Changing CPAs?
- Thread starter 4RNB
- Start date
JOhnH
Touchdown! Greaser!
Since you said "Changing CPAs, I assume you had a CPA do your taxes last year. As long as they did their job correctly, and you have kept the records from last year, it should just be a matter of providing that to the new CPA, and be willing to pay him a little more than usual for going through those records. I was actually kind of surprised when I did it that it wasn't more involved than I expected.
Do you have an ongoing business?
simtech
En-Route
I have three businesses and a W2. Well used too on the W2. We switched CPA’s a while back. It wasn’t bad. Basically gave them the prior year returns, talked over what we have going on and he took over. Wasn’t bad at all, we have a bookkeeper as well and they talk back and forth as needed.
JOhnH
Touchdown! Greaser!
No, I sold my business and retired 10 years ago.
I currently have 2 LLCs but will be dissolve one next year. I DIY'd at first, then got my 1st CPA, then switched to my current CPA who I've been with for 26 years, but I never had any major assets that required a depreciation schedule. Are there some specific answers you are looking for?
We might try to solve for poor service after our guy retired and firm sold
Brad W
En-Route
We just recently considered changing but ended up taking the easy way out.
Our CPA has been stepping back for a number of years and our primary contact has been the CPA's son. He recently handed over the practice to another CPA but our primary contact is still the son. Not really sure his qualifications and honestly don't really care about what paper he holds....but we've felt that maybe we aren't getting quite as thorough of a job as we'd like....making sure we find all the deductions, etc... It's just a feeling. We have no way to really know.
So we considered changing to a new CPA, but that's just trading for a complete unknown so we figured we'd stick it out.
That said my sister is a retired CPA, and I never got the idea from her that it was particularly difficult when she picked up new clients.
Our CPA has been stepping back for a number of years and our primary contact has been the CPA's son. He recently handed over the practice to another CPA but our primary contact is still the son. Not really sure his qualifications and honestly don't really care about what paper he holds....but we've felt that maybe we aren't getting quite as thorough of a job as we'd like....making sure we find all the deductions, etc... It's just a feeling. We have no way to really know.
So we considered changing to a new CPA, but that's just trading for a complete unknown so we figured we'd stick it out.
That said my sister is a retired CPA, and I never got the idea from her that it was particularly difficult when she picked up new clients.
donjohnston
En-Route
When we moved from IL down to FL, I asked around and got a couple recommendations for a local accountant. Personal, consulting and the airplane business (both sub-s). Provided the last couple years of returns to review and didn't get a warm fuzzy feeling from the first one. Went to the second and they've been doing our returns for the past 10 years.
Due diligence is key.
Due diligence is key.
Let'sgoflying!
Touchdown! Greaser!
I switched once, new cpa found me 5-digit refund the first year and several benefits subsequent years. It’s been 10 years now, still no audit… so it didn’t cause any irs flags.
Go with your feeling.
Let'sgoflying!
Touchdown! Greaser!
Oh, the worst cpa I ever had?
Turns out he was a devout communist, not kidding!!!
Turns out he was a devout communist, not kidding!!!
OK, next question.
For folks that use CPAs, how long does it take them to finish your taxes?
In years past, we were really on point with returning tax paperwork to our old CPA normally within a week or two of receiving his tax organizer questionnaire. I recall this would be mid February, we generally got a call for signatures about the first week of March, certainly well before the Ides of March.
This year we took our taxes in on February 18th. After waiting past normal time, we called and tried to find out how long things were taking, best we got at the time was 3-4 weeks.
March 30th we just stopped in the office unannounced to ask about things. Our new to us CPA was not available, her assistant said that our taxes were mostly done, they had everything they needed, things should be done shortly. They have guaranteed all along that they would be done by April 15th. Nothing since.
We have put off making plans until these things are done and feel inconvenienced. We are not sure what to expect.
1. For taxes being done within two weeks, were we just getting exceptional service?
2. How long do yours take?
3. Is 6 weeks plus the new norm?
For folks that use CPAs, how long does it take them to finish your taxes?
In years past, we were really on point with returning tax paperwork to our old CPA normally within a week or two of receiving his tax organizer questionnaire. I recall this would be mid February, we generally got a call for signatures about the first week of March, certainly well before the Ides of March.
This year we took our taxes in on February 18th. After waiting past normal time, we called and tried to find out how long things were taking, best we got at the time was 3-4 weeks.
March 30th we just stopped in the office unannounced to ask about things. Our new to us CPA was not available, her assistant said that our taxes were mostly done, they had everything they needed, things should be done shortly. They have guaranteed all along that they would be done by April 15th. Nothing since.
We have put off making plans until these things are done and feel inconvenienced. We are not sure what to expect.
1. For taxes being done within two weeks, were we just getting exceptional service?
2. How long do yours take?
3. Is 6 weeks plus the new norm?