Account Firm Cyber Risks 2026 - #2 The Real Cost of IT Downtime During Tax Season

Let’s talk about something every CPA firm in Los Angeles fears: system downtime in March or April.

Technology issues during tax season aren’t annoying — they’re expensive.

Imagine this:

  • 20 billable staff

  • $200/hour average billing rate

  • 4-hour system outage

That’s $16,000 in lost productivity in half a day. And that doesn’t even include client frustration or overtime to catch up.

Reliable IT services for CPA firms in Los Angeles focus heavily on preventing this exact scenario.

Why Downtime Happens

In mid-sized firms, outages often stem from:

  • Aging servers

  • Inadequate backup systems

  • Internet failures

  • Poorly maintained networks

  • Reactive IT support

If your provider only shows up after something breaks, you’re operating at risk.

The Hidden Costs

Beyond lost revenue, downtime causes:

  • Staff burnout

  • Rushed filings

  • Increased errors

  • Damage to client relationships

CPA firms operate on deadlines. Technology needs to support that reality.

What Should Be in Place

To reduce risk during tax season, your IT strategy should include:

  • Proactive 24/7 monitoring

  • Redundant internet connections

  • Tested disaster recovery plans

  • Cloud-based failover options

  • Clear response time guarantees

Professional IT services for CPA firms in Los Angeles should focus on uptime and business continuity, especially during peak months.  If you don’t know your Recovery Time Objective (RTO), ask your provider.  Because when systems go down, the clock starts ticking.   

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