Choosing the right tax professional in San Diego can be a difficult task. You need someone that you can trust and will give you accurate, professional financial advice. Here are the top four questions you should ask any tax professional before making a final decision on who to hire.
1. What do you specialize in?
The first step is to figure out what kind of tax return you need prepared. This can be a simple CPA if you are an individual or a certified public accountant for your company. Many tax professionals specialize in other areas such as partnerships, S-corporations, and various types of trusts and estates. The more specialized the expertise of a professional, the higher their hourly rate will likely be.
2. How long have you been doing this?
It is important to choose someone who has been in the business for a while so they have the experience to handle all areas of your tax situation. A decade or less of experience may be fine if they have a history of good work, but you will probably want to hire someone with 15+ years in the business.
3. What qualifies you to give this advice?
This question is especially important if you are hiring a CPA instead of an accountant. Accountants have more experience with tax preparation, financial reporting, and bookkeeping. While CPAs generally have less experience in bookkeeping, they have more experience with financial consulting and personal business advising. If you are looking for tax advice about your business or investments and not the actual tax return itself, then a CPA would be the best choice for you.
4. Are you an Enrolled Agent (EA)?
An enrolled agent has earned the highest designation possible for preparing tax returns. They are licensed by the U.S. government and are required to pass various tests upon reaching a certain level of experience. Enrolled agents are very rare in San Diego because they require a higher level of education and licensing. Enrolled agents can only provide tax advice for issues related to taxes on income; there is no guarantee that they know to give you any other type of tax advice such as financial advice or planning advice. Contact us today for professional tax return services in San Diego.
