When Do You Ask Your CPA For Tax Help?

Am I already too late?

I switched CPAs this year, and today I’m emailing my new CPA to set up a tax meeting and confirm all the materials I’ll need to bring.

I’m already wondering if I should have done this earlier.

Tax timing is always so tricky; I didn’t get all of my 1099 information until the beginning of February, so it’s not like I could have had a conversation with my CPA until I knew I had all of my documents in hand. (I’m also required to report my total 2016 business income to the State of Washington by January 31, before I have my 1099s. This shouldn’t be that big of a deal, but this year one of my freelance clients sent me a payment that arrived on Tuesday, January 3—and I didn’t count that payment as 2016 income because I received it in 2017, but the client included it on my 1099, which means I probably have to amend the income I reported to the State of Washington, right? I’ll ask my CPA about it.)

So I could have been proactive and emailed my CPA the first week of January to set up a meeting in February, but I didn’t. Should I have? How early do you reach out to your CPAs and tax professionals?

Support The Billfold

The Billfold continues to exist thanks to support from our readers. Help us continue to do our work by making a monthly pledge on Patreon or a one-time-only contribution through PayPal.