What do I look for in an accountant?

My first criteria is you must feel comfortable with the person you choose as your accountant. A close second criteria is competency. A third criteria is cost. These same criteria also apply to a doctor or attorney or any other professional I might hire.

Accountants have much in common with doctors and attorneys. Some are generalists while others specialize in specific areas and they all charge varying rates. Your accountant should fit your needs.

Do I need a CPA?

A CPA is mandatory if you need audited financial statements. However, a CPA may not be the best choice for other areas; experience may be more meaningful. A CPA has passed a demanding set of tests centered around general accounting principles. If after obtaining his license he continues to work for an accounting and/or auditing firm, he likely will have very little ‘hands-on’ experience of running a business. He may never have faced the human resource problems a small business owner has had to face; never developed or administered a marketing plan; or sweat out making the next payroll for his employees.

How much does it cost for you to do my tax return?

It depends. Each schedule and form needed has its individual cost based on what you need. We usually quote $25.00 to $100.00 with average cost around $60.00. A 1040 return with a couple of W-2’s, a Schedule A (itemized deductions), and a Schedule B (interest & dividends) would run this much. Add more schedules and forms and the price increases accordingly.

So we’re back to it depends. Without actually seeing what you have, it is impossible to tell but here's a short price schedule. You may refer to taxes under services on the menu to view some of the more common schedules and their prices.