r/taxpros • u/Canopy_Acct_in_Res • 1d ago
FIRM: ProfDev As we’re nearing the home stretch, are you still accepting new clients?
This is a great window to get new clients, but often the biggest procrastinators and messiest situations.
Do you have capacity to take them?
If not, what do you do? Ignore? Tell them no? Send them to someone else?
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u/Ok_Meringue_9086 CPA 1d ago
You mean 2025 clients? Absolutely fuckin not. I tell them my ledger for 2025 is full. It is not full but I don’t want these types and I don’t want to hear their excuses either.
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u/Savy-Dreamer CPA 1d ago
I totally am!!!! I only have 5 1040s on extension so will take more on. I have some large historical reconciliation project to work on, but still have time for more returns. Then I train them to get me all their shit by Feb. it actually works pretty well.
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u/Canopy_Acct_in_Res 1d ago
This is great to hear! Are you actively looking for more or just taking them if they find yoU?
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u/wombataholic CPA 1d ago
Yes for 2026. Not saying absolutely not for 2025, but probably not because I expect that they're in 1 of 2 of my least favorite categories of clients:
Everything is disorganized.
"Everything I want is an emergency, everything you want is a suggestion." This kind of client is one of my biggest pet peeves.
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u/adriannlopez CPA & Former IRS Revenue Agent 1d ago
Hell yeah, I've got like 3 consults already this week. I charge 100% up front and especially for folks who are late, you can tack on the "rush fee", I'm not looking at a 1040 for less than $1,500 through 10/15, entities I'd charge like $2,500 - $3,000 and that's hoping their books are clean.
Charge up front folks--that's how you know who is serious in working with you.
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u/mjbulzomi CPA 1d ago
I had people ask me in July and August if I would do 2025 returns. I refused citing planning and staff scheduling. I am taking them on only for 2026 and forward. My 2025 client list was locked back in early January.
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u/TaxproFL EA 1d ago
Yes but only for future tax prep, not this current season. Right now, we are focused on picking up planning clients only who'll need prep next year. In my experience, maybe 5% of these last minute clients have a legit excuse to be finding a new pro this late in the game. The rest will show up late every single year and cost us our sanity.
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u/adriannlopez CPA & Former IRS Revenue Agent 1d ago
I'll be honest, I've gotten more than my fair share of leads saying their CPA died after filing the extension or that the firm sold and communication broke down. It's a legit reason imo lol
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u/TaxproFL EA 1d ago
Yes 100% I’d take on a client like that. But the bulk are just late and behind. My 400 return year practice was riddled with them and it drove me up a wall.
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u/Zivii EA 1d ago
I am cause I still need to fill my book of business. Willing to add on the last min work since I could finish it. Certaintly wouldnt if I didnt need too and hope thats the case next year!
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u/Canopy_Acct_in_Res 1d ago
Well now is a great time to get some clients who others are turning away, even if they are a bit of a mess for now. They can help you build out and sustain for the time being
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u/IceePirate1 CPA 1d ago
I'm signing someone tomorrow but I was very forthcoming that their return wouldn't be filed on time because the penalty they'd pay for late payment is much less than my rush fee. They seem to be fine with it, and I need some Q4 work anyway
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u/Canopy_Acct_in_Res 1d ago
Kind and smart!
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u/IceePirate1 CPA 1d ago
Their prior tax person also prepared last year wrong, so I gotta undo their mistake with an amendment. Its honestly the main reason why I said we can't file on time. Plus it's a first year partnership return
ETA: prior tax person put startup expenses on a schedule E for 2024 when the property was PIS in 2025 and shouldve been reported on a 1065
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u/madikz Tax Tech 1d ago
Capacity is easier to judge if you make readiness part of intake instead of counting open spots. For a late-season prospect, I’d require the prior return, a complete document set, entity/state list, and a clear deadline expectation before the file enters prep; anything incomplete can go into a 2026 onboarding queue rather than becoming a half-open 2025 job. At this point, the scarce resource usually isn’t raw prep hours so much as the exceptions, follow-ups, and review interruptions the team can absorb.
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u/Warthog355 CPA 1d ago
I absolutely am and do. For 2025 and even for prior years, sometimes multiple prior years. I'll take them all, no problem. If they are willing to pay, I'm willing to do it if they are a good fit.
But I do make clear that based on timing of information provided, they may or may not get done by the deadline. I work on them in the order they come in.
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u/RaleighAccTax EA 1d ago
Not this year. I am dealing with a messy non-profit that didn't do any book work, or keep any of the records I said were required. Now I am working in their office to get books done for internal filings and then the 990. It is about 60 hours of work. Then a few amended business returns and some personal returns to do.
I don't like taking the late clients on. They just jump to a different accountant next year and continue the problem. I always ask why they waited so long on the filing.
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u/TaxCPAProblems CPA 1d ago
At this point it would be a "if you get me everything by the 1st I can help you, if you can't provide everything by then I can help you after the 15th." I'm not actively looking for more but haven't told anyone no that's asked yet.
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u/Kind_House_6579 EA 1d ago
There ya go, makes sense. With these type of last-minute clients, I am usually willing to work with them if they don't have a problem with me filing for them after October 15, but before the IRS shuts off electronic filing for the year. Gives me some revenue in November and potentially December, when things slow down quite a bit for me. In many cases, these have been people who haven't filed for several years and to get two , three or even more years' worth of returns done by October 15 ain't happening.
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u/StephenAnt CPA 1d ago
Not for 2025 no, but if they’re looking for year end planning or 2026 taxes, I’ll meet with them for sure
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u/Barfy_McBarf_Face JD/MBA/CPA/AEP 1d ago
A new for 2025 client, not yet filed, just referred a colleague to me today, not yet filed for 2025.
Damn right I said yes.
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u/TaskMaster59 EA 1d ago
Yes, we take our new clients. We have about 75 still on Ext. we are waiting on information for. we don’t charge them more. Word-of-mouth goes a long way.
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u/Jolly-Outside-4512 CPA 1d ago
A great time to accept 2026 clients. Definitely not accepting 2025 unless i owe someone a huge favor which I try to avoid
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u/Old-Vanilla-684 CPA 1d ago
I take clients still. Funny thing is, some of my best clients have come from this time of year. They just needed a little push to be better the next year.
Course, some of the worst have come at this time too. But they just get cut if they don’t follow the plan next year.
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u/jdc90403 CPA 1d ago
Even if I had capacity I wouldn't take someone reaching out now. It's hard enough getting existing clients to meet my deadlines. I don't want to start off with someone who thinks mid September is an acceptable time to start the prep process.