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By: Uchenna Ani-okoye

Questions for Your Accountant

Before you make the decision to go with a particular accountant, there are a number of questions that you should consider asking him or her. It’s smart for you to have a clear idea of the type of accountant that you want, but it can be difficult at times. The vast majority of accountants will have nothing but nice things to say about themselves and that individual may have been recommended to you by a family member or friend, but is that person most ideal for you? Here are a few questions that you may want to ask him or her:

Could I pay a fixed fee instead of the usual hourly rate and could you give me a quote in writing?

The vast majority of accountants today realise that the client is no longer willing to blindly go into an arrangement. It’s best that you find an accountant that has no problems telling you exactly how much you should be expected to pay upfront.

How can you save me from a large tax bill?

The best accountants should be honest while explaining to you that there isn’t any way to avoid paying a huge tax bill, however they should have a few methods that you can use to mitigate those bills.

Do you have any guarantees that you will be able to complete all my accounts on time, and if a late submission costs me money am I protected from it?

Although the vast majority of accountants will be able to manage all your affairs promptly and on time, there are times when mistakes happen, so it’s somewhat comforting to know that you won’t be penalised if your accountant messes up.