CPA vs Accountant: Which Do You Need for Your Business?

The answer is not the same for everyone and each individual must carefully consider their own personal tax situation as well as the type of person best trained to handle those situations. Here we look more closely at Certified Public Accountants and the type of tax situations best handled by this tax professional. Some states, including Florida, Nevada, Tennessee and Texas, impose no state income tax and therefore require no annual tax return. Others, such as California, Illinois and New York, charge an income tax to residents, which means filing a separate return. State tax returns are far less complicated than federal returns, but they add one more layer of complexity to the process. While the CPA qualifications vary slightly by state, all CPAs must have a bachelor’s degree and have passed the CPA certification exam.

Like all accounting personnel, tax experts work with large volumes of data. Tax professionals should feel comfortable dealing with numbers and their real-world implications. Accountants increasingly rely on specialized software and cloud-based tech tools. Tax experts benefit from mastering both general and tax-specific accounting software. Tax preparation requires a significant amount of day-to-day organization.

How to Become a Lawyer Accountant

Your online resource to get answers to your product and industry questions. Connect with other professionals in a trusted, secure, environment open to Thomson Reuters customers only. It’s also important to note that not all accountants and CPAs perform all of the duties listed above. Let us know how well the content on this page solved your problem today. All feedback, positive or negative, helps us to improve the way we help small businesses. The goal of bookkeeping is to maintain accurate records and balance the books. The goal of accounting is to gain an understanding of your business’s financial state and use that information to help your business succeed and plan for the future.

A CPA understands the tax implications of your investments, expenses, and other elements that factor into your tax return. Accountants can cpa vs accountant offer guidance on cost-containment and maximization of profits. They have the skills to make financial forecasts and risk assessments.

What does a CPA do?

Then, to obtain a state certification, tax attorneys must pass their state’s bar exam. Many tax attorneys also go on to obtain an advanced degree in tax law, which can take up to five additional years of study. Moreover, tax preparers are usually preferred by individuals who do not require any other accounting services. The participants receive a Record of Completion after fulfilling all the requirements. For instance, they can represent the clients whose tax returns they have prepared before IRS employees. However, they don’t have the right to represent them for collection issues or appeals.

The price of tax preparation software ranges from almost zero for basic filers to several hundred dollars for more in-depth service and complicated returns. On the other hand, the least expensive tax preparers will cost at least $100 and a CPA is likely to charge at least twice that amount. The upfront savings of using tax software over an accountant is one of the most attractive benefits of filing your own taxes. Accountants, bookkeepers, and other tax preparers aren’t required to undergo the same amount of training, education, or testing as a professional who is a certified public accountant . In order to be a CPA, individuals must complete 150 hours of college coursework, which is typically 30 hours more than most bachelor’s degrees require.