Whoopee! Tax Busy Season is Longer This Year!

By my rough calculation, the 2016 spring tax busy season for 2015 returns is about 5 percent longer than most years.

Here’s how I got my number.

First, the late, great Bill Morgan used to say that tax season started the day after the Super Bowl. The “day after” this year was February 8, 2016.

Second, I assume that we tax accountants work a leisurely six days per week during tax season. On Sundays we go to church, renew acquaintances with our significant others, wash clothes, pay bills, and do all the other things most people measure out over the week. (Some practitioners (and a certain Mrs. Maultsby) would take issue with my assumption.)

This year is leap year, so we add an extra day.

Because the District of Columbia celebrates Emancipation Day on Friday, April 15 this year, the date for filing or extending many types of returns, including Form 1040, is Monday, April 18.

So, we have a total of three extra workdays.

Is a longer tax busy season a good thing or a bad thing? Ask me Monday evening, April 18.

VKM