Hiring and Getting Started

Hiring a tax professional goes more smoothly when you know the steps: decide what kind of help you need, verify credentials, gather documents, sign a clear engagement letter and understand the deadlines that apply to you.

These guides walk through that process in order. You will learn how to verify a preparer in IRS and state databases, which documents nearly every preparer asks for, what an engagement letter should say, how the tax calendar works for individuals and small businesses, and when IRS authorization forms such as Form 2848 come into play.

A practical tip: the best time to hire is before you need help in a hurry. Preparers are busiest from late January through April, and a rushed engagement is the most likely to produce errors or surprise fees. The pre-hire checklist pulls the most important steps into one printable list. Everything here is general education, not tax advice for your specific facts.