Every year, like clockwork, CPAs across the country experience the same seasonal rhythm. Client meetings increase, year-end reviews begin, tax prep ramps up, and suddenly every business owner has a list of questions they’ve saved for months.

And no matter the size of the firm or the industry you serve, payroll questions always make their way to the top of those lists.

Some are simple:
“Can you remind me what my SUTA rate is supposed to be?”
Others are stressful:
“We added employees in three new states… I don’t think our payroll company set them up correctly.”

And then there are the ones every CPA dreads:
“We just got a letter from the IRS. Can you look at this?”

As business owners finalize their year-end numbers and prepare for the coming year, payroll concerns naturally surface. The problem? CPAs shouldn’t be stuck cleaning up payroll messes — but they’re often the first person a client turns to.

This blog breaks down why this surge happens, what CPAs can expect this season, and how having the right partner (not a sales rep) can make the process dramatically easier for both you and your clients.

Why Payroll Questions Spike During Client Review Season

1. Business owners finally look at their payroll reports.

For many clients, payroll operates in the background for most of the year. Employees get paid, taxes get deducted, and as long as nothing “looks off,” owners assume everything is fine.

But when CPAs request annual reports, 941 totals, wage summaries, or multi-state payroll data, that’s when business owners begin spotting discrepancies.

2. Year-end filings expose mistakes.

Late filings, incorrect SUTA rates, mismatched 941 totals, or missing state registrations — all of these issues tend to surface at year-end.

And when they do, CPAs are the ones stuck explaining what went wrong.

3. Businesses grow — but their payroll provider doesn’t grow with them.

This is a major cause of payroll pain.
A company can outgrow QuickBooks Payroll, Gusto, or even Paychex/ADP faster than they realize. When they start hiring remote employees, adding benefits, or needing more robust workflows, their current system can fall short.

4. Client conversations naturally shift to planning for next year.

CPAs are strategic advisors. Business owners look to you for:

• cost-saving opportunities
• risk mitigation
• compliance guidance
• process improvements
• tools and technologies that make their business more efficient

Payroll touches all of those areas.

The Challenge: CPAs Aren’t Payroll Software Experts (and shouldn’t have to be)

Here’s the real issue:

**Every CPA knows payroll.

But no CPA should be expected to know 8 different payroll platforms, their strengths, weaknesses, pricing, or compliance limits.**

You’re focused on filings, financials, and advising your clients — not navigating product demos, sales quotas, or software fine print.

Yet when a client turns to you and says:
“Which payroll provider should I switch to?”
—you feel obligated to give an answer.

The problem is, most CPAs only see the after-effects of payroll… not the internal mechanics, integrations, or limitations of each platform.

That’s where many firms unintentionally take on more responsibility than they should.

The Opportunity: A Vendor-Neutral Resource CPAs Can Plug Into

This is the gap Segura Gallo HR & Consulting fills.

We act as a vendor-neutral payroll brokerage — not a sales rep, not a provider, not a quota-driven partner. Our role is simple:

**We evaluate the client’s needs →

We research all top payroll providers →
We recommend the best fit →
We help implement it →
We protect the CPA relationship the entire way.**

CPAs love this for a few specific reasons:

1. You stay out of the sales conversation.

You can simply say:
"Let me connect you with someone who handles payroll evaluations across all major platforms.”

2. You look like a hero to your client.

Your client gets the right solution — not the solution a rep is paid to sell.

3. You avoid being blamed for a bad vendor recommendation.

You’re protected.
We’re accountable.

4. You stay informed throughout the process.

Every major step — filings, transitions, tax setup, state registrations — is tracked and communicated back to you.

5. Your clients get unbiased guidance.

We work solely on behalf of the client.
Not Paylocity.
Not ADP.
Not Paychex.
Not Gusto.
Not the PEOs.

Just the client.

What CPAs Should Expect in the Next 8 Weeks

Here’s what’s coming your way as clients prepare for filings, review financials, and clean up operations:

• Questions about payroll reports
• Multi-state withholding issues
• Late or incorrect 941s
• Workers’ comp classification problems
• Interest in switching payroll providers
• Confusion about remote employee compliance
• Requests for PEO vs traditional payroll comparisons

Having a trusted partner on standby makes these conversations easier, faster, and far more accurate.

Final Thoughts

CPAs are about to navigate the busiest stretch of the year — and payroll questions will be at the center of many client conversations.

The good news?
You don’t need to be the payroll expert in every meeting. You just need the right resource behind you.

If you ever want to talk through a client scenario or have questions about payroll platforms and compliance, consider Segura Gallo your go-to partner.

We’re here to make your job easier — and to help your clients avoid costly payroll mistakes.

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