How do I go about finding a good tax preparer? In the past, I’ve either used my parents’ tax preparer or done my taxes myself. But, this time there’s the added complication that for part of the year, I’ll be living in one state but earning income in another, with my employer not withholding tax, so I’m having to pay quarterly estimated taxes myself.
So, what do I look for? What sorts of questions do I ask? How much should I expect to pay? Where do I go for reviews?
I met my current CPA in a hiking meet up group, but in the past, I’ve just asked co-workers and family and friends for good recommendations.
Go to a CPA specializing in tax management. NOT a “trained tax preparer” or “financial adviser” with no other qualifications, and in very general, not to a CPA who does not focus on taxes.
CPA.
Specializing in taxes.
A personal recommendation is the best way to find one.
Find an enrolled agent. H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt may have one or two of them in a particular office, but don’t count on it.
It is maybe like an honest politician. what makes one think one exists?
How about a referral front your local chamber of commerce?
What does a tax preparer have to gain from being dishonest? IRS fines and loss of their license?
Why do you assume they don’t exist?
If you go to an H&R Block website you can browse their employees and look at their experience and pick the one you want. I have a friend that works for them and they seem to have pretty stringent educational requirements. They also have a lot of resources at their disposal if they should encounter something they are not familiar with and they are not shy about calling on them.
One thing about a tax preparer is that using one does not usually absolve you of doing a the work in collecting all your information. If you just bring them a shoebox they will deal with it, but they will charge you.
As far as what you should be prepared to pay, that will depend on how complicated your return is. If you have rental properties and trade stocks a lot (for example), you could pay north of $500.00.
OP, have you tried doing it yourself using one of the standard tax packages such as Turbotax? I think you should try that first and only start looking for a tax preparer after that approach has failed.
Better is a Enrolled Agent. CPA’s cost more and do not always know taxes as well as a EA.
Garbage In, Garbage Out.
These are fine if you are a simple W2 or maybe even SchA. Anything more than that, see a expert.
Would you remove your appendix with a computer program?
Posts like these are really unhelpful and don’t add anything, so try not to make them.