As an accountant in Canada, Randall Dang has been interviewed many times for various jobs. Randall Dang works with business of all sizes in a wide variety of roles, including performing CFO duties and preparing taxes. He could tell you which questions are important when it comes time to hire your own tax accountant for your business. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all tax preparer for any business, but any good tax accountant will share several key characteristics, like organization and honesty, as others. With that in mind, here are several key questions you should ask to make sure you’re hiring a good one that you can trust with your livelihood:
Do You Have a PTIN? This is very important because the IRS requires any accountant or preparer to have a PTIN in order to file taxes. If he or she doesn’t, this is a deal breaker.
Have You Prepared Business Taxes Before? Again, this is an easy question and one with an easy answer. If the tax accountant says no, you might want to try someone else. Business taxes are different than personal taxes and require a certain level of expertise to be filed correctly.
How Much Do You Charge? There’s no question that a skillful tax accountant like Randall Dang can save you money. Of course, if he or she is charging you more than you would save then it’s really not worth it.
Who Will Sign the Return? This is a big one as it will ensure that the actual accountant is filing the return and not just handing it off to another preparer. If he or she refuses to sign it, that could be a glaring red flag.
What Happens If I Get Audited? Again, the purpose of hiring a tax accountant is to avoid getting audited, but it can sometime happen. You’ll want to know that your accountant has a procedure and plan for audits. Will he or she answer questions from the IRS or represent you in tax court. These are good things to know upfront.