Compare providers by first listing the tax and bookkeeping questions you need help with. Contact a separate attorney for legal advice or court matters, and agree the scope with each provider.
Table of Contents
1) Define the work before comparing providers
Identify return preparation, planning, bookkeeping, notices and other requested reports separately. Ask which tasks each provider will perform and review and which need a separate engagement.
2) Verify qualifications and experience
Check the current credential a provider claims with its issuing authority. Ask about experience with the actual matter and identify the person responsible for the work.
3) Compare written scopes and fees
Ask each provider about included services, exclusions, required records, target dates and communication arrangements. A credential alone does not establish the price or experience with a particular issue.
4) Coordinating Multiple Providers
Confirm responsibilities and any authorized exchange of records. Do not assume that a bookkeeping or tax engagement includes another adviser's work.
5) Prepare for an IRS discussion
Bring the notice, affected returns and supporting records. Confirm the representative, matters, periods and required authorization before representation begins.
Additional tax and recordkeeping considerations
Does a tax attorney cost much more?
Fees vary by provider, issue complexity and scope. Compare written estimates and included services; the credential alone does not determine which professional will cost more.
Confirm credentials and scope
Pedro Henriquez is an Enrolled Agent in the United States and a CPA in the Dominican Republic. His Dominican CPA credential is not a U.S. state CPA license. Confirm the requested work and responsible practitioner in the engagement.
For credential information, review the IRS guide to preparer qualifications. Confirm which providers have the appropriate representation rights for your matter.
When asking about a return, identify the taxpayer, entity and year rather than requesting a generic tax package. Describe any notices, earlier corrections or missing records that may affect the work. Ask whether bookkeeping cleanup, projections and notice responses are included or separately quoted. A clear request makes the estimates easier to compare.
If more than one adviser is involved, agree who prepares the underlying records, who reviews tax adjustments and who communicates questions to the client. Identify any information that may be shared and obtain the necessary authorization. Keep a list of open items so a document request or correction does not fall between separate engagements.
Before the first deadline, confirm how drafts will be reviewed and who approves submission. Ask how filing acknowledgments or other completion evidence will be provided. If facts change or records arrive late, discuss the effect on the schedule rather than assuming the original date remains feasible. Retain the written engagement and the agreed action list for future reference.
Keep a written comparison of the same requested work, noting services included, records still needed and questions each provider has raised. Discuss differences before accepting an engagement so a lower fee is not mistaken for an equivalent scope. After selection, confirm the next steps and follow-up date.
Related services and resources
Tax preparation · notices & audits · Bookkeeping · Personal Tax Preparation · Business Taxes · Controller and CFO services · Business consulting
Discuss the work you need
Contact Henriquez Accounting to discuss the records, questions and services needed. Confirm the scope, fees, responsibilities and meeting arrangements before engaging or traveling. Schedule a consultation.