Questions to ask when starting the selection process.

Ask friends and business associates for referrals of accounting and tax professionals. Chamber of Commerce activities and service club luncheons are often a good place to talk to others about who they use for their financial services.

You can also contact national or state accounting organizations for names of their members in your area. The Accreditation Council of Accountancy and Taxation lists their accredited professionals or you may call ACAT toll free at 888-289-7763, extension 1343.

The questions to ask to get the answers you need.
Select several tax and accounting professionals you believe are best for your situation, then interview them. Make sure you have a good rapport with each other. Below are some helpful questions you might ask, depending on your situation:

What professional organizations do you belong to??

What credentials do you have that demonstrate your proficiency in serving my needs?

Do your professional organizations have a Code of Ethics?

Where did you get your training?

How do you keep up-to-date on law changes?

How long have you been in practice?

How many tax returns do you prepare each year?

How many returns are business returns? Individual? Corporate?

What is your specialty?

Are you the person who will do my return? If not, who will be assigned to prepare it?

Is the person assigned to do my return present in your local office?

How secure is my tax return information?

Will you be sending any of my information out over the Internet, other than e-filing?

Have you dealt with tax situations like mine?

How do you double-check for accuracy?

What is the turnaround time for a tax return like mine?

How do you determine your fees?

Can you be reached throughout the year?

Do you provide year-round tax advisory service?

Do you offer estate and trust planning?

Do you prepare partnership or corporation returns?

Do you offer tax planning for owners of closely held businesses?

Will you help prepare and interpret financial statements and other accounting work to help manage my business?

Above all, credentials to meet your needs.

You should now have the information you need to make an educated selection. Choose the accounting or tax professional you think will do the best job for you. Hopefully, it will result in a long-term business relationship.

The Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation^® (ACAT)
1010 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1574 888.289.7763 x 1343 info@acatcredentials.org