How to make the best use of your accountant

If you have a tax return that is anything other than the very simplest, you can benefit from professional help.  Your tax return is an excellent window into the rest of your financial world.  In addition to proper tax planning and preparation, your accountant can assist you with other financial and business matters.  Since we deal with a great variety of money matters and many other professional advisors, you can rely on us to provide you with much more than a tax return.

It is important that you learn a few things about your own affairs to get the most out of your accountant.  Here are some things you should consider doing:

• Contact your accountant before you complete major financial transactions.  Proper tax and financial planning can only be done before you sign on the dotted line.

• Review your potential current-year tax liability well before year-end.  This will give you and your accountant a chance to implement year-end planning techniques.

• Use your last year's income tax return as a checklist of what is in store for this year.  After checking the items on your last return, list any new events and gather all documents that pertain to these events for your accountant's review.

• Schedule appointments well ahead of deadlines.  Good planning usually requires time to implement your decisions.  Those who make an appointment a couple days before a tax return is due or a contract is due to be signed seldom get the best results.

Think of your accountant as a sounding board.  Get him or her involved while your project is in the thinking stage.  You will be glad you did.