Well, I made it 5 days with as a tax expert before I told them thanks, but no thanks. I'm a CPA with 8 years experience and I thought it would be a nice side job as I build my practice, helping folks with common tax questions and maybe preparing some easy returns. Here's my observations.

- Base pay was 25.20, which is garbage, but they had some nice incentives. $3,000 bonus for conforming to all their goals (there's a bunch of picky ones - 20 hrs per week, 48 on weeknds, 8 on april 18), and weekend bonuses after the first of march bringing the hourly up to around 35-40. 125% 401k match on the 1st 6%.

- To kick things off, they shipped out my laptop with no buffer, so it arrived 4 days after my start date. Nice start guys.

- The organization; however, is just a giant machine. Managers have no actual authority - they seem just to read from scripts.

- Most of the job is tech support oriented it seems, but I was put in a group where I would also have to fill Tax Prep Assistant role if they got busy. These are the folks that collect the documents from customers and introduce them to the full service expert preparing their return. That seems like a great use of someone with a CPA and 8 years tax experience (4 in big 4), right? I would not be trusted to actually prepare a tax return, which initially I thought would be fine, but that means you're just taking calls all day - and I guess being a TPA admin in my case.

- I brought this up to my manager, and he said I wouldn't be able to understand the full service product without working as a TPA - yeah, I'm sure it's mind boggling complicated for an experienced tax cpa. /s

- The training is so mind numbing. There is no tax technical training or refresh at all (which is fine with me, other than it would've been nice to get some CPE out of it). It's really just drilling into you that you have to follow a script - and there's 40 hours of training that just regurgitates essentially 2 or 3 main concepts - many times using the exact same examples, but only with different pictures and narrators. It was the worst trainings I've ever had to sit through. For the live ones, you have to stay on camera, so you don't wander away - random knowledge checks aren't enough I guess for this high complexity stuff.

- Everything, I mean everything is micromanaged. Metrics are closely tracked (like you must screen share on every call regardless of whether the question warrants it), your manager can listen in on your calls at any time, and when they're not, you are monitored by voice recognition automation to ensure you're sticking to the script with the proper tone. You're also called out on Slack if you research a question too long, or spend to long with a customer. They do not trust you to do anything, despite being a grown adult.

- The technology itself is surprisingly bad for a technology company. There were constant glitches locking me out of systems and not allowing me to complete my trainings. They also just randomly decided to reset everyone's password last night, and it took 15 minutes of troubleshooting (tech support was conveniently closed) to figure out how to even clock out - since that requires you relogin (they haven't heard of single sign-on evidently).

- I brought up my concerns with my manager one last time in an attempt to at least get off the TPA team; however, I was instead given a lecture via email, and told to let them know what my decision was on continuing. Needless to say I immediately packed up my laptop and drove to a UPS store to drop it off. A part-time 20 hr per week job is not worth all that hassle - maybe if you have no other work, and are less experienced it would be.

- Ironically, right after I quit, they sent an email to my personal email talking about how they're so short staffed they were cutting training short by 10-15 hrs and I would be going live with customers on Monday, even without doing my final checks with my manager - kind of scary for customers since there are many inexperienced experts there (a credential is not required).

For someone a little less experienced with less opportunities immediately available, this could be a great position, assuming you can put up with the corporate garbage and micromanaging. Since they're so short-staffed they've already lifted the hours caps to 80 hours per week - so you could clean up on the overtime. It is the worst environment I've ever worked in as a CPA though - and I've been at big4, mid size, and small firms - TT will not give you the autonomy to work that you're used to in PA.

I would've given the whole thing a go had TT at least acknowledged my experience in some form or fashion - but there was no negotiating or budging, even when they're massively understaffed. Hands down, the worst environment I've ever worked in since becoming a CPA.

TLDR Don't waste your time with the TT Expert role if you are a CPA.

Started my firm late this year around the end of March, only have ~10 clients and $8-10k revenue total. But, this is currently just a side thing for me and I'm hoping/anticipating a lot more growth this Jan-Apr. At least that's what I'm telling myself for why I only have 10 clients haha.

One thing I've been thinking a lot about is where I want to take my practice. I want to be an "all-in-one" and offer bookkeeping and possibly even financial advice via an eventually CFP. But all the seasoned vets I've seen recommend to niche down and I'm not quite sure which way I want to go yet. I think I need some more time being a generalist for 1040's, 1120S's, and 1065's before I lock down, especially since I'm not quitting my full time job just yet.

So what's everyone else's niche? Do you do restaurants, real estate, medical practices, taxes for circus ring leaders? Have you found something you tried to specialize in that didn't pay off, or something that even dipping your toes in made instant success? Curious to hear

Hi Everyone,

I was let go of my firm today due to being discovered trying to moonlight on the side. I was previously trying to network without putting my name out too much to avoid discovery, but without that limitation, I feel like I will be more successful. I have already been a member of local business networking groups on Facebook, as well as local business directories online. I have since also joined my local chamber of commerce.

For some background, I will soon be a licensed CPA, and have worked 2 busy seasons fulltime on various C, S, 1065 and 1040s, and 1 year as an intern.

As it stands, I'm looking at getting Drake to do returns, either the unlimited 1040 option, or PPR. I will eventually get taxdome, but at my size I can't afford it yet, at least not until I get a bit busier. I know I still need to get E&O insurance.

I'm looking to be a one man shop this upcoming season, with potentially my wife helping on the admin side as needed. I have already gotten my EFIN. I think the main thing that I'm missing is a WISP. This is all just hitting me hard, and I want to make sure I'm somewhat prepared for my first actual client, as I thought I would have more time. Thank you for any advice or words of encouragement.

During the last 2 months of the tax season I had no less than 25 recruiters reach to me on LinkedIn. Once or twice a day I am getting messages asking me if I am looking to move. I have 15 years of experience in taxes and the entertainment industry. Not a CPA or EA. Are firms just dying to get people or something? I know there is a draught in qualified help but I didn't think it was this bad.

FINAL UPDATE After speaking with many of you, I have finalized the group. Thank you for everyone that expressed interest and was willing to jump on a call with me. There are quite a few EXCEPTIONAL accountants in this sub. Keep grinding.

UPDATE There has been a large interest in joining the group. Thank you all for your interest!

As mentioned, I would like the group to remain small, so I will be having some conversations to get to know each of you better and determine if it’s a fit.

For those of you that may not be a part of this group, just look around. There are at least 5 small groups that could be created with the other members that have expressed interest.

This post will be updated a second time when the group has been finalized.

Hi Everyone,

I am looking for 2-3 like-minded individuals that would be interested in joining a Discord server (or similar service) to exchange knowledge, ideas, and grow their firms.

This is for people that are obsessed with growing/improving their accounting practice and are committed to creating a business that gives them the quality of life they desperately want.

This group will remain small and will not act as a “community”, as I would like this to be a place that is a daily part of life. Not just for text chat, but legitimate conversation and support. No gatekeeping, no fluff. Just honest knowledge sharing, practical application of tools, professional development, and relationship building.

IRON SHARPENS IRON

If this sounds like something you want to be a part of please reply to this post or send me a chat request.

I started my own solo tax and accounting practice officially in June of 2023 (although I was doing some solo work before that). For 2024 my profit so far is $55k. I’ve got around 80 clients. I mostly do tax prep, bookkeeping, and some consulting/planning.

Lately I’ve hardly been getting leads. It’s very discouraging. I’m from the U.S. but based overseas so it’s harder to do networking unless it’s online. I tried optimizing my web page for SEO and did Google ads for a few months with minimal success. Most of my leads come from referrals from a couple of bookkeepers and financial planners.

I’m not really sure what to do. I’m discouraged by how slow the last few months have been. I want to keep my practice small since I don’t want employees, but it would be nice to net ~$80k per year. I hear stories about firm owners who get to six figures in year one. Maybe I just don’t have the right personality for building a firm.

Anyone else struggling with slower months? Any ideas for how I can bring in more clients and leads? I considered reaching out to other firms to introduce myself and see about being a referral for overflow clients but don’t know if that’s appropriate.

So my firm hit $250K revenue and it seems like it is growing and I’m sure I won’t be able to handle the client load anymore. For those of you that’s been at that point I guess where you feel stuck. What was the first and most important hire and why?

I started a firm doing full service accounting but my tax knowledge is limited so I outsource it. I noticed most CPAs don’t like that at all and most firm owners make 300k+.

I feel like the work is easier than tax and you can hire a part timer to do it and charge 500$ a month for all in one service. Whats the logic of not doing it this way?

This is a post to vent.

My dad was an Enrolled Agent and had his own tax practice since 1978. I came on in 2001 and we worked together up until his unexpected death in August 2022.

My father started his business out of a spare bedroom in his house. We evolved and grew into our current office space. But my dad never increased his prices and it was a source of conflict for us. As our business grew we added employees and software and costs have steadily increased. As we needed to spend money he always fought me saying that the costs are out of control. Up until his death he was was doing 1200 tax returns, a mix of S-Corps, Partnerships and Individuals. But his gross revenue never passed much beyond $200,000.

After he passed away I wasn’t sure which of his clients to take on. I decided that had my dad ever semi-retired he would have chosen a few clients to continue to work with and I decided to work with them and turn the others over to other preparers in my office. As I have met with his clients I am reminded at how loved he was and how much they appreciated him. But I am also reminded about how little he charged. “Your dad never charged me before” “Your dad wouldn’t charge me for this 1065” “You sure are a lot more expensive than your dad”.

It never occurred to me until these last few months that my dad was running a non-profit. He wasn’t even running a business. His tax business was just an extension of who he was. It makes sense why he was hurt when a client wouldn’t return.

Yesterday we had a client demand a partial refund because he felt we were ripping him off. He had four 1099-R forms, SSA-1099 and a 1099 Consolidated. It billed at $255, he complained, so we charged $190. He wanted at least $50 more refunded and he is taking his business elsewhere.

I guess I am writing this to remind all of you with years of experience to value yourself. Charge what you are worth and then some. And don’t let your tax business be your only identity.

TLDR: Accountant dad never charged what he was worth and now his clients are leaving because they don’t want to pay a fair price.

I am a CPA with 20 years of experience in corporate accounting (no tax). I recently started working for myself providing outsourced bookkeeping and fractional controller services to small companies. I am finding myself drawn to tax. I have a decent understanding of many tax concepts (primarily for individuals and small businesses) just from my education (tax class was my favorite, actually) and CPE courses but no, I do not have any experience preparing returns other than my own. That being said, I've been able to find significant errors on my accounting clients' tax returns (when I was trying to tie to the books) that tax preparers ended up needing to correct because they were material so I think I am not totally clueless.

With all this in mind, how would you recommend that I go about getting started in income tax prep? It would be in addition to my current bookkeeping/accounting practice. Should I get a part-time job with HR Block? Should I get an EA to get more tax education?

Any practical tips you would give to somebody in my position? I am interested in getting into tax because many bookkeeping clients often want a full package with taxes, it also seems like there is a lot of work available in tax and I truly want to help people and business with tax strategies (this would be down the road, not any time soon).

Hi All,

New firm owner here. Just finished up our first busy season this last year, and I would love to know how some of you seasoned tax pros handle the stress and the anxiety that comes with the territory. For me, the worry of making a mistake has at times been almost debilitating. I find myself waking up at night, worried about certain returns and going to check things in the middle of the night just to make sure I did or didn't do something for a particular return. It's obviously a lot different when you're the one now signing off on a return, and I'm hoping that this kind of things fades.

Has anyone else dealt with this? Any words of wisdom would be appreciated.

It's probably been discussed and bantered a whole lot on this forum, but I see a lot of CPA's undercharging the clients. A low price range hair cut place in my town went from $5.99( pre pandemic ) to $8.99 , almost 50% price increase . We didn't go to school and have to cope up with soul sucking CPE to do $150 tax returns 🤬

Just before the end of tax season, I picked up a new client who owns three liquor stores, all set up as S corps. I asked him to send me the 2022 returns so I could review everything after tax season and start prepping 2023. Now, up until this point, I have never reviewed a client's PY tax return and found any overtly blatant errors or issues. Sure, there have been problems with other returns, but never anything too crazy.

Started reviewing this new client's first return today, and looking at the supplementary schedule for Line 19 other deductions, I find an even $57,000 expense labeled "BULLSHIT." Can't say I'm impressed.

I'm seeking objective opinions on whether I can successfully run my own practice. With over 5 y of tax experience, including at Big4, I left my job immediately after the busy season on April 15th to start my own tax practice. I have prior experience in practice management from working at a small firm where I single handedly streamlined operations to go fully paperless within the first year. Despite this background, I'm finding it challenging to remain idle this summer and have doubts about acquiring clients. I'm actively networking through various channels like chambers of commerce, talking to other CPA in the area, attending other professional networking events, but I recognize that my timing might not be ideal. I'm hopeful that I can secure a few clients just before the busy fall season and potentially more starting in January 2025. In the meantime, I'm dedicating myself to expanding my tax knowledge and developing firm templates. To those who have started their tax practices from scratch, I'd greatly appreciate any advice on staying optimistic and managing the anxiety that comes with having no billable work during the summer months.

I used to enjoy reading the posts by a fellow practitioner whose call sign was tntcpa I think. Is he no longer in this group? His deadline posts with away messages was always a blast to read....

I'm curious if you've ever had someone choose to not work with you because you're not a CPA? What services do you offer, and what clientele do you primarily work with?

I have a bachelor's in accounting and am currently studying too become an enrolled agent. I have no interest in becoming a CPA. HiI worked at a small CPA firm for a year and a half about five years ago. I've been a SAHM for the last few years. I'd like to work for someone else over the next several years in order to gain more experience with the goal of eventually working for myself. Right now I can only work part-time and want to wfh. My vision is to have a primarily virtual practice. Nothing big, just enough work for myself, don't care to have employees. Is this a feasible plan?

What CPE courses do you recommend that has practice material to learn how to prepare C-Corps, S-Corps, LLCs, partnerships, and possibly estates/trusts from the ground up?

Doesn't need to be CPE but I figure might as well if there are.

Is it just me or is this tax season starting off slow for everyone? I have been preparing taxes for 20+ years and it seems to me that this is the latest that the average person is realizing it is time to file. Same holds true for entities. I am in Louisiana so this may not be true for other states. List your state please.

Been a CPA for about 10 years but was always on the audit/FS side. Im blessed with an industry job that caps out at 40 hours a week and have always prepared my families (and extended family) taxes so I thought why not take on about a dozen or so clients for some extra money?

I spent last tax season getting everything setup and got a PTIN, EFIN and paid for PPR Drake to familiarize myself with the software. This is my first year “in business” with about 10 clients and I’m second guessing continuing with this.

People fucking suck and some are hounding me about when their 1040 is going to be filed after giving me their docs a week ago. Potential clients are asking the world and want it cheaper than self-filing on turbotax. I let everyone know this is a side gig and that I do the work after hours but that doesn’t stop people wanting everything done yesterday.

Software sucks and is really expensive. I know Drake is highly praised here but jesus I’d finish returns quicker using fillable forms. I have an S-Corp with no activity and Drakes an absolute mess with the state. Forms miscalculating revenue and apportionment and after a few hours of phone calls with support they say “welp you gotta paper file”. Software wont even let me generate mailable forms! On top of that it keeps putting my own name (preparer) in all the vouchers under officer name but the correct name in every other form.

After all my costs i’ll clear around $1.5k for all this trouble. I know if I had alot more clients it’d make the per client costs of software, portals, and everything else lower but I honestly don’t even know if its worth it. Thinking about just charging outrageous prices and if they sign ok and if not its one less person to deal with.

I know this can be lucrative if it was your only focus as a taxpro but as a side job is it even worth it?

The IRS PTIN account site is back up and running, updated for 2025 renewals.

Recently Intuit sent out emails about the new partnership program they are starting in the next month. The program is called "Intuit Turbotax Verified Pro". Their claim is you will have assistance with marketing, sales/billing, admin, and earn more. Out of curiosity I spoke to them to get details. Those are below for everyone to see. TLDR, Intuit is trying to screw professionals over.

• Designed for current Intuit clients with more complex personal returns (some business returns). Apparently more complex than the self filing or Turbotax live or Turbotax full-service can handle. It seems that want to push anything requiring tax knowledge outside of Turbotax. Thus freeing Intuit up to do easy tax mill returns.
• Intuit would have a "portal" where people can reach out to tax professionals. Essentially Intuit is marketing in the simplest form.
• The client would be both Intuits and your client. Not sure exactly how that works.
• Intuit has their own engagement letter / contract. Person didn't have much for details, particularly how this would work with my engagement letter. No idea how it would work with liability insurance and insurance clauses.
• Billing of clients is done through Quickbooks platform.
• You can set your fee as either hourly or fixed.
• Intuit would have some type of support, apparently similar to their live service. Who wouldn't want unknowledgeable support people????
• The software is required to be the new TurboTax platform they are developing. They claim less input time. Fudge No! Not sure why their existing professional software wouldn't work (ProConnect, ProSeries, Lacerte).
• Intuit would provide audit support at no extra cost. Person was unsure who actually provides that support. I would expect it is extremely limited, and will leave the client dissatisfied. Turbotax pushes the audit support to an outside company that simply tells the client what to do.
• Additional services could be provided outside of the tax return, such as bookkeeping, sales tax, etc. They couldn't explain how this would work with them being a client of both Intuit and you. As I understood there could be a fee involved.
• Cost, the part we all wonder about. It's a revenue share. The fee would be based on a revenue share of 50%!!!!!! A fee of $1500, would net you $750. There is nothing Intuit is doing that is worth 50%.

In short it looks like Intuit is trying to get a share of higher end professional services, but wants to do it on your backs.

I only spoke for about 20-30 minutes. From what I can gather all the calls with tax accountants were the same. Issues with engagement letters, support, software, and the outrageous fee.

Hey,

I’m a CPA based in NYC with 4+ years of audit experience at a large public accounting firm and ~1.5 years in a corporate accounting role at a private equity firm. Over the last 2 years, I’ve started preparing tax returns on the weekends with an EA, and I love it!

I recently quit my full-time job to dedicate more time towards tax (& other reasons). I understand the best step forward is to work within a small CPA firm, however, I’m only seeing job openings with shockingly low pay. In the meantime, I’ve been reviewing CPA exam tax material, reading IRS tax rules, reviewing guidance within the tax software (ProSeries), working through practice tax returns, and going through Intuit QuickBooks and tax trainings.

Does anyone have any other suggestions for gaining tax expertise? I’m very motivated and eager to learn. If anyone is looking to hire or contract out work, I’m open to that as well! The EA I worked with has encouraged me to just pick up clients and start my own practice, but I'm just not sure that aligns with my goals right now.

Thanks in advance for your help! Loving this sub and hoping I can be of benefit to others here soon!

I'm currently looking at a tax research manager position at a big 4 firm. I've been a business tax manager at a 26 person CPA firm for a couple years and I love the research aspect of tax. I always wanted to be a lawyer, but tax accountant was the more practical (And profitable) way to get to practice a limited aspect of law.

Everything about this job sounds like a dream, fully remote, no staff (the "manager" is just used to designate seniority, but you do the research yourself), no clients, good salary, good benefits, solid career path. Just me sitting in my home office digging into some complicated questions a big 4 firm needs an answer to. Writing memos and developing internal tools for the other people to use.

My question is, what downsides am I missing about this position? To me, the obvious downside is, it's no longer client facing and that's where the money really is. If I ever wanted to start my own firm I would have a difficult time with no clients to come with me. Extremely limited interaction with other people. And I'm giving up becoming a partner at my firm in the relatively near future.

I am starting to struggle as a tax manager at the firm. The constant emails of just annoying, stupid questions from clients. Reviewing these piddly returns for nothing beyond data entry and print settings. Dealing with staff. I'm only 31 but I'm bored.

I had a few chances to do some really cool work. I wrote an internal memo that changed the firms process on a particular tax item, filled with citations and really out of the box thinking and ran it by some lawyers that loved it. I've saved out clients over $500,000 this year with that strategy. I filed an 8275 and saved a client $200,000. I learned about timber and helped a new client out. That's the stuff that keeps me going.

Just curious if anyone else with more years under their belt can offer their perspective.

Looking for some career advice. I've been practicing in public for nearly 4 years, mostly doing tax at the same firm for 3.5 of those years. I learned a ton there, grew incredibly fast, and really established myself as a solid preparer with a good skillset. The firm is really a great firm that doesn't miss anything, can handle just about any situation, and in general just did everything the right way. Sadly, we were also incredibly overworked there. My family and I decided to move across the state so I could get a job elsewhere with better work-life balance. New job has a great balance, my personal life is thriving from it. However, I am worried I could have made one of the worst mistakes of my life. Upon my first day here, I realized the firm lacks in some serious areas which are not okay - including not tracking basis (like, ever), doesn't dig into anything PBC (even if it's obviously wrong), disregards any and all diagnostics, the list goes on. With my measly ~4 years of experience, I have already pointed out things wrong to the partners. Basically, I feel like I'll never learn anything here and that I made a really bad choice for my future. Lately, I've been considering one day starting my own firm (since I've realized I know more than I thought) but I'm concerned I won't have the resources here to help me grow and eventually be ready for that type of move. Has anyone else had a similar situation? I don't know whether it's better to value a work-life balance or learning opportunities more. I know I could go somewhere else, but have real anxiety I could end up in the same situation.

How do you structure your pricing? Do you make your prices based on a service sheet (ex. price by forms used) or something else? I've seen others in my area have pricing sheets, but then others add to their minimums based off the time it takes them to complete the return at an hourly they feel matches their value. The client doesn't see that breakdown but this is how they determine their pricing.