Professional Tax Preparers and Tax Interviewers
Professional tax preparers prepare tax returns for a fee. Good professional tax preparers combine good people skills with a love of accounting and trained knowledge in tax laws.Tax preparers are trained to gather information by asking appropriate interview questions and filling in the information you provide in the appropriate box on your tax form. Those who are self-employed are called Tax Preparers, while those employed by tax services are called Tax Interviewers. There are also certified general accountants (CGAs) and tax attorneys who prepare tax returns and represent taxpayers if they are audited by the CRA.
Most often, Tax Preparers can complete your tax return in a single interview. However, if you have a thriving small business or a complex tax situation, your return may take more time. A tax preparation specialist will often give you a very good idea how much you will receive on your tax return. Large, professional firms will have several tax preparers comb your return to make sure it is accurate.
If you do not like doing your own taxes (whether online or on paper) you may want to seek out the help of a trained professional. Tax Prep 101.com provides guidance on this. We profile the two largest tax preparation firms in Canada - H & R Block and Liberty Tax. We also offer advice on professional alternatives to popular tax preparation services.
We stress that for most Canadians it is well worth your while to fill your own tax return. The entire point of filing a tax return is to save money. Why throw away fifty dollars to a hundred or more just to have someone fill in your easy to complete tax return? Consider all your options carefully, before you commit to a tax preparer.
