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Finding a Decent Accountant

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Sdajii

Sdaji
Joined
13 October 2009
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My accountant seems pretty useless, I could go into detail, but basically, he has no idea what he is doing with anything to do with share trading. The previous one I used was even worse.

This might be a stupid question, but what's a good way to find a decent accountant?
 
Put a decent amount of cash in it.
Put a de Kent portfolio of stock in it.
Capitalize it with equity from housing if you feel that way inclined (line of credit easiest).
Do a bit of all 3
It's endless.
I suggest IB as broker of choice.

Enjoy
 
Not sure how complicated your financial situation is...but have you ever considered doing it yourself via e-tax?
 
tech/a said:
Put a decent amount of cash in it.
Put a de Kent portfolio of stock in it.
Capitalize it with equity from housing if you feel that way inclined (line of credit easiest).
Do a bit of all 3
It's endless.
I suggest IB as broker of choice.

Enjoy
Click to expand...
How does this ensure the quality of the accountant?

Re the original question, if you can get personal recommendation from happy clients that's imo the best way to choose.
If you can narrow the choice down to, say, three, I'd them phone them all and simply say you are looking for an accountant and are they prepared to offer you a ten minute free appt so you can mutually decide whether you can work together.

If they won't do this, cross them off your list.

And if you decide to go with one, then ask for a quote in writing for the work to be done. So easy for them to rack the price up if you don't have this: they just say, "oh there was more work involved than I'd thought" and lump you with additional bill.
 

Best advice you could get.

Also, get an accountant who has been around for a while, and is likely to be around for a while more.
 
Have any ASFer's used a taxation lawyer?

My Uncle retired recently after years of working as an accountant. Recently whilst discussing my tax affairs with him, he strongly recommended that I use a taxation lawyer instead because the good ones are well versed in the intricacies of taxation law.

According to his advice, I missed a sizable opportunity to save some tax last F/Y. So I'm thinking that I might try one out this coming F/Y.

I would love to hear from anyone about their experiences with Taxation Lawyers.
 
Thanks for the advice, Julia. I wish I'd asked the last guy for a 10 minute chat before wasting (more of) my time with the idiot. He didn't want to bother claiming the benefit of holding shares for more than 12 months (tens of thousands in tax on the line for me), clearly because he just didn't want to bother, but his excuse was that it would mean I couldn't claim my laptop etc as tax deductible... maybe if I was buying $100,000 worth of laptops each year it might have made sense...

He has been doing what he does for over 30 years and came with recommendations from three people I know (none of whom trade shares mind you). He didn't know even the basics of it, and I found myself explaining several things to him, which is scarey considering how little I know about tax and accounting.

Oh, and I think tech/a must have misread the question.
 
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