Tips for Choosing a Tax Preparer

With over 5,000 pages in the tax code that no one individual has ever completely read or understood, it's easy to imagine why the tax system is as complicated as it is and requires professional advice to unravel. Unfortunately, this complexity and the likelihood of confusion leaves a wide playing field for scam artists and the unscrupulous to take advantage of the unwary.

All of the tax professionals that you can find through Cahill Taxes are thoroughly grounded in sound financial principles that can help you. You can put your mind at ease and not worry about running into any shady, fly-by-night organization that will be recommended to you through this site. Nonetheless, if you are looking for a proper tax advisor or tax preparer, here are some helpful tips for choosing the best one:

• You don't have to pay taxes!: This is a lie as bold as saying that you are never going to die. There are only the smallest fraction of individuals in the country who can actually avoid having any tax liability whatsoever and if you're reading this, you can be fairly certain you are not one of them. You want to completely avoid any tax preparer or advisor that suggests they have some way to "legally" avoid paying taxes that they will make available to you. In fact, it is illegal to even make the claim.
• How many years of experience: There are many different levels of tax advising and tax preparation and an expert in one area of the tax code may know little or nothing about another. For your specific situation, you should seek out those tax preparers and advisors who have experience in the specific area of tax preparation that you require help with. If your situation is in estate taxes, make sure you speak with a tax professional who has dealt with estate taxes specifically for many years. If you want advice on investment taxes, seek out an individual with experience in that.
• Be prepared to be well-known: With a field as complicated and convoluted as the tax service, you should be prepared to have your tax preparer ask you some very detailed questions about your life and your spending habits. This isn't their attempt to be nosey, but many things you do and the ways or reasons you do them, can affect your tax liability. You can prepare for this by being prepared with all of your prior tax returns and legal information at hand when you call to speak with a representative or go in for your first appointment.
• Have the Right Questions: When deciding on which tax preparer or advisor you should use you should be forearmed with a list of questions to interview each prospective with in order to save time. Some suggested questions are:

1. How quickly do you turn information around?
2. How many people will have access to my information or will be working on my account?
3. How much do you charge?
4. What ways will I have available to contact you? Phone, E-mail? Fax?
5. How many other clients do you have?
6. Do you have any references I could check?

Regardless of which individual you choose, don't be afraid to ask plenty of questions at the outset. This is your tax liability you are talking about here and when it all boils down, it may be you against the most feared organization in the United States Government – the IRS. You don't want to take chances with your money or your credit and reputation.