Key Reminders on Trail’s Process and Turnaround Times
Tax season 2026 is officially underway. At Trail CPA, our goal is to make the filing process as smooth, accurate, and predictable as possible. To help you plan ahead, here’s a clear overview of our process, key deadlines, expected turnaround times, and how we handle late-arriving documents.
Get Your Documents in Early
We prepare tax returns in the order they are received and finalized. Because the volume of work during tax season far exceeds the time available to file before April 15, extensions are a normal and essential part of our workflow.
If you want the best chance of filing by the April 15 deadline, please submit all required documents by March 10.
Documents received after this date are significantly more likely to require an extension.
Why We Encourage Extensions
In the accounting world, an extension is not a setback—it’s a tool for accuracy.
Filing an extension gives our team the time needed to:
Capture every eligible deduction
Properly handle complex situations
Maintain the level of quality and review we expect for every return
Important: An extension is an extension of time to file, not an extension of time to pay.
If you expect to owe taxes, we will help estimate your payment by April 15 to minimize penalties and interest.
Understanding Our Process and Turnaround Times
We begin work on your return once:
All documents are uploaded, and
Initial follow-up questions are answered
Turnaround times vary throughout the season due to volume:
Early Season (Documents submitted before February 10)
This is our most efficient window. Clients who submit early typically experience the fastest turnaround.
Estimated completion: 2–4 weeks
Peak Season (Documents submitted after February 10)
As filing volume increases, timelines naturally extend.
Estimated completion: 3–6 weeks
After April 15 (Returns on Extension)
Extended returns are completed throughout the summer and fall, allowing for careful review and ongoing tax planning.
What Impacts Your Timeline?
Several factors can affect turnaround time, including:
The complexity of your return
The responsiveness of third-party institutions (banks, brokerages, partnerships)
The speed of responses to follow-up questions
If you have a hard deadline, such as a mortgage application or loan closing—please let us know as early as possible. While we can’t guarantee expedited filing, early communication helps us plan.
Waiting on K-1s or 1099s?
It’s common for certain forms, especially K-1s from business investments, to arrive late in March or later.
Please don’t wait for the final document to send us your information. Submitting the majority of your documents early allows us to prepare most of your return in advance. Once the remaining forms arrive, we can finalize efficiently.
Let’s Get Started
The earlier you gather and submit your documents, the smoother your tax season will be. We appreciate your partnership and look forward to working with you throughout the 2026 tax season.
Upload your documents here:
[Client Portal Link]