You’re the only one who can find the perfect tax preparer for your taxes: there’s no one size fits all in this business. I can, however, offer you a few tips to help you figure out how to find the best tax preparer for you. The key, as with hiring any professional, is to ask questions. Lots of questions. And not just about pricing.

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When to take your business away from a tax preparer?

Clients often receive requests from taxing authorities for additional information in October or November and can no longer locate their tax preparer. Make sure that you know how to contact the tax preparer after your return has been filed. If your tax preparer won’t be around, consider taking your business elsewhere.

Do you need a PTIN for a tax preparer?

Remember that your preparer must have a PTIN (see again #1). The PTIN and the preparer’s signature need to appear on your tax return. Don’t trust a preparer who refuses to sign a return. And be wary of any preparer or service who won’t tell you in advance who will actually be preparing the return.

What makes an accountant a good tax accountant?

“We tend to think of accountants as numbers people, but a good accountant does more than just figure the numbers,” says Ed Lyon, co-founder of the American Institute for Certified Tax Coaches. “A good accountant will communicate what the numbers mean to us.”

What should I ask before choosing an accountant?

You shouldn’t choose accountants based on the tax program they use, but it’s a good detail to ask about. QuickBooks is commonly used for small businesses, which means your information would likely be easily transferred between different accountants, Kerstetter says.