26 Sep 10 Questions To Ask Your New Accountant
There may come a time when you will need to seek professional help to file taxes, keep up with payroll or take care of other aspects to running a successful business. When a contractor or business owner needs assistance, it is very common for them to hire an accountant. A trustworthy professional is worth their weight in gold to the successful business owner and operator. Without them, the owner would have to learn what can be deducted from taxes, how much each employee would have to pay in taxes and other important aspects to keeping the money protected. If ever you are in the position to hire a professional to assist you with financial needs, there are at least 10 questions to ask your new accountant.
Some of the most basic questions would allow you to evaluate if the services offered are the correct match with the company or individual needs. For example, how long have they been practicing and are they licensed to work in the area or county? You will also need to find out if they are used to dealing with your type of business.
Getting a list of references will not only ease your mind, it will also allow you to talk to the accountant’s previous and current clients. It is very important to find someone who is honest and trustworthy to handle finances. There are many different laws that vary from state to state and if not followed, can cause trouble for you.
It is very important to know what kind of person the accountant is. They have direct contact with income, profits, and other aspects of the business. It is of the utmost importance to make sure the person who will be taking care of your finances is trustworthy.
Other questions that you will need to ask the CPA should be about income and the taxes that go along with it. Not everyone knows what you can use as deductions on your taxes. There is also the question of health insurance that can be confusing to a lot of people.
Many CPAs only work during tax season. This type of accountant will not prove to be a benefit to those that have employees who need to be paid on a regular basis. He or she will, however, be a great use to those that do not have employees and only plan to take care of their taxes once a year.
It is important to find out if they do seasonal work or if they are available any time of the year. Many of them will be employed by a firm so they will have set hours of operation which is usually Monday through Friday. It is also important to find out the person you should talk to if or when you have any questions about your account. There may be more than one person assigned to a company or individual account.
To find out more about what you might need to know about hiring someone to help you keep finances in order, do a little research online. It is a good idea to find someone local because they will know the tax laws in the area better than those that are located out of the state. Do not be afraid to ask questions about the person handling accounts.