Tackling Tax Season: How to Find the Perfect Tax Professional for You

Tax season is upon us, and like every year, taxpayers and business owners across the country are nervous about the impending tax bill.

It’s a little too late to pre-plan for this tax season, but working with a expert can still save you money. Want to know what to look for when choosing a tax pro? Don’t worry; we’ve got you.

Use this list of simple tips to find a professional who makes tax magic happen.

A Perfect Match: How to Find Your Tax Bae

1. Credentials. Just about anyone can hang out a shingle and be called a tax preparer. If your return is simple, and doesn’t require additional schedules and advice, working with a friend who “does taxes” might be fine.

If your return needs some extra TLC (especially business owners), you need advice that helps you minimize what you owe and protect your bottom line. That’s when you need an Enrolled Agent (EA), CPA, or attorney.

What is an Enrolled Agent (EA)? We are expert tax professionals credentialed by the IRS. The EA is the highest tax credential in the country – we can represent taxpayers in all 50 states. Need someone to negotiate with the IRS on your behalf? Work with an EA; taxes are our specialty.

2. Depth of Knowledge. There are some key questions you’ll want to ask when choosing a new tax pro for your financial team.

How often do they work with business owners?
Do they specialize in your industry?

The tax code is massive, and constantly changing. Some rules and deductions that work well for one business are totally inappropriate for another. Work with a professional who is committed to learning, and keeps up with IRC changes each year.

3. Security. The IRS requires that any tax preparer (a person who prepares a significant amount of a tax return for pay) to have a written data security plan to protect their clients. If your potential professional doesn’t have this available to share with you (upon request), run.

Ask them how they protect your personal information. If they work virtually, they should offer a secure file transfer solution. Accept nothing less.

4. Availability. Tax season is crazy for anybody in the business. If your preparer isn’t organized, it’s easy for clients to fall through the cracks. Work with someone who has a client system that allows you to book, transmit files, and get updates online.

5. Ethics. We hear it all the time:

“Well, the lady/guy who did my taxes got me more because she claimed XYZ…”

A year or two down the road, these same taxpayers get a love letter in the mail from the IRS. Don’t let this be you. The pain of paying an accurate tax bill now is far less than dealing with the IRS later.

By working with an Enrolled Agent or other credentialed professional, you can be sure that your tax pro is being held to a high ethical standard. A good tax expert won’t risk your money – or their future – by trying to cut corners.

6. Strategy. Your tax professional’s job is to ensure that you file accurately and on time. A great tax pro will work with you to develop a tax strategy that helps you minimize your taxes.

Remember, tax avoidance is legal; tax evasion is not. Make sure your professional knows the difference, and takes every legal measure to get you the best outcome.

At the Tax Bakery, you’ll find IRS-credentialed tax experts whose #1 goal is to make filing your taxes simple. Got tax questions? Feel free to reach out.

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What’s been your biggest challenge when finding a reliable tax person? Share your tips in the comments.