After deadline season, it's tempting to move on and forget what didn't work — but this is the best time to make changes while the lessons are still fresh.

In this episode, April Walker is joined by Nancy McClelland, owner of The Dancing Accountant, to discuss small, realistic practice changes that can dramatically reduce tax-season stress. From shifting annual tasks to year‑round workflows and setting clear client expectations to using technology that streamlines document collection and follow-up, Nancy shares practical strategies that help tax pros protect their time, teams and sanity — without overhauling everything at once.

Questions answered in this episode:

What's one practical change you can make right now that will noticeably improve next tax season?
How can shifting "annual" work to monthly or year‑round workflows reduce deadline-season pressure?
What are effective ways to set client expectations and boundaries — without damaging the relationship?
How can technology reduce document-chaos, missing information and the constant chase for "one last form"?
How do you define (and refine) your ideal client profile so you're working with clients you actually enjoy?

AICPA resources

ENGAGE 2026 conference session: How to Align Your Bookkeeper and Tax Accountant for Financial Success

Optimizing your tax practice

Reimagining your tax practice

Tax Communities on Engage365

Other resources

She Counts

Ask a CPA - Nancy's YouTube channel

Keep your finger on the pulse of the dynamic and evolving tax landscape with insights from tax thought leaders in the AICPA Tax Section. The Tax Section Odyssey podcast includes a digest of tax developments, trending issues and practice management tips that you need to be aware of to elevate your professional development and your firm practices.

This resource is part of the robust tax resource library available from the AICPA Tax Section. The Tax Section is your go-to home base for staying up to date on the latest tax developments and providing the edge you need for upskilling your professional development. If you're not already a member, consider joining this prestigious community of your tax peers. You'll get free CPE, access to rich technical content such as our Annual Tax Compliance Kit, a weekly member newsletter and a digital subscription to The Tax Adviser.