Open a small firm's Facebook page in September, and the most recent post is from April 14: "Open until 9 tonight." Under it sits a calculator stock image from the January before. Nobody is harmed by it, but a prospect who clicks through from your Google profile sees an office that may have closed.
This list fixes that. It holds 40 accounting firm social media posts, laid out by month, in five kinds that suit a small firm: a deadline, what to bring, a staff face, a tip and a seasonal question. Copy the wording, change it until it sounds like your office, and schedule what you can.
How to use the list
- Pick two channels, not five. Facebook and the firm's Google map listing reach families and local owners. LinkedIn reaches the business owners, bankers and financial advisors who refer work. Instagram earns its place only if someone at the firm likes taking photos.
- Schedule the fixed posts in September. Deadline and what-to-bring posts stay almost the same each season, so write them once and queue them.
- Post the live ones in the moment. A staff face needs this year's photo, and a seasonal question needs someone to answer the replies.
- Use your own photos. The front desk, the drop-off counter, a preparer at a desk, the sign on the door. A phone photo of a real person beats any stock image.
- Write like you talk. Readers spot a post that a machine wrote, and they scroll past it.
- Check every date against the IRS calendar for the coming year before a post goes out.
Each idea below has its kind in bold, then words to start from.
January: the season opens
January is when families start thinking about taxes again. This month's posts say you're open and what to gather.
- Deadline. "We're booking for tax season. Drop off, sit down with a preparer, or send everything from your phone. The link is in our bio."
- What to bring. "Forms are on the way: your W-2, any 1099s, maybe a K-1. Put each one in a single envelope by the door until your appointment."
- Staff face. A photo of whoever answers your phone, with one line on what they can help with: booking, documents, fees, where things stand.
- Tip. "New job, new house, new baby, new business? Tell us when you book, so your organizer asks the right questions."
- Seasonal question. "Which tax form do you go looking for first every January?"
February: documents and appointments
February brings the most drop-offs and the most calls about what to bring. Put the answers where people will see them.
- What to bring. A short list for a first visit: photo ID, each W-2, every 1099, last year's return if you're new to the firm, and any letter from the IRS.
- Tip. "You can send a document by taking a photo of it. Flat surface, good light, all four corners in the frame."
- Staff face. A preparer at their desk, with how many seasons they've worked and the kind of return they like most.
- Deadline. For business owners: "S corporation and partnership returns are due in March. If your books aren't with us yet, this is the week to send them."
- Seasonal question. "Paper or upload: how do you like to get your tax documents to us?"
March: the business deadline
March belongs to business clients. Point them at their deadline, and keep individual filers calm about April.
- Deadline. "One week until the March deadline for S corporation and partnership returns. Still waiting on a K-1? Send what you have and we'll tell you what's left."
- Tip. "If you expect a K-1, tell us now. It can decide whether your return goes out in April or on extension."
- Staff face. The office on a busy Saturday, with your season hours in the caption.
- What to bring. "Booked a drop-off? Bring the folder, plus a mobile number we can text when it's ready."
April: the last two weeks
In April, people want two things from your page: your cutoff and your hours. Pin both to the top.
- Deadline. "April 15 is the deadline for individual returns." Add your own cutoff: the last day you'll take documents for an April filing, and what happens after it.
- Tip. "Watch for our signing request. Your return can't be filed until you sign, and it takes two minutes on a phone."
- Staff face. Your team late on April 14, with a line of thanks to everyone who sent documents early.
- What to bring. "Picking up your return? Bring photo ID. If someone else is collecting it for you, call us first."
- Seasonal question. "What would make next season easier: earlier reminders, more evening appointments or more done from home?"
May and June: after the deadline
After April, most firm pages fall silent until the next January. A post every other week keeps yours looking open.
- Tip. "File this year's return with your records. If a lender or landlord asks for it, we can send another."
- Staff face. A preparer's first day off after April: a garden, a ballgame, a lake. People like seeing the office as people.
- Seasonal question. "Started a business this year? What's the one thing you'd ask an accountant?"
- Tip. For business owners: "Midyear is when to check where your books stand. A catch-up in June beats one in March."
July and August: midyear
Summer is for the clients you rarely see in April: business owners, new bookkeeping clients and anyone holding a letter.
- Tip. "Got a letter from the IRS? Don't ignore it, and don't panic. Photograph every page and send it to us."
- What to bring. For new bookkeeping clients, what the first month needs: bank and card statements, last year's return and access to your books.
- Staff face. Someone new at the firm, with what they'll do and when clients will hear from them.
- Seasonal question. "Back-to-school week: what's on your list besides pencils?" A light one, from the office.
September: extensions and planning
September is extension season. Most posts this month are reminders for the people still on your list.
- Deadline. "On extension? We need your last documents this month to file before October 15."
- Deadline. For business owners: "The September estimated tax payment is due this month. Not sure of your amount? Call us."
- Tip. "If a text says it's from the IRS and asks you to tap a link, call us before you do anything."
- Staff face. The person who keeps your extension list, with the one thing they need from everyone still on it.
October: the extension deadline
October closes out the extensions and opens the year-end planning calendar.
- Deadline. "October 15 is the deadline for individual returns on extension. If we're still missing something, you'll get a text naming it."
- Tip. "Planning a big purchase or a sale before December? Call us before you sign, not after."
- Seasonal question. "Got a tax-season question for our winter posts? Leave it below, and we'll cover the ones that come up most."
- Staff face. The whole team in front of the office sign the day after the October deadline.
November and December: year-end
The last two months set up the next season and give business owners a reason to call before December 31.
- Tip. "We're booking year-end planning meetings now. Bring this year's numbers so far and any big change coming next year."
- What to bring. "Start a folder for next season now. Every tax form that arrives from January goes straight in."
- Staff face. Your holiday hours, with a team photo.
- Seasonal question. "What's one money habit you're starting in the new year?"
- Deadline. "Booking for next season opens in January. Moved or changed your number? Tell us now, so your organizer reaches you."
What never goes in a post
- Clients appear only with their signed okay. Under section 7216, a return client's name counts as tax return information, and the AICPA Code bars a CPA from sharing confidential client information without the client's specific consent. A thank-you card on the counter with a name on it counts too.
- No refunds, savings or IRS outcomes, for anyone. Circular 230 and the AICPA Code both rule out misleading claims, and a post that promises a result is the easiest one to get wrong.
- No "certified" for an enrolled agent. Circular 230 gives wording that works, such as "enrolled to practice before the Internal Revenue Service".
- "CPA" only where the firm holds that license in that state.
- No tax advice in the comments. When someone asks a question under a post, thank them and invite them to call or book. Never confirm that the person is a client.
- No client list behind a boosted post. Uploading return clients' emails or phone numbers to Meta for targeting is a disclosure, so it needs each client's consent.
If you'd rather not write these yourself, AccrueNest's team plans and writes posts like these for small firms, edits the short clips a partner films on a phone, and publishes on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and the Google profile once your firm signs off. Our social media page shows how that works.
AccrueNest
AccrueNest writes these guides for US accounting firms small enough that the owner still checks the Facebook page. Every idea here is one a small office can post this week.
