Tips for Accounting Career Success

As you pursue your career in accounting, there are so many paths to take. You may want to own your own firm one day. Find a promotion. Land a big raise. Regardless of your goals, there are some basic keys to your success in the field of accounting, and every single successful accountant can boast of these characteristics. You can do well with one or the other, but only together do they cooperate for success and freedom in your accounting future.

First you should take some time to address where you are now. Are you a beginner? Experienced? Expert? What are your future goals in your career of accounting? Are these goals available to you at the current time or will you need a big change to achieve your goals? You need some clarity for what you want before you can fully develop these traits. Then when you’re ready you can begin working on these two critical keys to success in accounting.

Competence

The primary key to success in accounting is of course competence. You must be good at your job. You need to be able to work efficiently, meet deadlines, think critically, and make effective decisions for your company or clients. You can begin working on your competence by reviewing your strengths and weaknesses in your current accounting position. Identify ways to strengthen your weaknesses and to display your strengths. Universal Accounting courses are available to bolster your accounting skills to maximize profits for yourself and your clients.

Confidence

This trait is by far the most lacking in the business of accounting. Most accountants believe that their work will do the talking, and that confidence is a trait for salesmen and athletes. If you do your job right you’ll have success right? Maybe. But the only way to truly guarantee success in your accounting career is to pair competence with confidence. Display your skills and speak up. Share your confidence with your superiors and clients. Believe that you can find creative solutions to any accounting problem, and that any endeavor you assume will be successful. Confidence transforms a mediocre accountant to a star accountant. Clients and firms will be attracted to your confidence and find more value in your efforts.

Embracing Technology

It’s impossible to embrace a client-focused, big-picture paradigm shift without wholeheartedly embracing technology. And the results speak for themselves. In the “7 Habits” study of high-performing CPA firms versus low-performing CPA firms, researchers found that high-performing firms were five times more likely to encourage innovation than low-performing firms.

What Does It Mean to Embrace Technology?

How does a firm embrace technology? And which technology specifically? The “7 Habits” study states, “This attribute, while it can be applied to technology adoption, is certainly not restricted to it. In fact, it tends to be pervasive in a firm’s culture — applying broadly to service offerings, management techniques, employee benefits, and so forth.”

In other words, jumping on the technological bandwagon looks less like rushing to download the latest iPhone and Android apps and more so an attitude of embracing change and encouraging clients to innovate. The speed of innovation is only increasing, so solutions will naturally evolve over time.

Working in Technology

As important as it is to work with technology in the form of apps and software that help accountants and bookkeepers streamline and understand their business and their client’s business, it’s equally critical to work through technology in your practice by taking a mobile, paperless, portal-centric approach.

Going paperless to streamline internal processes and encourage your customers to interact with you through technology (in a client portal, for example) not only improves efficiency, but it sends a clear message to increasingly mobile and tech-dependent customers who are likely to balk at outdated processes

You must Excel in Math

Accounting is about numbers and the manipulation to numbers; hence, you must certain that you excel in math at high school. People who hate math may not be success in accounting field. That’s why you got to love math if you like to become an accountant. Take a special attention in math and ask your teacher or counselor’s guidance on which courses to take to best prepare you for earning a degree in accounting when you enter a college later.

Request Information From College that Offer Accounting Degree

Beside the traditional brick & mortal colleges, there are many prestige’s online colleges and online universities offer degrees in accounting that enable you to earn an accounting degree from home. Send a letter, an email or make an online information request to those colleges that offer accounting degrees for heir catalogs and admission requirement on their accounting degree programs.

Become Proficient with Accounting Software

The time of using Microsoft Excel program in accounting work was over. You need to become proficient with a variety of accounting software if you want to success in this field. You may not be able to learn all the accounting software in the market, but you need to familiar with the common accounting software use by most corporate.

Gain Working Experience in Related Fields

Related working experiences are important in determining a success in your accounting career. If you are attending class-based accounting degree program, you could work at part-time jobs or internships in accounting firms during your college years. If you are getting your accounting degree online, then you can start gaining your full working experience in accounting with a full-time job, because an online accounting degree program allows you to plan your learning schedule that fit into your full-time job.

Secrets of the Most Successful Accounting Firms

Everyone is familiar with the saying “time is money” but how often do you actually apply that concept to your business? In a competitive industry, it’s important that you and all of your employees learn how to work smarter, not harder, so that you can get more done with the time and the workforce you have. If you want your business to be highly productive, consider implementing some of the following habits employed by top accounting firms:

• Give clear direction regarding priorities; this helps employees to focus on the most important tasks first.
• Consistently and evenly distribute workloads and tasks.
• Provide strong support and training; this empowers employees and ensures they have the necessary skills to get things done.
• Give employees the resources they need to get things done efficiently and at a high level of quality.
• Give employees autonomy and authority to make decisions about how to do their jobs; this prevents delays in the workflow process and empowers employees to take ownership of their respective tasks.

Having brief meetings throughout your week can help you to gauge workloads and redistribute them as needed, so that you can ensure things are getting done; it also forces employees to be accountable for the things they have accomplished, because they must report back on their tasks periodically.

You should also set clear, firm deadlines for projects. According to one study conducted among college students, those students who had clear deadlines performed better and more consistently than those without any deadlines. You should also ensure the deadlines are not too lax; the same study indicated that students who had too much time to complete a task performed almost as poorly as those with no deadlines at all.

Encourage your employees to take breaks throughout the day as well. The same concept behind a good work-life balance applies to balance while employees are at work. According to several studies, the most productive people work in cycles; ideally, employees should work for 90 minutes, then have a 15-minute break. This syncs with the body’s natural energy rhythms, giving them more energy to get things done and allowing them to be more focused on their work.

You should also employ proper tools to cut down on the time that it takes to complete tasks. This can include items like paperless document management systems and scanning software. These kinds of tools will significantly reduce the amount of time your employees spend on time-consuming tasks like filing and data entry, giving them more time to spend on billable tasks and producing deliverables for your clients.

Objectives and Methods of Tax Planning

Tax planning is an activity that enables you to reduce your tax liability. It is one of the most basic yet integral parts of the financial plan, and it helps you save your capital. Several options enable taxpayers to reduce their tax liabilities, especially those that fall under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act of 1961.

Under this section of the IT Act, you can claim tax deductions of ₹150,000 on various kinds of investments such as tax-saving fixed deposits, PPF contributions, EPF contributions, Unit Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPS), and National Pension System, among other things. Here’s everything you need to know about tax planning objectives and methods, especially if you are a first-time taxpayer.

Objectives of tax planning

First-time taxpayers must understand the fundamental objectives of planning their taxes. They are as under:

To reduce tax liability: Tax planning primarily revolves around reducing your tax liability. Every single taxpayer wishes to reduce the burden of paying the taxes while saving their money for their future. Fortunately, the Government offers several different investment schemes through which liabilities can be reduced significantly. However, it is essential not to leave tax planning to the last moment. Plan to invest in tax-savings instruments from the beginning of the financial year and avail all the advantages to reduce your tax payments.

To minimise litigation: Minimising legal litigations is essential while planning taxes. If you don’t have one, you must avail the services of a legal advisor. Consult your advisor and adopt the adequate provisions of tax planning laws, so that you can minimise the litigation. Minimising litigation saves you from judicial harassment.

To stabilise the economy of the country: The taxes you pay are devoted to the betterment of the country. If you pay all the taxes which are legally due, you can contribute towards creating a more productive economy. Planning your taxes is beneficial for you and the economy of the country in which you’re living.

To leverage productivity and financial growth: Planning your taxes prudently can facilitate economic growth for you. Chalking out clear and precise financial objectives from your investments, over specific time frames and investing in the right tax-saving instruments can help you create a good corpus, thereby contributing to your economic growth.

Different ways in which you can plan your taxes

While most people think of tax planning as a process that helps in reducing their tax liabilities; it is also about investing in the right instruments, at the right time, so that you can achieve your short, medium and long-term financial goals. Fundamentally, there are four varied methods of tax planning. They are as under:

Short-range tax planning: This is a term used in reference to tax planning that is both, though of and executed when the financial year comes to an end. Investors resort to this planning on the heels of the end of the fiscal year, attempting to find ways to reduce their tax liabilities legally. For instance, if, at the end of the financial year, assesses find that their taxes are high as compared to the previous year; they may want to reduce it. Assesses may be able to do that by adequately arranging to get tax rebates under Section 88. Short-range tax planning does not involve long-term commitments, while it still can promote substantial tax savings.

Long-range tax planning: The long-range tax plan is one chalked out when the financial year begins, and which the taxpayer follows throughout the year. Such an arrangement may not provide immediate tax-relief benefits as short-range plans do but can prove to be beneficial in the long run. You typically have to start investing when the new financial year begins and hold on to the investment for a period exceeding one year.

Permissive tax planning: Permissive tax planning, as the term suggests, means planning investments under various provisions of the taxation laws of India. In India, there are many provisions of law, offering exemptions, deductions, incentives and contributions. Section 80C of the Income Tax Act of 1961, for instance, offers several different types of exemptions (on the amount invested, interest earned and the amount at maturity) on tax-savings investments.

Purposive Tax planning: Purposive tax planning refers to the act of planning investments with specific purposes in mind, thereby ensuring that you can avail maximum benefits from your investments. It involves the accurate selection of investment instruments, creating a suitable agenda to replace assets (if necessary) and diversification of income and business assets based on your residential status.

Tax Planning Issues

Check on Congress. The most important thing you can do this year for your tax planning is to keep an eye on Congress to see whether lawmakers manage to extend popular tax provisions before the end of 2015. Some notable provisions must be extended in order to allow:

Taxpayers aged 70½ and over to make tax-free charitable contributions from individual retirement accounts (IRAs);

Businesses to deduct up to half of eligible equipment placed in service this year;

Teachers to receive an above-the-line deduction for $250 in classroom expenses;

Students and parents to receive an above-the-line deduction for tuition expenses;

Companies to receive a credit for qualified research expenses; and

Taxpayers in states without an income tax – like Washington, Texas and Florida – to deduct state sales taxes.

Document your business activities. You may not need to pay a 3.8 percent Medicare tax on your business income if you participate in the business enough so that you are not considered a “passive investor.” Participation is almost any work performed in a business as an owner, manager or employee as long as it is not an investor activity. Even so, you must document your activities, and the IRS will not let you make ballpark estimates after the fact. Make sure you document the hours you’re spending with calendar and appointment books, emails and narrative summaries.

Prepare your information reporting. You should start gathering information early this year to make sure you can complete your mandatory reporting on time. Congress has enacted new legislation that more than doubles most penalties for late or incorrect information returns. This includes the Form W-2 employers must provide to all employees and the Form 1099 a business must provide to any contractor it pays at least $600 for services. These returns are due to recipients by Feb. 1 and the IRS soon after.

Get your charitable house in order. If you plan on giving to charity before the end of the year, remember that a cash contribution must be documented in order to be deductible. If you claim a charitable deduction of more than $500 in donated property, you must attach Form 8283. If you are claiming a deduction of $250 or more for a car donation, you will need a written acknowledgement from the charity that includes a description of the car. Remember, you cannot deduct donations to individuals, social clubs, political groups or foreign organizations.

Remember your state and local tax obligations.

Don’t forget that state and local governments impose their own filing and payment responsibilities with various income, sales and property taxes. Recently, states have become more aggressive in taxing corporations that are not physically present in their states, but have significant sales to customers in those states.  While there may be exceptions for limited business activities in particular states, it is wise to check on your activities of your salespeople that often travel to different states to ensure you are filing all state corporate tax returns as needed.

Take a closer look at your state residency status.  For individuals who split their time in two different states throughout the year, now is an excellent time to consider where you may be taxed as a resident for 2015. To make it more likely that the high-tax jurisdiction will respect the move and not continue to tax you as a resident, you should track the number of days you are spending in each jurisdiction. Generally, if you reside in a state for 183 days or more, that state will assert residency and the ability to tax all of your income. Furthermore, if you move to a new state but you maintain significant contacts with the old state (including driver’s license, residences, bank accounts and the like), you could run the risk of being taxed as a resident in the old state.

What problems and opportunities are created by tax havens?

Tax havens have attracted increasing attention from policy-makers in recent years. This paper provides an overview of a growing body of research that analyses the consequences and determinants of the existence of tax-haven countries. For instance, recent evidence suggests that tax havens tend to have stronger governance institutions than comparable non-haven countries. Most importantly, tax havens provide opportunities for tax planning by multinational corporations. It is often argued that tax havens erode the tax base of high-tax countries by attracting such corporate activity. However, while tax havens host a disproportionate fraction of the world’s foreign direct investment (FDI), their existence need not make high-tax countries worse off. It is possible that, under certain conditions, the existence of tax havens can enhance efficiency and even mitigate tax competition. Indeed, corporate tax revenues in major capital-exporting countries have exhibited robust growth, despite substantial FDI flows to tax havens.

What To Ask When Choosing a Tax Advisor

“What’s Your Tax Background?”

First, define a tax preparer’s credibility by asking for professional credentials and background. Experience is key when it comes to taxes and year-round accounting services.

CERTIFICATIONS ARE CRITICAL WHEN IT COMES TO TAX AND ACCOUNTING. IT’S ALL ABOUT ACRONYMS:

CPA: A certified public accountant, or CPA, is certified to act as a public accountant. A CPA is the only licensed qualification in accounting and is granted after you pass an exam. CPAs can practice in other areas of accountancy besides taxes, too.

EA: An enrolled agent (EA), the highest credential awarded by the IRS, is a federally-authorized tax practitioner who has technical expertise in the field of taxation and who is empowered by the U.S. Department of Treasury to represent taxpayers before all administrative levels of the Internal Revenue Service for audits, collections, and appeals. Only enrolled agents, attorneys, and CPAs may represent taxpayers before the IRS.

“How Do You Charge Clients?”

Accountants and tax preparers can charge in a variety of ways: by the hour, by the return, by the complexity of forms filed, or even a percentage of the total amount of your refund (a practice that is frowned upon). And with cloud-based accounting, you may have an upcharge to use the platform. While you might not get a hard number of the amount you will owe, establish the context of cost so you are not surprised down the road.

“How Do You File Taxes?”

Most individuals prefer e-filing a tax return, yet many tax preparers will mail them. Define the filing method they use with clients. (Generally, a paid tax preparer who files 11 or more tax returns is required to electronically file.)

Availability is important – not only within the working day, but also year round.

First ask: “What is your typical response time?” (Even in the heat of tax season.) Point blank: you may have a question that needs prompt attention, so choose an advisor who is available and quick to respond – preferably within 48-hours.

Then ask: “What is your availability year-round?” Even after taxes are filed, the IRS may need more information about your tax return, so the preparer should be available to you. On top of this, your taxes are just one part of your overall tax and financial picture, so it’s important to find an advisor who suits your needs throughout the year.

How to Choose a Tax Preparer for Truckers

Think – Who did your income taxes last year? Did they give you good service? Were you happy with the result? Did they even KNOW trucker taxes? Over a year ago, the TruckingOffice team made a commitment to go beyond simply providing the very best bookkeeping and record keeping services available. We began a search for the very best in other important services that all professional drivers need, like factoring, insurance and tax services.

The questions we asked ourselves in our search are the same ones that you should ask yourself if you happen to be searching for a new preparer:

Do they give prompt, attentive service?

Do they know trucker taxes inside and out?

Do they provide a great value for the fees charged?

Have they been around basically forever? Do they have a track record? Have they proven themselves?

And finally, are they fun and pleasant to deal with?

If filing your taxes is about as fun as a trip to the dentist, or if you answered “No” to even one of the questions above when you checked out another tax service,

Questions to Ask a Tax Preparer

When interviewing a prospective tax preparer, ask these questions:

Do you have an IRS issued Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN)?

Do you offer a free initial consultation?

How do you keep up with the latest tax law?

Do you regularly take continuing education courses?

Are you a member of any professional tax or accounting organizations?

What are your professional credentials?

Do you abide by a code of ethics?

How do you determine your fee to prepare my return(s)? Is it a fixed fee or an hourly rate? Is it based on a % of my refund?

Who will prepare my return? Will it be you or someone else in your office?

If you have employees who will work on my return, do they hold any credentials and do they take continuing education courses?

When do you require payment?

When can I expect to receive my completed tax returns back from you?

How long have you been in business?

Are you bonded or insured?

Do you outsource any tax preparation services?

What happens if I get audited?

Will you store my tax information? How will it be stored and for how long?

Can I contact you after tax season if needed regarding my return?

Enrolled Agents (EA) – People with this credential are licensed by the IRS and specifically trained in federal tax planning, preparation and representation. Enrolled agents hold the most expansive license IRS grants and must pass a suitability check, as well as a three-part exam. They complete 72 hours of continuing education every 3 years

Certified Public Accountants (CPA) – People with this credential are licensed by state boards of accountancy and have passed the CPA exam. They must meet education, experience, and good character requirements established by their boards of accountancy and comply with ethical requirements as well as complete continuing education to maintain an active license. CPAs can offer a range of services; some CPAs specialize in tax preparation and planning.

Attorneys – People with this credential are licensed by state courts or their designees, such as the state bar. Generally, requirements include completion of a degree in law, passage of an ethics and bar exam and on-going continuing education. Attorneys can offer a range of services; some attorneys specialize in tax preparation and planning

How to become a professional tax preparer

Create your PTIN

Anyone who prepares tax returns and charges a fee for their services is required to have a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) . There aren’t any educational requirements to get your PTIN. You can create one online on the IRS website. The process only takes about 15 minutes

Apply for an EFIN

If you plan to file tax returns electronically, the IRS requires that you have an Electronic Filing Identification Number or EFIN . You can complete your application quickly on the IRS website, here. You will also need to provide your fingerprints to the IRS unless you are already a certified licensed professional, like a CPA or attorney. It should take about 45 days to get your EFIN.

Register with your state

Every state is different. Depending on where you plan to work, you may or may not need to register as a tax preparer. Look up your state’s requirements before you begin accepting clients.

Work at an office

When you are just starting out as a tax preparer, you may find it helpful to work for an established tax prep service for a brief period. Not only will you be able to ask questions and gain experience during tax season, but you could also learn valuable lessons about the state and local requirements where you plan to start your business.

Choose a tax prep software

Every tax preparer is different. Depending on your level of experience in the industry, you may require certain things from your tax preparation software. Consider your needs first.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT TAX PROFESSIONAL FOR YOU

How do you choose a professional?

For anything, really?

When you need legal or medical advice, an electrician, or a mechanic?

Do you take the phone book and choose a random entry?

Do you drive around stopping at the first place you find?

No. You shop around. You ask friends, family, and coworkers for recommendations. Never do you go in blindly. But most importantly, you ask questions! So why would you choose just anyone to hire to prepare your tax return? Why would you use a chain tax service where you don’t know a single thing about the person who will prepare your tax return? Many people already have a tax preparer they trust and have been working with for years.

You are the boss in this scenario, and the professional is working for you. You need to be the one who makes the decision to hire a particular person to prepare your income tax return.

You’ll even hear about a “friend of a friend” whose sister used this guy out of a back room without windows who got them a huge refund when they should have gotten peanuts.

Sadly, it’s hard to tell who is qualified, who is for real, who should be trusted with your income taxes. There isn’t a perfect way to find out about a person or company other than to ask around or check out reviews online.

Tips to Choose an Accountant for Your Small Business

Irrespective of the industry your small business falls into, you cannot understate the value of a good accountant. You can get a bookkeeper for basic accounting services, an accountant who has a degree in accounting for more complicated accounting and payroll services, or a certified public accountant who can help with tax planning and also prepare taxes. All of these people can share strategic advice for business growth.

Know What You Need

But before you choose an accountant, you need first to understand the kind of work or responsibilities you want the accountant to handle for your business. If you need monthly financial statements and bookkeeping tasks, a non-certified accountant or bookkeeper can be hired. But to get tax planning advice, tax returns prepared, or audited financial statements, you need a CPA or certified public accountant.

Look For Small Business Experience

Beware of big accounting firms. You need someone who works with small businesses, and it could also be a bonus if the accountant works with businesses in your industry. While working for clients from a specific industry for a long time, some accountants get to know the related challenges very well. If the accountant has been dealing with several clients like you, he/she can guide you well about making the right financial decisions for the growth of your company.

Decide Whether You Need an Accountant or a CPA Firm

Many small business owners start by managing their taxes on their own. Unlike the past, it has become much easier for business owners to do simple bookkeeping tasks with the help of advanced software like QuickBooks, Xero, Sage, and similar others.

Ask for Recommendations

One way to find an accountant for your business is to ask other business owners about whom they use. Nothing is better than a recommendation from one of your peers. Ask about their experience of working with their accountant or bookkeeper, and get some idea of the budget you’ll need to have to pay for these services

How to choose an accountant for your small business

Picking the right accountant is a vital business decision, so you’ll need to arm yourself with the right assessment questions. Charlotte Simmonds hears the experts’ views on what these should be

Choosing the right accountant is one of the most important decisions a small business can make. A good one can save you time and help your business grow; a bad one could cost you much needed money. Yet with thousands to choose from, it can be a daunting call to make. So when it comes to selecting and working with an accountant, what are the questions every small business owner should ask so as to make the most informed choice?

Why should I hire you?

Hiring an accountant can be “even more important” than taking on a member of staff, says Clive Lewis, head of enterprise at The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). “If you get the wrong person, you can miss out on things you should know,” he explains, “and that can be very costly.”

Charlotte Chung, senior policy advisor at the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), says the key thing to query during the hiring process is how the accountant will add financial value to your company. “Look for someone who can act as a business partner. You want them to demonstrate the skills and knowledge of supporting a small business.”

Therefore, take your time with research. Both Chung and Lewis advise meeting with a least three candidates before making a final choice. There are a few fundamental questions that must be asked during these meetings

How to Choose an Accountant Who Is Also an Advisor

Accountants help you keep an eye on major costs as early as the startup stage, a time when you’re probably preoccupied with counting every paper clip and postage stamp. Accountants help you look at the big picture.

In fact, perhaps no other business relationship has such potential to pay off. Nowadays, accountants are more than just bean counters. A good accountant can be your company’s financial partner for life — with intimate knowledge of everything from how you’re going to finance your next forklift to how you’re going to finance your daughter’s college education.

These four disciplines often overlap. For instance, if your accountant is helping you prepare the financial statements you need for a loan, and he or she gives you some insights into how certain estimates could be recalculated to get a more favorable review, the accountant is crossing the line from auditing into business advisory services.

Services

Most accounting firms offer tax and auditing services. But what about bookkeeping? Management consulting? Estate planning? Will the accountant help you design and implement financial information systems? Other services a CPA may offer include analyzing transactions for loans and financing; preparing, auditing, reviewing and compiling financial statements; managing investments; and representing you before tax authorities.

Personality

Is the accountant’s style compatible with yours? Be sure the people you are meeting with are the same ones who will be handling your business. At many accounting firms, some partners handle sales and new business, then pass the actual account work on to others.

Questions to Ask When You Choose a Tax Accountant

If you are considering early exercising of a significant number of options or are thinking about selling options in the public market for the first time we highly recommend retaining a reputable tax accountant. We realize this means you will incur a fee, but it is highly justified given the risk you take on incurring significant unforeseen taxes if you don’t consult a great tax accountant.  It is not as easy to quantify the savings from hiring a tax accountant as it is from hiring an estate planner (see our recent post by Abe Zuckerman regarding Estate Planners), but it’s just as necessary. Like most people, you’re probably not sure how to choose a tax accountant.

Do they have expertise in areas relevant to you?

If you work for a technology company that issues stock options or RSUs, then make sure your accountant has worked with plenty of other clients in the same situation.  Better yet, make sure she has clients who work in more senior positions than you because with seniority usually comes more complexity. A true professional will tell you if she is not appropriate for the job, either because your return is too simple to warrant her help or too complex due to her lack of relevant experience (a common example where a lot of experience is needed would be the area of oil and gas partnerships)

How many years of individual tax experience do they have?

An appropriate tax advisor should have a minimum of five years experience doing individual tax returns. Experience with a large firm is usually better than a small firm because she will have been exposed to a broader set of issues and her training should be better

What license(s) do they have?

It would be preferable for your tax preparer to have a CPA (Certified Public Accountant license) although it is not technically required. Tax Attorneys should have a LL.M in Tax (an advanced tax degree for an attorney).

Do they have an advanced degree?

A CPA can do tax work even if she hasn’t had any special training in tax. I know that sounds crazy. That’s why it might make sense to look for someone with more advanced training like a tax specialty within an MBA. My tax advisor, Bob Guenley (who has written a number of guest posts for us), told me he only took one tax course in college and learned a lot on the job, but getting his MBA in tax made a whole world of difference. His MBA included individual, partnership, corporate and fiduciary tax, which is more than one needs if she wants to specialize in individual tax, but it’s awfully nice to have someone advise you who has that broad perspective. An advanced degree isn’t necessary if your accountant has taken advanced classes in personal tax as part of her ongoing Continuing Professional Education requirement. There is no correct answer to this question. I just think your tax advisor/preparer needs to have taken several courses emphasizing personal taxes.

Choosing an accountant

When choosing an accountant, look for one that will suit you or your business. Some accountants specialise in tax returns for individuals or for businesses in a particular industry, and others are experts in a particular area of tax.

If you’re an employee

An accountant can be useful if you have multiple jobs or income from investments. They can also help you claim all the tax deductions you’re entitled to and make sure your tax return is correct.

If you work for yourself

If you work for yourself as a sole trader, contractor or freelancer, an accountant can help.

Help with your business

If you run your own business, an accountant can help you set up and maintain your financial records. They can also help you meet your tax obligations.

Finding the right accountant

A good place to start looking for an accountant is recommendations from people you know