Something we never have a shortage of are proposals to change our tax systems. When it’s election time, we hear even more proposals, as well as how various parts of our tax system are flawed, usually due to actions or inactions of the opposing party. We also hear lots of incomplete statements, promises of tax changes too costly to be enacted, and ideas that will be replaced by the time the winner gets down to crafting a real set of tax and budget proposals. This article describes some of the tax proposals of the two presidential candidates along with suggestions on how we should analyze them against principles supporting effective tax systems, with highlights of some important facts seemingly missing from current tax discussions. These proposals are also relevant to members of Congress as to whether they support any of them and how they align with tax changes that the member would like to see enacted.
The “Busy Season” Myth: Why Accountants Stay Stuck Waiting for Time That Never Comes
If you’re a CPA, you’ve heard it a thousand times. People outside the industry say it like it’s a weather report: “How was busy season?” Firm owners say it to each other, as if it’s a shared badge of honor: “Just get through April 15.” Then it becomes, “After extensions.” Then, “After we rehire.” And after every “busy season,” there’s the crash. The weeks of 60–70 hours. The nights. The lost family time. The feeling that life is on hold until the deadline passes. Here’s the problem: tax deadlines don’t end—they shift. March 15. April 15. September 15. October 15. Year-end planning. 1099s in January. Treating the calendar like the boss means building firms stuck in constant reaction. The truth is, “busy season” isn’t a season. It’s a mindset. And it’s one of the most expensive mindsets we’ve normalized in public accounting.
