Are you the kind of person who gets stressed out by taxes?
If so, you’re not alone. Entire articles have been written about managing tax-related stress.
However, you can mitigate a lot of the stress by having a professional prepare your taxes. If you choose a tax preparation service that knows what they are doing, you can minimize your stress while getting your taxes done correctly and on time.
How do you find the right tax preparer for your needs? Here’s how.
Check Their Experience
Do you really want to hire an inexperienced tax preparation service? Doing so invokes a huge risk. Along with general tax preparation experience, they should have experience with your specific tax situation.
Of course, a certified tax preparer is important, too. They may have Accredited Tax Preparer registration, or they may be a certified public account (CPA). These are additional certifications that can help prove their experience and knowledge.
They should also have experience in your jurisdiction, too. For example, if you’re in Hong Kong, hire someone with salaries tax experience. Unlike tax preparers in other countries, they can help with both individual and employer tax issues.
Read Reviews
Reading online reviews is another way to find the right tax preparer. If there are only a handful of negative reviews, it’s likely those negative reviews are outliers, and you can safely ignore them. At the same time, be wary of overly glowing reviews.
While online reviews can be faked, reading a few reviews (especially recent ones) can give you an idea of what to expect if you hire them.
If you want to take it a step further, ask friends and family for a referral. Or if you have a financial advisor, ask them if they know of anyone they can recommend.
Look at Their Available Services
Check out their site or contact a prospective tax preparer to find out what services they offer. Some may focus and specialize in taxes for specific situations, such as self-employed individuals or small businesses.
Aside from standard filing, inquire about what additional services they offer. For example, some offer audit protection, which means they help guide you when the IRS or a similar entity audits your tax return.
While inquiring about their services, ask about their fees, too. Many charge a base price for filing taxes, plus additional fees for added services. Every advisor prices their services differently, so you may want to shop around and compare prices.
Use These Tips to Choose a Tax Preparation Service
Choose a tax preparation service that works for you. An experienced tax preparer will be able to maximize your number of credits and deductions, save you time and money, and answer any questions you may have about the tax filing process. While filing taxes may never be a stress-free experience, you can ease your stress by finding the right preparer.
If you like this article and want similar advice, check out other articles in our Finance section.
