Finding The Right Accountant/Tax Preparer Candidates
Aside from asking friends or relations who does their taxes or walking into a storefront tax-preparation shop, the groups behind the main credentials and designations for tax preparers all have online programs to help you find a pro in your area. Some also have telephone services. Not only can you use these services to find an advisor, but you can use the same contacts to verify the credentials of any advisor you meet with, so that if a friend recommends an enrolled agent, you can make sure the person's qualification remains in good standing. Start your search for a tax advisor by contacting:
- Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation, www.acatcredentials.org (for advisors with the ATP or ATA credentials)
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, www.aicpa.org (look for the "Consumer Information" tab, then search for "Find a CPA")
- National Association of Enrolled Agents, www.naea.org (look for "Find an Enrolled Agent")
- National Association of Tax Professionals, www.natptax.com
- National Society of Accountants, www.nsacct.org (click on "Find a Professional") or call 800-966-6679
By Chuck Jaffe