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5 Things to Look for When Hiring a CPA

tax preparers

 

Doing your finances is a lot of work, especially around tax season. That’s why hiring the right CPA involves time and research before you find the right person to entrust your finances with. Here are some things to consider as you search through local tax preparers.

1. Certification

Before you entrust your financial information to a local CPA, always check their certification to do the job. Like any other professional, an accountant should have the right training and certification. This lets you know they understand how to process your taxes and other bookkeeping information.

2. Availability

It can take a lot of time to complete your taxes. The average taxpayer spends about 11 hours doing tax-related activities, according to Mental Floss. Whether you’re meeting with your CPA face-to-face, having follow-up meetings, or returning phone calls, you want someone available. While having many other clients on their roster shows they’re in demand, you don’t want tax preparers too busy to take a call or deal with your work in a timely fashion.

3. Communication

Professional communication is vital when dealing with finances. Whether it’s the middle of tax season or the dog days of summer, you want a local CPA that can always professionally handle your correspondence. When you meet with them, they should be able to answer any financial questions you have.

4. Trustworthiness

Anything related to your finances is sensitive information. You don’t want your income, expenses, and related info to get into the wrong hands. Professional tax preparers should have updated technology, bookkeeping software, and secure hardcopy document handling techniques that ensure your financial data information won’t be at risk.

5. Experience

It’s best to find a local CPA with a decent amount of experience handling clients. If you work within a certain industry, you may want to find a CPA specializing in dealing with clients in your field. Some industries may have specific tax breaks and deductions that a specialized CPA will know about.

Your finances are important. The right professionals understand how to quickly and efficiently handle your various bookkeeping and tax prep. When you find the right person, you can benefit from expert deductions and learn how to save more on your taxes next year. If you need help with your financial documentation, call Brown, Chism & Thompson today. Our local tax preparers are always available to help you year-round.

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