Before you hire a tax accountant, the questions that matter most are: are you a registered tax agent, what are your qualifications, do you have experience with my situation, how do you charge and what will it cost, who will actually do my work, do you offer tax planning or just returns, and how will we stay in touch. The answers tell you whether the person is legally allowed to do your tax, genuinely suited to your circumstances, and easy to deal with. A good accountant answers all of these openly. Hesitation or vagueness on any of them, especially registration or price, is a sign to keep looking.
Why asking beats guessing
Hiring a tax accountant is a decision most people make once and then keep for years, so it is worth a few minutes of questions up front. Titles like accountant and tax advisor are not regulated, and almost anyone can use them, so the questions below are how you tell a properly qualified, well-suited professional from a risky one. A good accountant welcomes the questions, because they show you are taking it seriously.
Are you a registered tax agent?
This is the first and most important question. By law, only a registered tax agent can charge to prepare and lodge your tax return, and registration means they are qualified, insured, and bound by a professional code of conduct. A good answer is a clear yes, with a registration number you can verify on the Tax Practitioners Board register. If the answer is anything less than a straight yes, stop there. Our note on the difference between a tax agent and an accountant explains why this one matters so much.
What are your qualifications?
Registration is the floor, not the ceiling. On top of it, ask what professional memberships they hold, such as Chartered Accountant, CPA, or IPA, which require ongoing study and set ethical standards. You are not looking for alphabet soup, just confirmation that the person keeps their knowledge current in a system that changes every year. A confident, specific answer is what you want, and a good accountant gives it without hesitation.
Do you have experience with my situation?
The right accountant for a salaried employee is not always the right one for a sole trader, a property investor, or a medical professional. Ask whether they regularly work with people in your position, because an accountant who sees your situation every week already knows the deductions and traps you do not. A strong answer includes examples of similar clients. A vague “we do everyone” is less reassuring than “we work with a lot of tradies” when you are a tradie.
How do you charge, and what will it cost?
A good accountant is comfortable talking about money before you commit. Ask whether they charge a fixed fee or by the hour, and get a range for your situation. For a simple individual return, a fixed fee is normal and should be easy to quote. What you are really testing is transparency: clear pricing signals an organised, honest practice, while vagueness about cost is a warning sign worth noting.
Who will actually handle my work?
At some firms the person you meet is not the person who does your return. That is not necessarily a problem, but you should know. Ask who will prepare your work, who reviews it, and who you contact with questions. You want to be confident the work is done by someone qualified and reviewed properly, rather than handed to whoever happens to be free.
Do you offer tax planning, or just returns?
There is a real difference between an accountant who reports what has already happened and one who helps you plan before it does. Ask whether they offer tax planning through the year, not just a return at the end. The best value from an accountant often comes from advice given before a decision, so an accountant who only does compliance may be leaving money on the table.
How and how often will we be in touch?
You want someone who replies in a reasonable time, explains things in plain language, and does not disappear outside tax season. Ask how they prefer to communicate and how quickly they usually respond. This sounds minor until you are waiting two weeks for an answer during a deadline. A clear answer here tells you what working with them will actually feel like day to day.
What happens if the ATO has questions?
Ask how they handle it if the ATO reviews or audits your return, or raises a debt. A registered tax agent can deal with the ATO on your behalf, and you want to know they will stand behind the work they lodged rather than leave you to it. A good answer is reassuring and specific about how they would represent you. A brush-off is not.
What software and systems do you use?
Especially for a business, ask what accounting software they work with, such as Xero, MYOB, or QuickBooks, and how they will access your records. A firm that works smoothly with your existing system saves you time and reduces errors. If you do not use software yet, ask what they recommend and whether they can help set it up, since the right system makes every future year easier.
Can you share references or reviews?
A confident accountant is happy to point you to reviews, or for a business, client references. Look at what people say about responsiveness and results, not just the star rating. Long-term clients are a good sign, because people do not stay with an accountant who does not deliver year after year.
The answer that should end the conversation
Finally, listen for the answers that are warning signs rather than green lights. If someone promises a big refund before seeing your details, is not on the TPB register, suggests claiming things you know you are not entitled to, or will only deal in cash without an invoice, walk away. A bigger refund is never worth the risk of an audit or penalties, and these are exactly the behaviours a good accountant avoids.
Putting it together
You do not need to fire all of these off like an interrogation. A short first call or meeting, with registration, experience, price, and communication covered, tells you most of what you need to know. If you want a wider view of choosing well, our guide on how to find a good tax accountant and our list of questions to ask an accountant go further.
