Ask Terry Questions Choosing an Accountant / CPA

Choosing an Accountant / CPA

By Terry Savage on January 15, 2025 | Social Security

Hello Terry,

Do you have any advice on choosing an Accountant / CPA for personal tax preparation? I prefer to use a CPA. I am a very organized person and give my CPA my tax information as early as I can on an Excel Spreadsheet with supporting documents attached and I pay the CPA immediately.

I used one CPA for 22 years and she was fantastic but she retired and have I tried a few different accountants to prepare my returns since then and have encountered many problems.

The CPA I used last year was excellent in terms of work quality and speed and price but was a very unpleasant person. I was going to use him again this year despite his personality but the other day he emailed forms to all his clients including a 27 page “organizer” from the AICPA and an 11 page “Engagement Letter” that looks like it was written by an attorney. No where did I see any mention of amending my return at no charge if the CPA made an error. This CPA did not send me these forms last year.

Terry, I was overwhelmed by this email. It made me feel less of a client and more of an enemy. Does a repeat client – who paid on time – really need to review and fill out and sign 38 pages of documents before a CPA will do any work? Is this normal operating procedure nowadays?

Also, the CPA who prepared 2022 tax return made a mistake and he amended the return in June 2024. The IRS received the amended return in June 2024 and I am still waiting for my refund. I have been told by an IRS employee that no one has touched my return. I have contacted my Congressman for help with this matter and they said they would try to help. Is there anything else I can do?

Thank you.

Terry Says

Gosh, it sounds like you’ve had a run of bad luck with tax prep. Here’s a website where you can search out an Enrolled Agent — the only Federally licensed tax preparers, who can also represent you with the IRS.
The search is here: https://taxexperts.naea.org/expertdirectory

The person you choose should also help you find out about the amended return, and your refund. You can expect a good taxpreparer to require some basic information and a signoff on your responsibility to provide accurate and complete information. But 38 pages IS excessive!

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