With so many ads for accounting and tax services, which one do you select?
Rule # 1: Always seek out a CPA. Unless you trust that friend who does your taxes every year as a side business, you should have a CPA prepare your tax return. More Americans realize the value of CPA each year. See FAQ for more information.
Rule # 2: Do not go for the rock bottom price. Some ads like “Tax returns for $50″ may sound tempting. However, beware of the quality of these tax returns. By paying such a low price you will most likely sacrifice in quality, and often, will risk getting extra attention from IRS by having errors and inconsistencies in your returns.
Rule # 3: Check the credentials and experience of the candidate. You may ask for a referral, too. Generally, the more experienced candidate will serve your needs better than less experienced one. The candidate with financial education will be a better accountant than someone with the Art degree who decided they can make more money by practicing accounting.
Rule # 4: Interview the candidate in person. This way you will have a sense of whether you like the personality and can work together. There is nothing worse than having incompatible personalities and not being able to establish clear communication.
Rule # 5: Ability to devote sufficient attention to your needs. Many well-qualified accountants fail this rule because they have thousands of clients and not enough time. As a result, they outsource your projects to bookkeepers or data entry clerks whose qualifications are not very strong. Go with the accountant whose workload allows for a personal involvement.
