How do you know when to change tax preparer?

Submitted by eddy_g1 t3_11eb6e4 in personalfinance

I have been using the same tax preparer for over 7 years now. Since then I have gotten married and myself and my wife's salary has been growing over the 400k mark. Our tax preparer is of the mindset that we should be maxing out how much we give to the govt in taxes each year to ensure we get money back each year. I don't subscribe to that ideology and I'm looking for other tax shelters to prepare us as we continue to grow. Am I asking too much from a tax preparer and should look instead towards a financial advisor? Or should I change my tax preparer? This feels like breaking up with my barber at this point.

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goblueM t1_jacz1zb wrote

Your tax preparer should not be your financial advisor

> Our tax preparer is of the mindset that we should be maxing out how much we give to the govt in taxes each year to ensure we get money back each year. I don't subscribe to that ideology and I'm looking for other tax shelters to prepare us as we continue to grow.

It sounds like you know enough about taxes and finance to do your own taxes and investing

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Waulnut163 t1_jad12ix wrote

I swapped my tax preparer of 5 years after one year he showed he doesn't understand stocks and I had to explain why my ESPP was being taxed twice, which eventually he helped amend, but still did not understand what he did for me. I started doing it myself and just compared with previous years. If things don't change, it should be similar.

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TeslaSaganTysonNye t1_jad1gzd wrote

> Our tax preparer is of the mindset that we should be maxing out how much we give to the govt in taxes each year to ensure we get money back each year.

Getting a refund should be the last thing you want. You want to break even. That should be the goal. I think it may be time for a new CPA.

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micha8st t1_jad1isr wrote

Your tax preparer should be working for you, not you working for them. TP is welcome to give their recommendations...that's what you want, frankly. But you call the shots. If TP isn't willing to do things the way you want, then, yes, you need to break up.

Same with a Financial Advisor. They work for you. They do things the way you want. They give you advice and make recommendations, but in the end it's your call. And if they can't handle that, you need to break up.

I think you need a tax advisor, not just a tax preparer.

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