How to Choose a CPA in Valrico, FL

Why this matters in east Hillsborough

Valrico, Brandon and FishHawk have a lot of people whose taxes are not simple anymore: a side business, a small company with a few employees, rental property, a move into the area, a new baby. Many of them have been doing their own return with software and wondering every year whether they are missing something.

This guide is not tax advice. It is a list of questions to ask so you can tell whether a CPA is a good fit for you.

1. Check the license

CPAs in Florida are licensed by the state. Ask for the license, and look it up on the Florida DBPR site at myfloridalicense.com. It takes two minutes and confirms the person is who they say they are.

2. Ask whether they work with people like you

An employee with a straightforward W-2, a sole proprietor, and an S corporation with payroll are different kinds of work. Ask a CPA what kinds of clients they mostly serve and whether your situation is routine for them. You want someone who has seen it before.

3. Ask who does the work and how you reach them

Find out who will actually prepare your return and who answers when you have a question. Ask how they prefer to communicate, how quickly they usually get back to people, and whether you will talk to the same person each year.

4. Ask how they charge

Some CPAs charge a flat fee per return, some charge by the hour, and some offer monthly arrangements for bookkeeping. Ask how they price, what is included, and what would cost extra, so the bill matches what you expected.

5. Ask whether they are around after April

A tax return looks backward. Planning looks forward. If you own a business or your situation is changing, ask whether the CPA offers bookkeeping or tax planning during the year, and how often they would want to check in. The best time to ask a tax question is before the year ends, not after.

6. Ask what they need from you

A CPA can only work with what you hand over. Ask for a list of documents they want each year, how they want to receive them, and by when. Ask how they keep your information secure, too: whether they use a client portal or prefer documents in person. If you own a business, ask what records they expect you to keep during the year so tax time is not a scramble through a shoebox of receipts.

Our pick: Harbor Trust Accounting

Full disclosure: Harbor Trust Accounting is an East of Tampa advertiser, which is why they are named here and others are not.

Harbor Trust Accounting is Kenneth Sjoberg, CPA, working out of the Valrico and Brandon area. Ken handles individual and business tax preparation, bookkeeping and the accounting work small businesses need through the year rather than only in April. He has grown the practice on this side of the county, and he is the Official Tax Partner of East of Tampa.

Have the first conversation this fall, while there is still time to plan before the year closes.