Choosing a Professional to Prepare Your Taxes – Professional Tax Services

Perhaps you have realized you can save far more money than what a tax preparer would charge and regain valuable time by hiring a tax professional. The question that looms is how do you select a tax professional who is best suited for your situation?
Foremost, a professional tax preparer must have a preparer tax identification number (PTIN). Enrolled agents, certified public accountants, and attorneys who specialize in tax preparation may represent clients on matters including payment and collection issues, audits, and appeals. All have specific requirements they must maintain to retain their eligibility. In making your choice. Consider the following:
What You Need to Know and Ask Prospective Tax Professionals
• Determine what services you will need. Is your situation complex? Do you need a firm that is available year-round?
• Certainly you should consider online reviews; however, we recommend you do not make your choice solely on client comments. Having your tax return prepared correctly, on time, and receiving all tax deductions and credits you are entitled to require additional diligence to ensure the right selection.
• In addition to asking friends and relatives for referrals, consider others in your industry, trusted attorneys, or insurance professionals.
• Confirm their credentials and check their standing with the IRS.
• Question how long they have been providing returns and how many they perform each year.
• Ask for an interview (in person, by phone or on the Internet).
• Find out how often and by what means they communicate with clients.
• Can and will they offer examples of how they handled situations similar to yours?
• Ask what records and receipts they require. They should provide you several specifics without hesitation.
• Inquire about the approaches they use to lower tax liability.
• Question how they handle audits.
• Find out if they outsource work and, if so, who will handle it. If they do, ask how they guarantee confidentiality.
• Compare quotes. (Some firms charge hourly while others base fees on schedules and forms they will need to file.)
• Ask how they keep information secure.
• Stay away from firms that promise a return that seems too good to be true.
Consider choosing a tax professional who is available year-round. This ensures that when tax questions arise throughout the year, you will have a go-to professional.
You also should choose a firm that provides tax planning. This could greatly lower your future years’ tax liability. We offer unlimited complimentary tax planning advice to our clients.
Professional Tax Services is a locally owned provider serving over 3,700 local residents and businesses. For more information, call 661-259-1967 or visit www.scvprotaxservices.com.