7 Valuable Tips To Find the Best Tax Consultants in Bangalore
Many of us forget to ask about the credentials of our tax consultants before hiring them. It is one of the important questions one should ask before hiring tax consultants. They have all the details about you from your bank account details to your social security number. A Tax consultant is a professional who can help save you money, avoid getting into legal quarrels, and improve your overall financial standing. On the other hand, an incompetent tax consultant can cause you stress, and waste time, and money. Finding the Best Tax Consultants in Bangalore might seem like a huge task. But it isn’t. With the right tips, you can find the perfect tax consultant to manage your taxes.
Here are Seven Valuable Tips to Find the Best Tax Consultants in Bangalore:
1. Ask About Their Full Credentials
Make sure to choose a tax preparer with the right qualifications and credentials. Many individuals might show themselves as “professional” but not everyone has any backing for that fact. Opt for a tax consultant who has proper certifications and degrees to show their credibility in the field. A good tax consultant should have a degree in accounting or a related field. They should have a state-certified public accountant (CPA) certification or have enough experience in tax advisory.
The tax consultant must be competent and well-versed in the tax rules. One way to find the right tax consultant is by searching through the IRS inventory. It contains the tax consultants with PTINs and IRS-recognized credentials. It doesn’t hurt to go above and beyond to look for a credentialed preparer who is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), licensed attorney, or enrolled agent (EA). A PTIN is a fundamental prerequisite that is reasonably easy to obtain. Each title will need a different level of education, although these professionals are usually expected to have more training and experience.
2. Look at Their Experience
Make sure to look at the experience of your tax consultant. If your tax return is simple, someone with a few years of experience should be able to get the job done. Whereas if your tax return is complicated and you have faced some difficulties with I.R.S. in the past, you might want someone experienced. You should be able to trust the tax preparer you want to work with.
As they will have access to all your confidential financial information. Look for a tax preparer with not a glorious credential portfolio as it doesn’t guarantee their professional reputation. A competent tax advisor who is backed by skills, knowledge, and expertise gained by working at a firm in a specialized firm. That’s why, look for a skilled tax consultant who can add value to your business and make sure to take care of your tax and financial records. Check for any disciplinary measures taken against them.
3. Take Onboard a Tax Consultant Who Asks You Questions
Asking questions during the consultation is the best way to monitor if your tax consultant knows what they are doing. It is a good sign if your tax preparer is enquiring about your expectations and problems. That means they know what they are doing in preparing your tax return. They are interested in genuinely helping you prepare your financial records. Take into consideration their willingness to work with you on your financial problems and come to a good financial stage. Find the Best Income Tax Consultants in Bangalore that fits your specific needs.
4. Schedule an Interview
Meet the tax consultant face to face to discuss their experience and credentials. It will help you see through the documents to prove their credibility. Along the way, you can ask them questions to monitor their knowledge of the latest tax rules. Some of the questions you can ask are:
- How do you stay informed about the latest accounting laws and regulations?
- What types of accounting software have you worked on so far?
- When did you receive your license and when?
- What is the average size of businesses that you have worked with?
- What are your specialties?
- How does your fee structure look?
- If you make an accounting mistake how do you fix it?
- How do you explain financial data to non-experts?
These are some questions that you can ask the tax consultant to know about their financial and tax preparation rules.
5. Take into Consideration Their Fees
Take into consideration the tax preparation fee structure before employing a tax consultant. Ask them about the proper breakdown of their fees according to the services. Make sure to understand their service pay. There are different ways a tax consultant can ask for their fees based on fees per hour, per return, a monthly retainer, and one-off cost. Also, not every tax consultant might charge this way. They will have different ways of charging their fees so make sure to ask them about it. Take it as a warning sign if a tax preparer refuses to discuss his/her payment style with you. Ask for their fee structure beforehand as you would for any product you purchase or any service you buy.
6. Perform Initial Screening to Check The Credentials
As someone who will hand over their business recordkeeping and confidential financial information, you cannot just take someone based on their word. Before and during the screening you should be able to perform a basic due diligence and screening. You can follow the below format.
- It is legally required of professionals who prepare tax returns to obtain their preparer tax ID number. Having updated credentials guarantees that they have gone through regular reviews of the most recent tax laws and ethics. The Top Income Tax Consultants in Bangalore will have the complete credentials.
- A competent and qualified tax consultant should have referrals from previous companies to vouch for their professionalism and work.
- Look for a tax consultant’s website or social media accounts which can help you get insights.
7. Don’t Rush the Process
Hiring an accountant is not something you should do in a hurry. In that instance, go slowly. Examine several applicants and conduct a range of interviews to determine whether your selection procedures are producing the kind of tax consultant you are looking for. Being thorough and patient can prevent you from appointing the wrong candidate, which will leave you back at square one and force you to look for a new tax consultant.