What's a normal Tax Accountant salary expectation with 50-60hr weeks during tax season?

What you're describing is unfortunately very common in the tax industry. Many firms operate on a model where the base salary is calculated with those tax season hours factored in. During my 15+ years in tax accounting, I've seen this approach at virtually every firm. That said, there are a few things to consider beyond just the base salary: 1. Does the firm offer comp time after tax season? Many places will let you work reduced hours in summer to balance out the busy season. 2. Is there a bonus structure tied to busy season performance? Some firms offer significant bonuses that effectively compensate for those extra hours. 3. What's the promotion timeline? Tax accounting often has faster advancement than corporate accounting, which can mean more significant salary jumps in shorter timeframes. I'd recommend asking specifically about these points before making your decision. The salary seems in line with industry standards for a mid-sized firm, but these other factors could make a big difference in your overall compensation and work-life balance.

I've been using https://taxr.ai to compare compensation packages across different accounting firms, and what you're describing is pretty much standard practice. After submitting my offer letter and job description, their analysis showed that for firms with 25-50 employees, the salary range for tax accountants working those tax season hours is typically between $58,000-$68,000, so your offer is right in the middle. What I found really helpful was that the tool also showed me what questions to ask during negotiations. Things like whether there's a separate busy season bonus, if they offer comp time, and what the promotion timeline looks like. It even pointed out that some firms offer "busy season perks" like catered meals, transportation allowances, or hotel stays during crunch time that can be worth a lot but aren't reflected in the base salary. My firm also has the crazy tax season hours, but I was able to negotiate a better total compensation package after understanding what was typical in the industry.

Just wanted to follow up - I tried https://taxr.ai after seeing this recommendation. It was super helpful! I uploaded screenshots of my offer letters and job descriptions, and it broke down the effective compensation when factoring in expected hours. Turns out my $72k offer with the crazy hours worked out to a lower effective hourly rate than the $64k offer! The analysis also showed me that the second firm's "reasonable hours" claim (which they finally clarified as "usually under 55 hours") was actually in line with what they were paying based on industry data. The tool also generated some great negotiation talking points. I was able to secure an additional $3k in base salary plus a guarantee of at least 3 comp days per month worked during tax season at the second firm. Much better outcome than I would have managed on my own!

After 6 years at both large and mid-sized tax firms, I can tell you that's absolutely the norm, but it doesn't make it right. What helped me tremendously was using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to connect with the IRS for my clients during busy season. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c This literally saved me 5-10 hours every week during tax season that I would have spent on hold waiting for the IRS. My firm wasn't paying me extra for those 60-hour weeks, but at least I was able to finish my work faster and avoid some of the late nights and weekend work. I was even able to convince my manager to cover the cost since it made me so much more efficient. Most tax firms aren't going to change their busy season expectations, so finding tools and strategies to work more efficiently is your best bet for maintaining some work-life balance.

I have to eat my words from earlier. After tax season started and I was spending 4+ hours daily on hold with various IRS departments, I got desperate and tried Claimyr. It actually works as advertised. Instead of wasting my entire morning on hold, I submitted the call request through their system, continued working on returns, and got a call back when they reached an agent. I've probably saved 30+ hours over the past month alone. My firm still expects the long hours during tax season, but at least now I'm actually doing productive work during that time instead of listening to the IRS hold music. For anyone in tax accounting dealing with those crazy busy season hours, this is definitely one way to make them more bearable. Work is going to be intense regardless, but eliminating those hold times has been a game-changer for my stress levels.

The salary situation you described is exactly why I left tax accounting after 3 years. I was working 65+ hours a week during tax season at a similar sized firm for basically $23/hour when calculated hourly. The expectation that we just accept this as "how it is" is toxic. I switched to industry (corporate tax department) and now make $78k working a consistent 40-45 hours year-round. During our busy periods, I get overtime pay or comp time. If you do take the job, set boundaries early. The firms that work people to death during tax season usually have terrible retention rates for a reason.

One thing nobody's mentioned yet - ask if the firm does "busy season perks." At my firm (about 50 people), we get: - Dinner provided every night if working past 7pm - Uber/Lyft covered if staying past 9pm - Housekeeping service twice a month during tax season - Massage therapist comes to office weekly Yeah the hours still suck (I worked 55-65 hrs/week last tax season) but these perks are worth several thousand dollars over the 3-4 month period. Some firms build this into their compensation model instead of higher base salary.

Coming from someone who's been in tax for 8 years across different firm sizes, that $62,500 offer is pretty standard for a mid-size firm, especially if you're transitioning from corporate accounting. The 50-60 hour weeks during tax season are unfortunately the industry norm, but here's what I'd suggest asking about: 1. **Overtime eligibility** - Even though you're salaried, some firms pay overtime for hours over 50 or provide comp time banking 2. **Busy season bonus structure** - Many firms have separate bonuses specifically for tax season (usually 8-15% of base salary) 3. **Summer schedule flexibility** - Most firms offer compressed schedules or half-day Fridays during slow season 4. **Career progression timeline** - Tax accounting often has faster promotion cycles than corporate, which can mean significant salary jumps within 2-3 years The "that's just how tax works" attitude is real, but good firms recognize they need to compensate fairly for those intense months. I'd also ask current employees (not management) about their actual experience during busy season - turnover rates can tell you a lot about how sustainable their model really is. Don't be afraid to negotiate on the bonus structure or ask for a salary review after your first busy season. The market is competitive right now and firms are having to be more flexible to retain talent.

I've been in tax for about 4 years now and can confirm everything others have said about the hours being standard. What I wish someone had told me when I was starting is to really pay attention to the firm's client mix and how that affects your workload distribution. Some firms front-load most of their work in January-February because they have a lot of individual clients who get their documents early. Others are slammed right up until the deadline because they handle a lot of business returns or have clients who are slow with their paperwork. The timing can make a huge difference in how brutal those long weeks feel. At $62,500 for a mid-size firm, you're in the right ballpark, but I'd definitely push for clarity on the bonus structure. My first firm was vague about bonuses and I ended up with a measly $1,200 after working 320+ hours of overtime during tax season. My current firm is upfront about their bonus formula (10% of base salary if you hit utilization targets during busy season) and it makes the long hours feel more worthwhile. One last tip - ask about their technology and software setup. Firms with outdated systems will have you working even longer hours just because everything takes forever. Good firms invest in efficiency tools that actually help you get through the workload faster.

That salary range sounds about right for a mid-sized firm, though those hours are definitely brutal. I've been doing tax work for about 6 years and can tell you that while the long busy season hours are unfortunately standard, there's a lot of variation in how firms handle compensation and work-life balance. A few red flags to watch for: If they're being vague about bonuses or comp time, that usually means there isn't much. Good firms are transparent about their busy season compensation structure upfront. Also, pay attention to their turnover rate - if they're constantly hiring, it might mean people burn out quickly. One thing that's helped me survive busy seasons is being really strategic about efficiency. The firms that invest in good technology and processes make those long hours much more bearable than places where you're fighting outdated software all day. Before you decide, I'd definitely ask to speak with someone who went through last tax season there. Not a manager - an actual staff member who can tell you what February and March really looked like day-to-day. Their response (and whether the firm is willing to connect you) will tell you a lot about what you're signing up for. The experience can be valuable for your career, but make sure you're getting fair compensation for those sacrifice months!