I need a CPA Stat!

But tax consultants aren’t one size fits all.

T-Day, April 15th is fast approaching. Your family is doing it. Your friends are doing it. Your mother is even doing it.

Making the dreaded appointment with an accountant to get their taxes done. Only the cringe-worthy dentist appointment strikes as much fear into the hearts of good men and women alike.

But does it have to be that bad?

CPAs don’t steal children or eat puppies (well, at least the ones I know).

For the most part they are just hard working folks like you, using their skills to help their clients.

Oh, and deal with I.R.S. on a daily basis. We’re the middleman between real people and those that want to claim your money. For that alone we should maybe rank a few rungs above the spit-in-the-cup doctor, right?

But I digress.

As always a personal reference to a tax specialist is best, from someone who is really, really, happy with their accountant, but even that might not be a good match.

So once you figure out a CPA and get them on the phone, just make sure you two can communicate.

If the guy seems kind of down, like you want to get him a sample pack of Prozac, maybe not the right guy to be planning your financial future.

Or on the other hand is she super cheery and promising you the moon? Slash your taxes in half and save you a bundle?

Sounds great, right? But what about it that screws you over for the business you are starting? Or disqualifies you for an even bigger deduction next year?

You don’t want a wham-bam-thank-you-madam type relationship with the person who is standing between you and an I.R.S. audit, you know what I mean?

You want someone in this for the long haul. Someone who wants to know more about you and your business and your goals and your future before they tell you they can help you. Well that, and doesn’t seem homicidal.