A skilled tax preparer can make a truck driver’s life so much easier, and not just during tax season. A good tax preparer is available year round, ready and able to answer any questions you might have about deductions, travel expenses, and other tax-related details. He or she’s on top of your 2290 tax forms, and takes full advantage of e-filing to get your trucks on the road as soon as possible.
If you’re looking for a new tax preparer, here’s a few tips to help you on your way.
Look for a Specialist in Truck Taxes
This is, perhaps, the most important factor when choosing who’s going to prepare your taxes. Do they have a full understanding of the intricacies of trucking taxes? Not every accountant has this knowledge—truck taxes are a pretty specialized area.
It’s worth paying a little extra for a tax preparer with extensive experience and knowledge of truck taxes. Don’t assume your tax preparer has this experience. Those who don’t won’t be able to give you the service you need.
Availability and Courtesy
No-one ever said paying taxes was fun, but a good tax preparer should at least make the process as pleasant and stress-free as possible. Courtesy and friendliness may not alter how much you’re going to owe Uncle Sam, but they’re still important traits.
Your tax preparer should also be available to answer questions throughout the year, and be able to get those answers to you quickly. Tax-related issues can crop up at any time. A tax preparer with a quick, accurate response time makes settling such issues easier.
Proactive Suggestions
You offer value for your services, and you should expect the same from your tax preparer. Rather than just working with your taxes as they currently stand, he or she should offer strategies to cut your taxes down as much as possible. If you’ve overlooked something, your tax preparer should take the initiative and bring it to your attention.
Honesty—Brutal Honesty
Of course you want an honest tax preparer—the IRS takes a dim view of “creative bookkeeping.” You also want someone who’s prepared to be honest—brutally honest if need be—with you. If you’re making deductions the IRS won’t accept, your tax preparer should be willing to tell you so, even if you don’t like what he or she has to say.
Ultimately, you want to be satisfied with your tax preparer’s results, whether or not you wind up owing taxes. You may have to hunt for the right tax preparer, but it’s well worth the time, both for your pocketbook and your peace of mind.
Resources
https://www.truckingoffice.com/2013/how-to-choose-a-tax-preparer-for-truckers
https://www.getloaded.com/blog/post/eTruckerTax-Tips-How-to-Find-the-Right-Tax-Preparer