Research on the problems faced by financial advisors and taxpayers during the COVID-19 pandemic and continuous changes in tax legislation

The aim of this study is to reveal the problems faced by financial advisors and taxpayers during the covid-19 pandemic process. At the same time, it is to reveal the problems created by the changes in tax legislation, which unites accounting professionals and taxpayers in common, on the members of the profession. This research provides preliminary information to researchers who have found a field of study on the problems that are likely to arise in terms of professional members and taxpayers during the pandemic and the measures to be taken and who will be engaged in professional research. This research was analyzed with the phenomenological analysis method. In order to obtain detailed information in this research, semi-structured in-depth interview technique was utilized from qualitative research methods. According to the results of the interviews and analysis; all participants stated that it was difficult to explain this situation to taxpayers who could not benefit from the support in the stability packages announced during the pandemic process. They stated that taxpayers called a lot in this process and this increased the workload, plus systemic problems delayed the work in this process, and at the same time, the postponed declarations and the postponement of payment times made it difficult to follow up the work. All of the participants stated that following and implementing the legislation, which was constantly changing and additional measures were added during this period, doubled their work. Economically, it was observed that financial advisors had difficulties in collecting their fees in this process. Participant professionals stated that the Covid-19 pandemic has worn out the financial consultancy profession and that they feel that their profession is not valued due to the inadequate measures taken and the inadequate incentives and supports implemented by the state. Participant companies, on the other hand, stated that their costs increased more than they should have during this period, they entered the bankruptcy process and their orders decreased. Regarding the problems that participant firms had with their financial advisors, some participants stated that they did not want to make payments as long as their workplaces were closed, but their financial advisors insisted that they make payments. More than half of the participants stated that their financial advisors provided timely information about tax liabilities and changing tax legislation. Some participants stated that their financial advisors did not inform them about the changes in tax legislation during this period, but there were no disruptions in their business.