If you thought that tax season was just something to dread, you might be surprised at how easy it can be if you have a good accountant on your side. A qualified professional will make short work of all those confusing forms and refunds, leaving you with nothing but extra cash in your wallet. Here are some tips for making the most out of tax accountants this year:
1.) Shop around! Any decent accountant should offer free consultations, which is where they sit down with you and go over what kinds of financial records they need from you before they can start doing any actual work. Don’t settle for the first one who offers or makes an appointment; compare rates and availability until you find who’ll do the job right for the best price.
2.) Be honest! Your tax professional acts as your liaison with the IRS, so you have to be honest about anything that might affect your tax situation. They need all the information they can get so they know how much you should be paying in taxes, or whether or not you qualify for an audit or any sort of financial assistance.
Don’t try to slide one by them unless you want to get audited, which can result in fines and fees, plus whatever charges were due in the first place.
3.) Keep good records! It’s always better to keep things organized right from the start rather than having to spend time scrambling through old papers trying to find something that might be needed during an audit. The more organized and accurate you keep your records, the less time it will take to file and therefore the more money you’ll save.
4.) Be timely! Don’t leave things until the last minute; submit any paperwork as soon as possible, but give yourself enough time to correct anything that might be wrong or incomplete. You don’t want to end up with a penalty because you were trying to beat the clock. Again, this can lead to increased fees and fines that could have been avoided if only you’d taken care of business on time.
5.) Talk with them before filling out paperwork! Remember that tax accountant are there for their clients’ benefit rather than just acting as glorified clerks for the. They can tell you whether or not an audit is even possible, and if it’s likely to be something minor or major. If you think you might need some help with the financial side of things, they’re the best people to turn to.
6.) Don’t let them intimidate you! Last but not least, make sure that your tax accountant doesn’t abuse their position as a trained professional.
They shouldn’t try to scare you into submission or intimidate you simply because they know a lot more about taxes than most people do. You have rights as a taxpayer, and those rights should never be abrogated for any reason other than legitimate concern for your best interests as a client.
7.) Follow up! Don’t leave things to chance; once the tax season is over, make sure to ask for an official copy of your financial records. This can be used as a backup plan if anything goes wrong with the government’s records, and it will also help you keep better track of your ongoing finances in general.
8.) Be smart about next year! Once this tax season is over, sit down and figure out what went well and what didn’t regarding your accountant. Was it worth the money? Would another company have done a better job for less money? Keeping good notes on all this information will come in handy next year when you need to find someone else or stick with the one who’s already familiar with your situation.
Finding the right tax accountants may take time and effort, but once you find a good match, not only will you find your taxes become much easier to deal with, you’ll also have someone on your side who can help make sure that everything is done by the book and according to regulations.
Think you might need a tax accountant? Call or visit our website at https://www.taxwarehouse.com.au/ for more information on how we can help you with your taxes!