January’s Self Assessment deadline is placing renewed strain on the UK accountancy profession, with industry leaders warning that the annual rush is intensifying stress, burnout and mental health challenges across firms.
With millions of taxpayers still yet to submit returns ahead of the 31 January deadline, accountants are entering one of the most demanding periods of the year amid persistent staffing shortages.
The pressure is not limited to workload alone. Many firms are operating with reduced capacity while demand continues to rise, creating longer working hours and sustained periods of high intensity. This combination is contributing to growing concern about wellbeing across the profession and the long-term sustainability of current working practices.
Research from the Accounting Talent Index, produced by global accountancy outsourcing specialists Advancetrack, highlights the scale of the issue. It found that 74% of firms globally struggle daily with staffing shortages, while 42% of partners are working an extra day each week to keep pace with client demand. These pressures are most visible during the January tax season, when deadlines compress work into a short and intense window.
Vipul Sheth, Managing Director at Advancetrack, said the January rush is increasingly unsustainable for firms and their people – with many working six-day weeks and struggling to manage expectations as the profession faces a combination of talent shortages, stagnant salaries and rising client demands.
Long Hours and Burnout During Self-Assessment Season
The Accounting Talent Index shows the impact of extended working hours on wellbeing. According to the research, 88% of accountants say increased working hours are significantly harming their mental health, stress levels and work-life balance, with a third describing the impact as severe. These findings suggest that the pressures associated with peak periods are no longer short term challenges but ongoing risks to workforce health.
“Tax season is a perfect storm. Firms are already short on people, partners are working longer hours, and January piles everything into a few intense weeks. It’s no surprise so many talented professionals are questioning whether this is sustainable long‑term,” Sheth said.
He warned that without change, burnout and attrition are likely to accelerate at a time when firms are already struggling to recruit and retain skilled professionals.
Resources and Support For Accountancy Professionals
According to Advancetrack, recruitment and retention challenges continue to intensify across the sector, with firms increasingly constrained by capacity rather than demand. This has implications not only for productivity but also for employee wellbeing and morale.
Vipul Sheth said the solution cannot simply be working harder for longer and urged firms to reconsider how they resource peak periods.
“Better use of technology and smarter workflows are essential if firms want to protect their people and deliver the results clients demand. Support models such as outsourcing should be considered too. If we don’t address this, we risk driving more accountants out of the profession at exactly the moment they’re needed most,” he said.
For firms focused on long-term resilience, addressing how peak pressures are managed may be central to supporting wellbeing in the workplace.