Income tax season is in full swing, that means that you are likely shopping around for the best tax preparation service. Most towns and cities boast lots of tax services, so determining the best one for you may take just a little research. Unless you've got a regular bookkeeper, you may only know the big names on the block. These tips will help you pick the best tax preparation service for your personal or business taxes.

Many smaller tax services will be just open from January through April. If you only need assistance with your personal income tax, those might be fine for you. Take into account, though, that for anybody who is contacted later about your returns or if you need their assistance during an audit, you might be out of luck if you choose a tax service that pulls in its shingle after April 15.

You need an experienced, qualified tax preparer to do your taxes. While you should not have to be a CPA to do personal income taxes, a qualified public accountant has the training and experience to ensure that you make use of all the deductions and exemptions to which you are entitled. Likewise, a CPA in a year-round accounting firm will keep up on the-latest tax laws and changes to the tax code to make sure that your returns are completed accurately and also to your benefit.

A conveniently located office can be a boon if you intend to meet face to face within the accountant's office. Consider where the office is located and just how hard or easy it's to get there if you may need to drop off and pick up records and returns.

Ask around to learn the standing of the tax services you are considering and take the time to check out their credentials. Do the employees have CPA training and certification? Do they offer tax services for income tax season, or do they additionally provide other accounting and bookkeeping services? Are they listed with the local Better Business Bureau, and if for funny post this reason, what is their reputation and rating?

Some tax preparation services offer guarantees of accuracy. When you're deciding among tax services, ensure you determine what they're going to do if their error results in fines or penalties, or if you are audited through the IRS. Those factors can assist you decide between two or even more tax preparation services with similar reputations, availability and pricing.

The cost of preparing tax returns varies widely from one tax service to the next. It's illegal for a tax preparation service to base its fees on the amount of refund they obtain for you. Some accountant offices charge through the hour. Others have a standard schedule of fees in line with the complexity of the tax returns and forms that has to be filled out. Still others supply a custom estimate and quote for each individual. If your tax situation is extremely complex, some tax services may have difficulty giving you an exact price before they do a far more thorough interview with you, however they should be able to give you a rough estimate of what it shall cost to have your taxes prepared.