This is the time of year when everyone starts thinking about changing accountants. Here’s my list of what you should look for in your new or existing CPA.
1. Do they represent their client base well in front of the Internal Revenue Service. How would you know this? Ask about him about his experiences within the last twelve months. What were the issues and how were they resolved.
2. Can they tell you exactly how much money they save you every year? You should be able to ask him this.
3. Tax laws change every year. Is he asking you new questions about your return every year. An example of this is estate tax rules. Is he letting you know about estate rule changes.
4. Has his firm completed Peer Review yet? All firms are now required to submit to this evaluation. What were the findings?
5. Is he a one man show? No one is an expert in everything. A good firm has several accountants with different talents. The best tax accountant may not be who you want representing your case with the IRS. A good researcher may not make you the best deal with an IRS agent.
