3 Questions Clients Should Ask Their Tax Accountant
Taxes can feel heavy and confusing. You hire a tax professional to lift that weight, not add to it. Yet if you stay quiet and just sign what is put in front of you, you risk surprise bills, audits, or missed refunds. You deserve clear answers. You also deserve someone who treats your money with care and respect. If you work with an accountant in Bolingbrook, IL or anywhere else, you should walk away from each meeting knowing three things. You should know how your return was prepared. You should know how your choices today affect next year. You should know what to watch for once your return is filed. This blog gives you three sharp questions to ask. These questions help you test trust. They help you protect your income. They also help you see if your accountant is the right partner for you.
1. “How did you prepare my return and what did you base these numbers on?”
First ask your accountant to walk you through how your return was built. You do not need tax law. You do need clear links between your life and the numbers on each form.
Ask your accountant to show three things.
- What documents did you use
- Where did each number land on the return
- What choices did you make when the rules allowed options
For example, income from jobs, benefits, and savings should match your W-2s, 1099s, and bank forms. Your deductions should track with receipts and records. Your credits should match your family size, school costs, or child care costs. When the IRS explains a credit such as the Child Tax Credit, it stresses that the facts of your home life must match the claim. You can see that guidance on the IRS site at https://www.irs.gov/.
Next ask what tools your accountant used. Many use tax software. That is fine. The concern is not the software. The concern is whether your accountant checked the entries and did not rush through screens.
You can use this simple table during your meeting. It helps you track what you gave your accountant and what landed on the return.
| Item from you | Tax form or schedule used | Line number on return |
|---|---|---|
| W-2 from each job | Form 1040 | Wages line |
| 1099-INT or 1099-DIV | Schedule B | Interest or dividends line |
| Mortgage interest statement | Schedule A | Home interest line |
| Child care records | Form 2441 | Child care credit line |
| College tuition form 1098-T | Form 8863 | Education credit line |
Finally ask your accountant to point out any guesses. Life is messy. Sometimes an estimate is the only option. That is acceptable when it is honest, reasonable, and based on records. It is not acceptable when it is a wild guess that inflates a refund.
2. “What choices did we make this year that affect next year’s taxes?”
Second ask your accountant to connect this year to next year. Tax rules punish short term thinking. A choice that feels good now can sting later.
Here are three topics to raise.
- Withholding and estimated payments. Ask if your current paycheck withholding or estimated payments are likely to leave you short or give you a huge refund next year. The IRS offers a Tax Withholding Estimator you can review together at https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator.
- Retirement savings. Ask how much you can save in workplace plans or IRAs and what that might do to your tax bill next year. Also ask what happens when you pull that money out years from now.
- Life changes. Ask how a move, new child, divorce, or new job might change your return. You do not need forecasts. You need simple warning signs and steps to protect yourself.
Then ask about recordkeeping. A return is only as strong as your proof. Ask your accountant what to keep for at least three years. Ask how to store it in a safe and simple way. For many people the best approach is three things. Keep digital copies of key forms. Keep paper copies of high risk items such as large donations or home sales. Keep a short written log for cash tips or small work.
End this part of the talk with one clear summary. Ask your accountant to state in plain words what you should change before next tax season. If you leave with one or two specific steps, you are more likely to act.
3. “If the IRS questions my return, what will you do and what will it cost?”
Third ask about help after filing. Many people think the job ends when the return is sent. The real test of support comes if a letter or notice arrives.
Start with the basics.
- Will you respond to IRS letters for me
- How fast do you respond
- What work is included in the fee I already paid
Then get clear on extra charges. Some firms include simple notice help. Others charge for every hour of extra work. You should know this before a problem shows up.
Use this comparison table to organize what your accountant offers.
| Support item | Included in base fee | Extra cost | Who contacts IRS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Answering IRS notice by letter | Yes or No | Flat or hourly | Accountant or client |
| Setting up payment plan | Yes or No | Flat or hourly | Accountant or client |
| Audit meeting support | Yes or No | Flat or hourly | Accountant or client |
| Amended return | Yes or No | Flat or hourly | Accountant or client |
Finally ask what your role would be. Some accountants will speak to the IRS for you if you sign a form. Others coach you while you speak for yourself. Neither path is wrong. The wrong path is the one you did not expect.
How to use these questions with your accountant
These questions work best when you ask them early. Raise them at your first meeting or before you sign an engagement letter. You can even send them ahead by email.
Here is a simple three step plan.
- First bring your documents and this list of questions.
- Next ask your accountant to walk through each question and fill in missing parts.
- Then decide if you feel clear, safe, and respected. If not, you can keep looking.
Your tax return shapes your home, your savings, and your sense of control. When you ask strong questions, you protect your family from surprise pain. You also build a steady, honest tie with a professional who earns your trust each year.
