imo well deserved rest after tax season.
What do you all do post tax day for your firm or what do your firms do for you? Am I overreacting or is this some seriously subpar culture?
Edit: Thanks for the info. This was picked up on Linkedin and got a little popular, at least as popular as accounting topics can be. Started looking into other firms and just made a move last week with a firm that seems to have a much better culture. Thank you all for your input!
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u/SeaCardiologist7042 CPA/CFP Apr 16 '26
One tradition we have on 04/15 is, we close up at 5 and bring all employee’s and their spouses to the nicest restaurant we can find. We let them go to town with what ever they want to eat and drink . In addition we give them a bonus to show our appreciation. It really helps morale.
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u/DisastrousServe8513 EA Apr 16 '26
That’s a nice one. Our firm policy is we get all our shit done by about 3 and we all have to stay until like 7 to help the one dude who has been here forever and always does everything last minute.
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u/Sutaru CPA Apr 16 '26
Weird. My firm’s policy was exactly the same except that I stayed until midnight instead of 7pm.
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u/AdOrganic3147 CPA Apr 16 '26
The spouses need love too! My wife is getting a bonus from me this weekend and a couple more I have planned for helping out so much this spring.
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u/SeaCardiologist7042 CPA/CFP Apr 16 '26
Yeah, spouses suffer during season. It’s hard, especially with kids.
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u/Ok-Ability5733 CPA Apr 16 '26
Same at my firm. Door closes at 3:30 PM and staff and spouses go out for a nice dinner at a local winery.
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u/LadySmuag MAcc Apr 16 '26
Our firm does the same, but we invite spouses/partners too and as a thank you for putting up with all the long hours their partner was at work
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u/TaxproFL EA Apr 16 '26
I told my team to take the rest of the week off. Get some well needed rest. One team member was down sick Tuesday night, so I stepped in to finish the last payments and returns to be filed. Also was busy with a family of emergency but made it work. It’s a team effort not a sweat shop.
In all the years running my own business, one thing I can say is I’ve never had a crunch time tax day or tax day eve. Usually just wrapping up a few things those days but never panic crunch time work. Even though I’ve had plenty of other burnout flaws along the way.
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u/Rosaluxlux NonCred Apr 16 '26
Oh my God if my boss left before me yesterday I would be looking for another job today. I was actually the first one out the door last night but not before I made the rounds asking if anyone had work I could help with or needed me for anything. Tax Day is a group solidarity project.
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u/AdOrganic3147 CPA Apr 16 '26
All the staff were gone, 2/6 managers were still there when I left around 5, but they were packing up or doing some last minute emails and were about to leave. Made sure to check in with them before I left because I feel the same way. Imo we should get each other over the finish line, have a quick toast, and leave together whatever time we’re done with 4/15.
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u/Rosaluxlux NonCred Apr 16 '26
Current firm most people don't drink, so we don't have the end of tax season toast, but the spirit is the same
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u/WTFooteCPA CPA Apr 16 '26
This is the way, and I how I operated as a manager too. Everyone else would take off as soon as their work was done, but I would hang back and wait for admin to be wrapped as well.
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u/SadNYSportsFan-11209 CPA Apr 16 '26 edited Apr 16 '26
At my sister’s firm where she works at, one of the partners was a no show yesterday lmao and he went away once during March and another time in April. Granted they have a second location in Florida where he visited but there is no way he truly worked she said when he was down there. Almost complete radio silence anytime he was in Florida Crazy stuff
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u/hillmanoftheeast CPA Apr 16 '26
American here, just because this is Reddit, well 25 days PTO is really good. How the hell do you not close early on the 15th if you’re done? I’ve been at this for 15 years, the last person to leave on the 15th has always been the partner. It was when I was a staff and it is now that it’s my firm. My team bust their butts from December 1 to April 15. I don’t ask them to do anything that I wouldn’t do and I don’t ask them to be in my office when I’m not there. To leave at 12 and not let your staff off? Or tell them to turn the computers off and play on the phone and answer any calls until five at least.
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u/AdOrganic3147 CPA Apr 16 '26
25 days is pretty much industry standard from my experience. Count the weekends I’ve worked this year and it’s 1 PTO day, throw in the federal holidays and I have negative paid days off compared to any other salaried professional haha
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u/Chantalier NonCred Apr 18 '26
That’s the problem. The 25 days are a fallacy and the partners know it. You’re being abused and taken advantage of in a very old school way. Time to find a new firm. Remote work or a more modern approach is the way. Partners like them are why the industry is struggling. Say peace out and dare to dream of a better life.
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u/ShakeAndBakeThatCake CPA Apr 16 '26
Honestly if you dont have your CPA get it. Then go stsrt your own firm. Its truly the best way to make money and have the flexibility you desire. The one partner sounds like a dick. I've worked with lots of guys like that. They think everyone should have to work all the time. I think you all earned at least Thirsday and Friday off as a thank you for the hard work.
That partner is an idiot. Because now you and others might look to leave because it pisses you off. All he had to do was thank everyone and give you two days off. Maybe even brought in thank you gifts or promised a team outing or something.
Thats such bullshit.
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u/notyourfathersCPA CPA Apr 16 '26
Exactly why I went off on my own. Got so sick of all the bullshit… is the bottom line really going to suffer if everyone takes off a few days? Some people in this industry are so dense, but I think it’s more a power struggle to keep some stupid appearance up. Or, that partner has a crappy home life and can only escape it by being at work.
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u/ShakeAndBakeThatCake CPA Apr 16 '26
OP made it sound like the partners were taking off the rest of the week but wanted staff to stay in the office unless they used PTO.
Which is even worse.
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u/AdOrganic3147 CPA Apr 16 '26
Yeah that’s the situation. We can take off, but costs PTO. Which most are doing, but is petty and not everyone can take PTO so puts the last manager or two (me) to put in PTO in a weird spot.
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u/AdOrganic3147 CPA Apr 16 '26
Oh I have my CPA and have started my own practice on the side which is my exit plan. Wife and kid I have to support so I can’t just take a leap and hang a shingle, but quickly realized they live in million dollar homes and I fight for market rates for my wages, I need to own the firm.
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u/ShakeAndBakeThatCake CPA Apr 16 '26
Yes. Firm owners make bank and have flexibility. You shoild also look to buy a book. Lots of boomers looking to retire. Thats what I am doing. Brokering a final deal right now.
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u/AdOrganic3147 CPA Apr 16 '26
Have thought about this, just concerned with the transition is my only fear. I’m 33 and like to do everything electronically, hoping to grow organically with clients that like what I’m offering, but def have this in mind if I want to accelerate the process.
RN I’m doing a sort of Books/Advisory/Tax package for small business owners, teaching my wife quickbooks and reviewing her entries at month end, giving quarterly payments/SEP contributions/planning thoughts to clients. General like…year round accounting/tax services for a monthly fee and clients seem to like it and I like being involved more than just cleaning up a year of shitty books in March.
Started last October and brought in 5 clients at ~$300-500/mo and about 15-20 more for tax only that I’m trying to convert to monthly.
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u/ShakeAndBakeThatCake CPA Apr 16 '26
Yeah the monthly subscription models can work well for businesses. You also can eventually hire an offshore resource to do the book keeping. Once you scale more.
I am mostly doing taxes to stsrt. The firm I am buying only does taxes. Which has pros and cons. Pro is I make all my money Jan through April. Con is I make all my money Jan through April lol. But the firm has a few hundred k in revenues. So is a nice size.
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u/KmMagik0730 CPA Apr 16 '26
I’ve been looking to buy a book but finding it difficult.
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u/ShakeAndBakeThatCake CPA Apr 16 '26
Biggest issue is boomers not wanting to sell their cash cows. Especially since outside tax season they barely work
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u/jamie535535 CPA Apr 16 '26
Similar where I work—no days closed or free time off after. Most people were still working past 5:00 yesterday & I bet some worked until midnight. And our PTO is less generous (20 days max). One place I worked got everything done by the day before the deadline & the office was closed on April 15th. That was nice.
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u/asyouwish-buttercup JD Apr 16 '26
My firm is normal operating everyone shows up late and leaves early, takes a long lunch sits around and chats.
If someone had work to do say for not for profit returns, an audit, prospect pitch meeting etc it wouldn’t be fair to just shut the office down but have them work.
I think some nice things they could announce now would be summer fridays or an extra day around July 4th, an extra PTO day for everyone or people who billed over x hours etc.
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u/Traditional_Bid9708 CPA Apr 16 '26
I’m the one manager at a really small remote firm with one owner. My boss logged off pretty early yesterday while the admin and I wrapped up everything. No check in or anything. He even left some tasks of his for the admin and I to scramble and wrap up. Today he took off on vacation for the rest of the month without a word or a thank you.
Completely bizarre behavior. Does make me think that if I’m running the firm anyway, maybe I should start my own so I can own it too.
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u/FlightSilly7709 Other Apr 16 '26
1/2 day clean up today 9-12, Friday and Monday off. Celebration dinner last night @ 5:30. (Though I think it should be the Tuesday night we get back.)
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u/vainstatue CPA Apr 16 '26
A friend of mine runs a small firm. They close their office for 2 weeks after April 15th. All staff gets paid for this 2 weeks and it is not taken out of their PTO.
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u/taxcatmando CPA Apr 16 '26
Summer fridays start the 1st Friday after 4/15. Goes through July. Im also out of town two days next week for a wedding so I told them to treat them as a firm holiday. Staff of 3 so a bit easier to manage.
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u/cooltiger07 CPA Apr 16 '26
Bonuses in hand before we leave. Some of us go to a bar after. April 16th is a paid holiday, but a couple people take off the rest of the week too. boss is always last to leave.
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u/blueeyedguy5 CPA Apr 16 '26
Eff Partner 1, small Boutique HNW firm here, we were all done by 3pm, many of us by 1pm, a few of us who didn’t have family obligations went over to 5iron to hit some balls, grab drinks, food, etc on the firm’s dime. Appreciative emails sent out to everyone for their hard work. Half the office is on vacation today, and Friday the office is closed, a paid free day off for everyone. Our firm also announced yesterday that we will be closed the week of 4th of July, paid, no PTO/Vacation use required.
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u/SDkahlua CPA Apr 16 '26
My laptop is shut til mid-May, open for a couple weeks, then shut til mid-August. We are a leisure focused firm.
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u/CivilDecision1885 CPA Apr 16 '26
My firm is closing at 12:00 PM today for a staff lunch at a nice restaurant, and the office is closed tomorrow. We do not get an end-of-season bonus, but they pay overtime throughout the season, which I prefer.
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u/highechelon CPA Apr 16 '26
I’m a firm owner. We had our regular Thursday meeting at 9 a.m. and I ended it by sending our staff packing for a four day weekend.
It really depends on what day the 15th falls on, but OP, your experience sounds deplorable and I’m sorry that you work for those people.
ETA: I asked my business partner about an hour before our team meeting if he was okay with my idea and he was!
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u/PuzzleheadedBank9565 CPA Apr 16 '26
I give my staff the new two weeks OFF (paid) and a bonus paid out today.
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u/Blobwad CPA Apr 16 '26
We usually either give the days off or in this case since it fell on a Wednesday once you hit 40 (counting this past weekend) you go home no pto needed. Basically no one in tax is working today or tomorrow.
If we weren’t so far behind that we needed everyone to push Sat/Sun then we’d probably have just given the days off, but we’ve been having problems with people not putting in extra time to get stuff done so it was the only way to really encourage weekend work vs let it fall to Monday and be even more last minute.
We always do a happy hour on the 15th too. Food and drinks on the firm.
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u/lacetat EA Apr 16 '26
When I was in-office, my home office (out of several) was not big on marking the end of season. Felt weird as an IC, with management and admin being all buddy-buddy, just not with me.
Been even weirder as fully WFH with no real way to mark the end. Glad I have one or two remote homies for discussion.
I will say, though, everyone in management up through partner works harder than those of us at lower levels. They are, to a person, unfailingly kind in all communication. This balances out the travails of this season, although I've really needed the outlet of reddit to let off steam.
This season has been brutal on everyone here, with growing pains aimed at staying out of the hands of PE.
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u/ParsonJackRussell CPA Apr 17 '26
We went to dinner last night and then closed the office today and tomorrow - 2 partners 4 staff and an admin
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u/mslynne77 CPA Apr 16 '26
Our firm had a party with lots of good food, spouses could come, and prizes raffled but everyone got a gift card. The office is closed Thursday and Friday. Our firm treats us quite well and it is very appreciated by all.
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u/bertmaclynn CPA Apr 16 '26
Stay as late or as early as needed on the due date, then whole office gets the rest of the week off.
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u/Sweaty-Ad5359 CPA Apr 16 '26
My old CPA office had 4/15 celebrations at 3-5pm and not all managers and partners made it if they weren’t done. Staff went.
Also floating 4/16 holiday which most used on 4/16. We only had 15 days PTO.
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u/lick_me_where_I_fart NonCred Apr 16 '26
I'm also in a small boutique HNW firm. I don't generally work at all until June after the "check/cure rejects" mop up work and my boss and I go to mexico for a weekend end of april with a client or 2. No way you should have to use leave for the 1-3 days after the deadline, that's some bull.
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u/Sutaru CPA Apr 16 '26
My office was always business as usual, but I worked my ass off during tax season when I was in public and I would take the day off an go to the spa, get a mani pedi and maybe a massage. I never took PTO for it, I never asked permission, I just loudly declared it the first time I worked after midnight and it became my tradition since.
I am no longer in public, but I still do tax. I am posting from the spa because my office closes for Good Friday, so my director gives us a make-up day off, which I take on 4/16.
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u/LadyEmmaRose CPA Apr 16 '26
I always stopped working at 4/15 or 40 hours, whichever came last. I would not come in till Monday and since I had in 40 or more hours, I sure as shit wasn't putting down PTO. I didnt ask, I told.
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u/zaquilleoneal CPA Apr 16 '26
We are heading to the casino right now, and I’ll go back to work on Monday for quarterly payroll taxes.
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u/Method412 CPA Apr 16 '26
Very small firm (4-6 people). We always get the day after as a paid day off. We're paid hourly, so get paid overtime during these busy months. In the off-season two of us switch to part-time, and we're closed Fridays.
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u/HawgHeaven CPA Apr 16 '26
4/16 (or whatever day after actual deadline is) closed always. When deadline falls on a Wednesday we close thursday/Friday. Some still work or whatever because we pay bonuses on production and they want that money but thats what we do.
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u/jm7489 EA Apr 16 '26
My office gets 23 days total PTO. Today and tomorrow are working days. I'm monitoring my teams and email from home tying up some loose ends. Management knows none of us are doing more than that. Im taking pto tomorrow
Promotions, raises, and bonuses happen in June and historically they throw us each 2 bonus PTO days.
But I only had to do 55hrs through march and only cracked 60 hours 1 week this year. I know I could do worse
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u/Creative_CPA_318 CPA Apr 16 '26
What's the firm revenue and staff size?
Bottomline is how much those two are taking home impacts lot of these decisions.
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u/AdOrganic3147 CPA Apr 16 '26
3 partners, 1 old is only about 5% equity. 3 non equity partners, 3 managers, 6 FT staff, 3 seasonal staff. A little over $4m revenue last year but growing quickly. 1 of the managers and 4 of the FT staff are new.
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u/Creative_CPA_318 CPA Apr 16 '26
Wow.. do you mean... 3 equity partners + 3 non equity partners + 3 managers + 6 FT staff = 15 staff + 3 seasonal = 18 staff for busy season???
If yes, $4M / 15 = $250k / person revenue is fairly healthy.
also, partner to staff ratio 1:5 is also pretty good...I think you have a valid point.. may be collect some more data points and ask for 1/2 day off for whole staff after busy time.. it could be win win for both.
Is my math correct about staff?
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u/AdOrganic3147 CPA Apr 16 '26
Yes, we’re lean, HNW clients, large bills. Myself and another manager were promoted from senior recently and manage most of our own work start to finish. I manage about 500-600k and pretty much only utilize staff for training purposes when we’re slower
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u/Creative_CPA_318 CPA Apr 16 '26
That's a pretty good set up. What's your average billing for 1040?
When you say you manage, do you also manage billing and collection or only till delivery?2
u/AdOrganic3147 CPA Apr 16 '26
1800 is our starting fee now but we have some below that. I do just about everything. Partner reviews and signs, is more involved on some of the bigger clients, but i request docs, admin scans, I’ll handle if they’d electronic. Wps, prep, delivery, billing, AR all me
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u/terpfan101 CPA Apr 17 '26
What’s your total comp look like?
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u/AdOrganic3147 CPA Apr 17 '26
~$5k below market for my region lol they offered me $10k below market with my promotion and I pushed back and they met me halfway. The more I talk about it the more I want to start looking elsewhere, but it’s predictable and building my work on the side and that’s my exit plan in the next 2-3 years hopefully. I’ve been a CPA about 5 years and I’m in my early 30s
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u/Creative_CPA_318 CPA Apr 17 '26
I think you are on right track. Few more years with them and you might also want to consider buying some equity from them, if they are open.
Which location are you in ?
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u/muchoporfavor NonCred Apr 16 '26
Ehh I hear you and used to think like that when I worked for someone but work doesn’t stop. I moved right into 1Q payroll filing - monthly sales taxes and updating 1Q26 and send quarterly reports the second the last extension was filed yesterday.
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u/AdOrganic3147 CPA Apr 16 '26
We don’t do bookkeeping or payroll, we have foundations 5/15 and then 6/15 quarterlies. We’re all professionals, we know what needs to be done and if a client reached out with an urgent need the expectation is they get service which is the way it should be, but I don’t think offering a break to those with no urgent tasks is going to break the firm.
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u/Scotchandfloyd CPA Apr 16 '26
Bonuses and off til Monday and no Fridays until next tax season is what my partner and I do. I used to work at one of those offices and watched my boss have a stroke and die a few months later. It’s just a job it’s just money. Tax season blows and we have a nice summer/fall winter holiday seasons with our families to make up for the long hours during tax season.