Search for tax advisors: How to find a good tax advisor
Good tax advice relieves you of everyday life, creates legal security and can help you save money. For this to succeed, you should not choose just any tax advisor, but someone who is right for your company, has a say in tax matters and settles fairly. But how can you find good tax advice that meets your requirements?
We show you what you should pay attention to when choosing. From qualifications to specializations to practical cooperation.
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The key points
Clarify the scope of services
Consider in advance what tasks your tax advisor should take on — from bookkeeping to strategic tax advice.
Check specialization
A good tax advisor is ideally familiar with your industry or type of company — for example with start-ups or freelancers.
Use digital collaboration
Many tax advisors offer digital solutions for document management and communication — which saves time and paperwork.
Make costs transparent
Ask about the billing model: flat rates, hourly rates or StBVV — so your accounting can be calculated.
Find a good tax advisor:
A personal consultation will help you find the right partner — professionally, personally and in the long term.
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6 steps: How to find a good tax advisor
A good tax advisor will help you make optimal use of your tax options. But how do you find a provider who understands you and your company and is able to answer all your questions about topics such as “taxes”, “accounting” and the like? The following checklist will help you if you want to find a good tax advisor.
Checklist: How to find a good tax advisor
Before you start looking for a good tax advisor, the first step is to consider what they should do. Is it, for example, about preparing the income tax return for a freelancer, or about the complete accounting and Tax advice for a limited liability company or one UG to take over? Perhaps you are also looking for a tax advisor who is flexible enough to grow with your company? When you know what to expect from your tax advisor, you can do better research.
If you're already well-connected within your industry, it may be worth getting recommendations. Many companies have been working with the same tax advisors for years and are certainly happy to recommend them to others.
The days when it was important for the tax advisor to have his office in the same city as his clients are gone. Modern accounting and tax advice are mainly carried out digitally. Therefore, you can broaden your search for a good tax advisor. Important tax documents are simply sent digitally. As a rule, nothing stands in the way of an uncomplicated exchange.
Many tax advisors have now specialized in specific areas, such as an industry.
Your advantage: When you work with these experts, you can be sure that they know exactly what is important in your specific case. They know the right answers to your questions. For example, if you manage a company that sells goods/services to other countries, it is a good idea to rely on a tax advisor who is familiar with international taxes, among other things. It should go without saying that the provider you choose should be registered in the list of the Chamber of Tax Advisors.
Whether you would feel comfortable working with a tax advisor is often only apparent in a personal conversation. Many tax advisors offer a free initial consultation, in connection with which it is possible to get an impression. The said interview is also a good way to talk about the costs. The basis for this is usually the Tax Consultant Remuneration Ordinance. However, it is also worth paying attention to the details. For example, some tax advisors charge on the basis of lump sums, while others work with hourly rates.
Even if you are currently following a detailed plan and know what your goals for your company look like, it is impossible to predict how your business will develop in the future. Especially if you want to work with your tax advisor over the long term, you should therefore choose a provider who is able to grow with you.
The checklist above shows you which details are important when looking for a good tax advisor. You'll get even more specific tips below.
6 good reasons why you should6 good reasons
If working with your tax advisor no longer suits your company, dismissal is often the logical next step — for example in the event of dissatisfaction, lack of specialization or poor communication.
The following reasons show you when a cancellation and thus a Change of tax advisor It makes sense to:
Dissatisfaction
You are dissatisfied with the advice because you feel that you are not receiving optimal support.
Proficiency
Your tax advisor lacks specialization.
Industry-specific know-how is particularly crucial for capital companies such as GmbH or UG — e.g. when it comes to accounting or creating reserves.
Accessibility
Your tax advisor is difficult to reach for inquiries.
Long waiting times, vague answers or frequently changing contacts make reliable cooperation difficult.
Transparency
Even little transparency can cause dissatisfaction — especially with regard to your tax advisor's costs.
Unclear statements or above-average hourly rates often cause clients to look for another tax advisor.
Requisitions
In some cases, it is changing requirements that make the search for a new consultant the focus.
This is especially true if you are expanding, setting up a new company or are dependent on advice on international issues.
Loss of trust
Last but not least, frequent mistakes made by tax advisors can lead to a loss of trust.
Missed deadlines, incorrect declarations or inquiries from the tax office are clear warning signs.
Whether in day-to-day business or during an upcoming tax audit: You should feel well advised. Important information about the job profile of a tax advisor, important benefits and tax consulting law can also be found on the pages of Federal Chamber of Tax Advisors.
What makes a good tax advisor?
There are various factors that make up good tax advisors. If you keep these points in mind, you can narrow down the selection a bit and adapt it even better to your needs.
- Specialization and experience
Many tax advisors have focused on a specific area. Some of them have a lot of experience and can therefore provide a long list of references.
- An individual consultation
Despite legal requirements, tax advice is never completely standardized — an individual assessment of the company's situation is crucial. Therefore, a good tax advisor should always take time to get to know the companies and people (and their business) to be served. This is the only way to optimize their taxes in the long term.
- Transparent communication
With regard to tax aspects, clients occasionally raise questions. It is worth a lot here if the tax advisor is easily accessible and values transparent communication. It is best to clarify beforehand which contact options are most effective. Especially if you need an answer quickly, this can make everyday life easier for yourself.
- A realistic assessment of the situation
Even though it's reassuring to always hear what you want to hear from your tax advisor, some decisions involve a certain amount of risk. Choose a tax advisor who communicates everything transparently and points out any uncertainties you may have.
- Modern solutions for easy exchange
Many tax advisors now rely on digital solutions when it comes to, for example, transporting documents from A to B or preparing annual financial statements. Therefore, pay attention to the technologies that the tax advisor you have shortlisted offers. Cloud solutions are particularly popular. Among other things, they allow you to view the information stored here from anywhere in the world. All you need is an Internet connection and a mobile device. Of course, the tools used must comply with the requirements of the GDPR and the GoBD.
- Comprehensible pricing
You should know what costs are involved for which services. A good tax advisor is always ready to show you how the amount they charge you is made up. It also shows you how you can save money if necessary by outsourcing only part of your accounting and taking care of the accounts yourself, for example.
Find tax advisors: Tips about qualifications, experience, references
To ensure that cooperation works smoothly, you should not only look for sympathy when choosing your tax advisor. Professional qualifications, relevant experience and transparent recommendations also play an important role. The following overview will help you with the classification.
Qualification
Experience
Testimonials
In principle, a tax advisor working in Germany must have passed the state tax advisor exam.
He must also be approved by the Chamber of Tax Advisors. A list of all tax advisors and tax agents appointed in Germany and all tax advisory professional practice companies registered in the professional register can be found in the official Directory of tax advisors.
The fact that your tax advisor supports you in everyday life and takes care of your bookkeeping does not mean that you cannot also train yourself. It is important for many entrepreneurs to keep track of taxes and the like — even if they have outsourced just about everything related to “accounting”. A lot of information about new laws and requirements can be found, among others, on the pages of Chamber of Tax Advisors. These are regularly updated.
Good to know: Some tax advisors specialize in individual target groups
Every company has specific requirements when it comes to “tax advice”. It makes a difference whether a tax advisor looks after a large company or a start-up or a freelancer.
The more precisely the tax advisor's specialization has been adapted to your individual situation, the better.
For example, you can...:
- As a business founder, benefit from comprehensive advice, including the choice of business form
- Outsource part of your accounting as a self-employed person, take care of the rest yourself and save costs
- receive support as an entrepreneur if you want to hire more and more employees over time and outsource your payroll accounting.
In any case, make sure that your company fits the tax advisor's specialization.
How much does a tax advisor cost and what is a fair price?
Since the costs for a tax advisor can differ significantly in some cases, it is worthwhile to find out more about the various conditions and compare prices.
In particular, the following details are discussed with regard to the question “How do I find a good and inexpensive tax advisor? “relevant:
Hourly fees
Flat-rate fees
Here, the tax advisor calculates his benefits based on the time he has invested. Most hourly fees in Germany are between 80€ and 200€.
In particular, the experience of the tax advisor and his competencies determine the price. Payment is usually made on the basis of hourly fees if the services of the tax advisor are only used sporadically.
If lump sum fees have been agreed, the tax advisor charges a fixed amount per service.
The duration of employment is irrelevant in this case. Flat fees are used primarily when it comes to billing standard services or consulting projects.
The basis for the costs that the tax advisor calculates is the Tax Consultant Remuneration Ordinance. They determine the maximum amount the tax advisor may charge for his performance in a specific area. Both minimum and maximum rates are listed here.
In addition, it should be borne in mind that the costs calculated for the services of a tax advisor include...:
- the complexity of the tasks assigned
- the scope of services
- regional differences
are dependent. It is best to discuss all pricing details in advance. This way, you know exactly what costs you will incur.
Find tax advisors: How to find one
If you — despite all the options available to you digital tax advice offers — if you want to work with a tax advisor whose office is near you, you should search locally on the Internet.
Online directories and relevant platforms are usually among the first points of contact here and allow you to search for postal codes, for example Tax advice within Berlin. In addition, various filter options ensure that you can quickly find a provider near you.
As part of a personal consultation on site, you will usually quickly find out whether the cooperation could work.
Looking for the right support: A tax advisor can take the pressure off
There is a reason why so many companies and self-employed people are now choosing to work with a tax advisor. With an experienced expert at your side, you can either concentrate completely on your day-to-day business and be sure to make optimal use of your tax leeway.
And of course, you are not bound to your tax advisor “forever.” You can the Tax advisors also quit and alternateFor example, if you notice that your business and the respective provider are no longer a good match.
In this case, largely standardized processes ensure that nothing stands in the way of a change that is as easy as possible and that your accounting can continue as usual — just with another contact person.
Find the perfect tax advisor — Arrange an initial consultation now!
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Frequently asked questions about Find a tax advisor
There are many points of contact that can help you find a good tax advisor. This includes relevant platforms and online directories. You can also get recommendations from other companies in your industry. In an initial consultation (often free of charge), you will then get to know the tax advisor and his services better.
A good tax advisor is characterized by professional competence, experience, reliability, transparent communication and comprehensible costs. In addition, the tax advisor you choose should be easily available and be able to answer any questions promptly.
There are several factors that influence the tax advisor costs that your tax advisor charges you. This includes the complexity of the tasks and the region in which your tax advisor works. The general framework for the costs is provided by the Tax Consultant Remuneration Ordinance.
Many entrepreneurs and private individuals search the Internet for the right tax advisor. He doesn't necessarily have to have his office in the same city. Modern bookkeeping today often takes place digitally.
Yes, there are many tax advisors who specialize in a specific area or a specific target group. Some are aimed more at large companies, some at freelancers and self-employed people. And still others have focused on supporting start-ups and entrepreneurs.
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