5 Ways to Make Things Easier for your Tax Preparer

Once the W-2’s and 1099’s are mailed out by January 31, it is game on for tax offices. Since practically everyone needs to file a tax return, they will be working nonstop and overtime from now until April 15 to get as many tax returns filed as possible. 

They do carve out time for appointments but it is sandwiched between work, work, and more work. So to make things go smoothly, here are five things you can do to make sure you have a good experience with your tax preparer. 

Make and keep your appointment

If you have scheduled a time to meet with your tax preparer, show up and be on time. No one likes no-shows and disrupted plans. Accountants are notorious for liking things to be routine and on a schedule. Missing your appointment or constantly changing it will likely make it even more difficult to get in their schedule as they are very busy this time of year!  

Gather all your documents in a folder

Now that it’s the end of January, you should already be receiving a mountain of tax-related documents in the mail either from employers or clients. Get a folder or large envelope and label it “2021 tax”. Keep every tax-related document you receive in this folder, including expenses that will be deductions. This way they are all together and you can easily grab them on the way to your appointment.

Copy of prior year’s tax return

If you are meeting with a new tax preparer, make sure to bring a copy of your previous tax return. Not only is there information on it that they will need to file for this year, but seeing what items you normally have will help them know if you’ve received all the information for this year or if you’re still waiting on some things. 

List of questions

Before you go, make sure you have a list of questions or notes for items you wish to discuss. CPAs, in particular, have a wealth of knowledge on many different tax topics. While they can’t give you an estimate right then of how much you might owe or get refunded, they can answer a few basic questions to help you understand how your particular situation may play out. They can also make notes that will help them know what to look for when preparing your return. 

Let it go

Once your appointment is done and you’ve left your documents in the care of their office - relax. If you’re using a reputable firm, your taxes are being prepared by knowledgeable and competent professionals. They should call you if they have any questions and will also meet with you before finalizing the return and officially filing it. If it has been a while and you have not heard anything from them yet, you can certainly call and check on things. But a good tax preparer should have a decent turnaround time and not leave their customers wondering when they will hear something. 

Filing taxes is not fun, nor is it something people look forward to. However, working with a great tax preparer can make the process nearly painless. Most tax preparers are gregarious folks who love to sit down and get to know their clients. They care about helping people file correct tax returns and retain as much of their hard-earned money as possible. Following these five suggestions will help them be able to do just that. 

Looking for a new tax preparer? I wrote this a couple of years ago, but the tips in this blog are still valid for finding a great accountant.