Looking to hire an NJ tax accountant? Before hiring an accountant, it could be worth making a few checks to ensure that you’re hiring someone that you can trust. Tax accounting is something that needs to be done thoroughly and accurately. You also need to trust them to handle your sensitive financial and personal details. Below are just some of the measures that you can take to make sure that you hire a reliable tax accountant.
Check their PTIN
At the very least, every paid tax preparer should have a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). This is a legal requirement of the IRS and is something that needs to be provided with your tax return. Ask a tax accountant to give you their PTIN so that you know they are legitimate.
Look into other certification
Other certifications can prove that the tax accountant you are hiring has had to complete tests and is trusted by professional bodies. Various certificates are worth looking out for. A few examples of respected titles and certificates include:
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Enrolled Agent (EA)
- Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
- Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
- Accredited Business Accountant
If an accountant possesses any of the above credentials, it’s usually a good sign that they’re reliable. Membership in professional bodies such as the National Association of Tax Professionals can also be worth looking out for.
Ask if they offer e-file
Accountants that provide tax returns for more than 10 clients are required by the IRS to offer e-file. It’s worth asking if an accountant offers e-file as it can give you a good idea as to the number of clients an accountant has served. Avoid accountants that claim to have many clients but don’t offer e-file.
Compare fees
It’s important to compare the fees of accountants to make sure that you get a good deal. While you’ll likely want to avoid accountants that charge very high fees, you should also be wary of accountants that charge unusually low fees – they could be making up for a poor reputation or may only provide a very basic service. Accountants will set their rates differently. Be careful of accountants that claim to offer big refunds and base their fees on this.
Trust reviews and recommendations
Positive online reviews show that an accountant has made previous clients happy. Make sure that there are more positive reviews than negative reviews, and that these positive reviews are recent. It could also be worth asking other professionals for recommendations. If multiple professionals recommend the same accounting service, it could be a good sign.
Make sure they’re organized and available
When looking for a reliable tax accountant in New Jersey, you should also look out for red flags in terms of organization and availability. If a tax accountant is hard to get hold of and makes no effort to contact you back, they may not be a good choice. The best tax accountants are easy to contact and will welcome you on board and leads you in the right direction. They should also be willing to answer any questions you may have.
