The Purpose of Your Accountant
Picture: Illustration purpose your accountant |
Many people are confused about the purpose of accountants given tax software and so on. To get the biggest benefit for the fees you pay, you need to understand what your accountant can do.
The Purpose of Your Accountant
An accountant is
a licensed profession who has gone to hell and back to gain their designation
as a certified public accountant. The testing for the certification is beyond
brutal. If an accountant is certified, it means they are extremely versed in
the tax code, finances and tax issues.
Many people are
under the mistaken belief that accountants simply provide tax return
preparation services.
The stereotypical
view involves a person dropping off their receipts a month before tax returns
are due and the accountant doing the best he or she can to prepare a tax return
while limiting the amount of money you owe the government.
This occurs, but
people are wasting money if this is how they are using their accountant.
Accountants have
expertise in the tax code. You should use this. Ideally, an accountant will
aware of all aspects of your financial life.
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They should also
be aware of significant events in your private life, such as the fact you are
about to have a child. The reason this is important is it gives the accountant
the ability to solve your tax mystery.
Solving a tax
mystery simply refers to an accountant figuring out the best way to limit your
taxes. As you know from police shows on television or mystery novels, finding
as many clues as possible is the way to solve the mystery.
The accountant
needs to do the same with you and you need to help them. Each part of your
finances represents a clue to solving the mystery of how to cut your tax bill.
Once an accountant
has all the clues, he or she can do their job. They will give you specific
direction on the steps to be taken to save money on your tax bill this year.
Equally
important, they will give you advice on how you are going to save taxes in
future years. Depending on your situation, they may even recommend a long-term
tax strategy for stuffing away money to pay for your kids’ college tuition or
your retirement.
The purpose of using an accountant is not just to put tax returns together. They put together tax strategies to save you money this year, the next and throughout your life.(*)