Should I Hire a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)?

It may be difficult for the typical taxpayer to comprehend what a CPA can provide. Knowing how a CPA can assist you in filing your taxes and preparing your finances can help you decide if you should engage a CPA to assist you with your taxes or year-round tax planning.

When you have a complicated financial situation and need to comprehend the ins and outs of the tax code, taxes might appear overwhelming. Fortunately, you don’t have to go it alone: qualified tax professionals are on hand to assist you whenever you need it.

CPAs, or certified public accountants, can help you prepare your tax documentation, consult with you to make informed financial decisions, complete your business’ accounting and taxes, and much more.

If you’re wondering, “Should I hire a CPA?” we’ll go through what a CPA does, how they may help, and address some frequently asked questions regarding these certified experts.

What does a Certified Public Accountant do?

CPAs help with taxes, financial accounting and reporting, tax and accounting audits, and financial planning, among other things. Some of the most typical ways a CPA can assist you with your taxes and economic issues are as follows:

1. They help with tax preparation and filing, as well as providing guidance. If you have a straightforward tax situation, you can probably manage your taxes yourself if you have a tax preparation checklist. When your tax situation becomes more complicated, you may find it beneficial to hire an expert. CPAs can assist you in preparing and filing your necessary tax paperwork online or in person, as well as provide advise on how to optimize your tax return. When your circumstances are complicated or require a large amount of labor, hiring a tax specialist might be beneficial.
2. They provide you with information about your tax liability and deduction choices. CPAs understand how to report your sources of income, calculate your tax liability, and apply the relevant deductions and credits.
3. They can communicate with IRS officials on your behalf, including managing audits. CPAs are familiar with the types of inquiries the IRS may ask, as well as how to respond to them. Hiring a tax professional to handle your correspondence in the case of an audit might be beneficial. If you hire a CPA right away, they’ll be able to tell you which red flags could lead to an IRS audit and how to avoid them.
4. They differentiate between personal and commercial taxes. CPAs can help you form a partnership or structure your firm as an LLC or S-corp and decide to be treated as a C-Corp. They can also assist you in keeping your personal and corporate funds distinct, as well as knowing your respective tax obligations.

When is it beneficial to hire a CPA?

You may need to employ a CPA for a limited time to assist you with a specific financial scenario, such as:

1. Examining the many retirement account alternatives available to you. Hiring a CPA may be beneficial when considering how to save for retirement in a tax-efficient manner. This is especially true when you examine the variety of investment possibilities available to grow your retirement funds. If you’re self-employed, you probably have even more alternatives than an employee, and you’ll want to make sure you take use of them all. A CPA can assist you in better comprehending these possibilities.
2. Making your first year as a business owner a success. You’ll most likely be focused on running the firm and growing it into a lucrative endeavor in your first year. Budgeting, bookkeeping, financial accounting and reporting, tax planning, and tax preparation and filing are just a few of the administrative chores that CPAs can help you prioritize. A CPA can also help your business develop by providing excellent financial advice.
3. Getting used to a tax shift brought on by a life event. When you go through a major life transition, such as getting married or having a child, your tax status changes dramatically. You might want to hire a CPA to help you adapt your tax planning to take this life event into consideration.

A CPA can also assist you with transactions such as selling your home or deciding how to handle a stock option granted by your company.

What role does a CPA play in an audit?

While not every IRS correspondence about your return implies you’ve been chosen for an audit, you should handle any questions requested responsibly and offer an adequate response.

CPAs can effectively handle your interactions with the IRS because they speak the same language as the IRS. They can assist you in providing the necessary information and resolving your problems as fast and painlessly as feasible. Hiring a CPA to represent you is often a prudent decision, even if the request appears trivial.

Is it necessary for me to see a CPA more than once?

The majority of people only consider hiring a CPA when they need to prepare their tax return. While CPAs can help you file your tax return, they can also help you with tax planning throughout the year. This can save you a lot of money when it comes to taxes.

If you have a complicated tax position, you can meet with a CPA during tax season, but you can also see one before starting a business or making a major financial choice.

I’m not sure what an online CPA is or if I should hire one.

Meeting with a CPA, fortunately, does not necessitate a face-to-face meeting. As working from home has grown more widespread, you can now consult with a CPA via the internet.