If you’re like many American adults, this tax season is the first time that you’ll be filing “as normal” since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 filing season was an unusual one to say the least, not only for filers but for tax center workers who, amongst the closure of several centers during the 2019 filing season, found themselves managing a backlog of unprocessed returns and an influx of new returns that had to adhere to new pandemic protocols. This backlog has created significant delays in the filing and returns process, with nearly 24 million Americans still waiting for the IRS to process their 2020 tax returns. With so many unprocessed returns still waiting to be handled, whether or not we can expect significant delays on tax returns in 2022 remains to be seen.
Unfortunately, the backlog isn’t the only hurdle taxpayers are going to have to jump this season. If you accepted a Child Tax Credit or Economic Impact Payments in 2021, for instance, these payments will have to be tracked by the IRS. You could also qualify for additional credits from either of these relief programs in 2022, depending on a number of components that must also be factored in while your return is being processed. Phone lines are also a potential issue: “During fiscal 2021, the IRS received a record 282 million calls, but only 32 million of those calls were answered,” according to the Washington Post. As more filers find themselves stuck with pandemic relief questions this year, that statistic is bound to grow to an ever higher discrepancy.
Despite these clear obstacles to the 2022 filing season, it’s important not to let yourself get discouraged. Staying on top of your finances and getting the most out of your potential refund is huge, especially for small business owners. Start by growing your accounting team for the season. Consider hiring an accounting assistant to take on some of the heavy load this year. This assistance could come in the form of online help services like TurboTax or H&R Block, or it could mean enlisting the help of a local accountant or bookkeeper. If you already have an accounting team for your business, check in with them personally and find out where they could use the most support this season. By asking your team directly, you’ll be better able to pinpoint the trouble spots in your current approach to tax season. You’ll also show your accounting team that you have their backs during this stressful time of year. Creating a seasonal accounting plan in place and hiring a professional to help you carry it out will help you feel confident going into the new fiscal year. Plus, lightening the load means that you can focus less on tax requirements and more on growing your business.
Speaking of lightening the load, why not make sure your spring goes smoothly by trying out seasonal help from VoiceNation? We take our role as the best live phone answering service for small businesses very seriously. With our 24/7 live answering service, you can rest easy knowing that no matter when your customers call, there will be someone waiting on the other side of the line to greet them.
VoiceNation offers the best virtual receptionist service on the market today. Our receptionists are professionally trained to treat each and every customer with top-of-the-line support. Using your custom scripts, our virtual receptionists will answer your customers’ questions exactly as you would. Plus, our call forwarding answering service ensures that your most important messages go straight to you, for no extra charge. Call patching with VoiceNation is a breeze — you decide when and what calls should go your way, and we take care of the rest.
The best part of VoiceNation’s services is that you can turn live answering on and off as you need it. While you may have customer service handled for the rest of the year, tax season is the time when you need all hands on deck. Outsource your live answering to us to decrease your seasonal stress, and then rest easy come May. We’re here to make your life easier, so you can focus on making your business the best it can possibly be.