As tax season approaches, finding a qualified and trustworthy tax professional can be a challenge, especially when navigating complex personal or business filings.
Choosing the right tax preparer is essential to ensure your unique financial needs are met with care and confidentiality.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) offers trusted resources to help Canadians make informed decisions and have a successful tax season.
“Protecting your personal or business information is critical during tax season. It’s not always just about finding the lowest price or the most convenient option,” said Neesha Hothi, BBB director of marketing, in a news release.
“In these cases where you're sharing highly sensitive information, it's essential you don't settle for anything less than a trustworthy tax professional who can get the job done right the first time.”
Here are five things you should consider when choosing a tax preparer:
- Review the tax preparer’s credentials. Chartered Professional Accountants and tax attorneys are all qualified to represent their clients to the CRA. Don’t be afraid to ask about these or other qualifications before you hire someone.
- Vet your options. One of the best ways to find a trustworthy tax preparer is to ask your friends and family for recommendations. Who do they trust? Then, look out for the Sign of a Better Business and see if they have BBB Accreditation. You should also cross-reference tax professionals on BBB.org to see if other customers have left reviews or complaints.
- Think about availability. If the CRA finds errors in your tax forms or decides to perform an audit, will your tax preparer be available to help you with the details? Find out whether you can contact the tax preparer all year long or only during tax season.
- Ask about fees ahead of time. Before you agree to any services, read contracts carefully and understand how much the tax preparer charges for their services. Ask about extra fees for any unexpected complications.
- If things don’t add up, find someone else. If a tax preparer can’t verify their credentials, has a record of bad reviews from previous clients, or their business practices don’t seem convincing, don’t do business with them. This individual will handle your sensitive information, that you need to keep safe from fraudulent tax preparers and scammers.
For more tax tips and resources, visit
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