Of the 100 million people who file taxes, only about 4 million take advantage of the free filing option. There’s a reason that the vast majority of people choose to do business with a tax preparer rather than handling the task themselves.
When you have access to a tax team, you’ll have professional help addressing one of your most important financial obligations. Consider these five characteristics of the ideal tax professional to hire.
1. Training and Experience
Start by hiring a tax accountant that is trained and experienced. You’ll need to know that they’re doing the job correctly so that you don’t get your return flagged or audited.
Find out how long the tax pro has been licensed, what degree they achieved, and where they completed their education. You’ll need a team that has years of experience so that they can easily handle your returns.
2. They Need to Be Good Communicators
Any professional that helps you with filing taxes should also be skilled at communication. They should be able to explain your filing to you and the tax implications that you’re facing.
Your professional will provide advice on things like quarterly taxes, write-offs, business designations, and more. When you sit with a professional for a consultation, assess their skillset so you feel confident in their ability to simplify the complicated.
3. Accuracy and Efficiency
If you’re trying to handle things correctly when tax season arrives, you’ll need the help of a professional. Make sure that they are detail-oriented and that they provide error-free returns.
Ask them about their checks and balances when handling taxes so that you know no stone is left unturned when handling your work.
4. Access to the Best Tax Prep Tools
Always ask the tax preparation professionals what tools they have at their disposal to help you out. Find out what tax software platforms they use, and how they can help you with your record-keeping, quarterly filings, tax payment plans, and any other details.
These professionals also can help you seamlessly communicate with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) when you’re dealing with any complex issues.
5. Find Pros That Have Referrals
Make sure that you choose a tax company that others trust. The only way to know this is by getting referrals and following up on them.
If people that you know and love recommend certain tax professionals, you’ll feel more confident in choosing them. Take the time to ask these different tax professionals how much they charge for their services so that you are also able to budget for it each year when the spring rolls around.
You can find Atlantic Tax Services here to get an example of a company that focuses on the tips you need to handle your filings.
Work With a Professional Tax Team
These tips are helpful when you’d like to work with a tax team that can assist you. Take the time to get help from a professional that can handle your filings.
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