CPA are a great resource if you need someone to help you with your taxes. They are required to pass certain education requirements and tests to obtain their title, and have extensive knowledge in the financial industry. Many are highly experienced in other fields besides tax preparation, so they can also help you with other financial or accounting needs you may have, and they can take a holistic look at your finances when preparing your taxes to maximize your deductions and avoid costly errors. However, it is important that you find a CPA that you trust, which can be difficult when there are many to choose from. Here are some tips to help you narrow down your search.
Get referrals from other professionals or trusted friends.
Word of mouth is far and away the best strategy for finding a good CPA. There is no one to better help you find a trusted tax advisor than those who have worked with them before and can give you a detailed account of their experiences. If you have friends or family in your area that have worked with a CPA, they are good people to ask, but you can also ask other professionals in the area that you work with, like your insurance agent or an advisor at your bank. They have a working knowledge of the financial industry, so they likely know at least one professional in your area whom they would recommend.
Look online for reviews.
This is something that should always be done carefully, but an online search may be able to help you find more information on the CPAs you are looking at if you don’t have someone who can give you good referrals. Consumer review sites like Yelp may list certain aspects of a professional’s services that you may not have heard about, both good and bad, that can help you make your decision. You may also be able to find a directory of CPAs online to search through, which can speed up this process significantly. Just be sure to research everything you find online extensively before making a decision to avoid any negative consequences.
Make sure to choose someone in your area.
When going through lists of potential CPAs, be sure to choose someone who is local to you. This is important for a few different reasons. First, each state (and in some cases, each city), has different tax regulations, so you want to make sure that the person you choose is very familiar with the regulations that will affect your return. You may also want to check and see how long your professional has been in the area, as that could affect their knowledge of local tax regulations. Second, having someone in your area that you can consult with is important because it is easier for you to set up meetings or phone calls if necessary. Good and frequent communication is important to ensure that information is processed correctly and that all of your questions are answered.
If you live in San Diego, CA and are looking for a CPA visit us at www.abbotax.com.
