How does one find a new CPA during tax season without burning bridges?

I've been working with the same CPA for about 4 years now, but I'm starting to think it's time for a change. I'm really trying hard not to piss off our current accountant, but I think I'm failing miserably. They keep missing deadlines and when I ask questions about my tax situation, the responses are always delayed and often incomplete. The last straw was when they filed an extension for my small business taxes without even telling me until after the fact. Then they billed me an extra $175 for the "emergency filing" which wasn't even an emergency they created! I wouldn't mind so much if they were at least communicating with me. How does one find a competent CPA who actually communicates well and doesn't charge surprise fees? Is there a good way to make the switch without creating bad blood? The tax season is already stressful enough without adding awkward professional relationships to the mix. Has anyone successfully switched CPAs mid-tax season without burning bridges?

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21 comments

Anastasia Popov

•8M

As a tax practitioner who's been in this field for over 15 years, I can tell you this is a common situation. First, you need to understand that good CPAs are extremely busy during tax season, but that's never an excuse for poor communication or surprise fees. To find a new CPA, I'd recommend asking for referrals from business associates, friends, or family members. The personal recommendation route is usually more reliable than random internet searches. You can also check with your state's CPA society as they often have directories of licensed professionals specializing in different areas. When interviewing potential new CPAs, ask specific questions about their communication style, fee structure, and how they handle deadlines. Be upfront about your expectations.

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Anastasia Popov

•8M

It depends on how far along you are in the process. If your current CPA has already done significant work on your 2025 taxes, it might be more practical to finish this season with them and make the switch afterward. This gives you time to properly research and interview new candidates without the pressure of looming deadlines. For transferring documents, it's a straightforward process. Simply send a formal letter to your current CPA requesting copies of all your tax returns (usually the past three years) and any supporting documentation they have on file. They are professionally obligated to comply. Most reputable CPAs will cooperate without issue, as it's considered unprofessional to hold client documents hostage.

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Zara Khan

•8M

I went through a similar nightmare last year trying to communicate with my CPA. What really helped me was using taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) to organize all my documents and communications. It's basically an AI tool that helps you manage all your tax documents, reminds you of deadlines, and even gives you preliminary analyses of your tax situation before you meet with a CPA. The best part is that when I did find a new accountant, I could just share my organized files with them through the platform, which saved a ton of time and made me look super prepared. My new CPA actually commented on how organized I was compared to other clients!

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Zara Khan

•8M

The tool doesn't communicate with your CPA directly - you're still in control of who sees your information. But it does make it super easy to share exactly what they need when they need it, which cuts down on the back-and-forth emails asking for "just one more document." Regarding security, I was skeptical too at first. But they use bank-level encryption for all documents and don't store your actual financial accounts - just the documents you upload. You can also set it to automatically delete documents after tax season if you're extra cautious. I've been using it for two years with no issues.

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Nia Davis

•8M

I wanted to follow up about taxr.ai since I was skeptical in my earlier comment. I decided to give it a try anyway and I'm actually impressed! It organized all my 1099s, receipts, and even flagged some potential deductions I hadn't considered for my small business. When I finally found a new CPA (through a referral from a business friend), I just gave them access to my taxr.ai account. My new accountant said it saved hours of prep work compared to their other clients. Definitely made switching much less painful than I expected!

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Mateo Martinez

•8M

If you're having trouble getting responses from your current CPA, and are considering finding a new one, you might want to talk to the IRS directly first to understand what records you need. I used to spend HOURS on hold with the IRS until I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). They have this system where they wait on hold with the IRS for you, then call you when an actual human agent is on the line. I was really surprised it actually worked! You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. Saved me literally 3 hours of hold time, and I got the info I needed about transferring my tax records to a new preparer. The IRS agent I spoke to gave me a checklist of everything I should request from my old CPA.

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Mateo Martinez

•8M

You don't give them any sensitive personal info. You just tell them which IRS department you need to reach, and they handle the waiting on hold part. When an IRS agent answers, Claimyr calls you and connects you directly. They're not on the call when you speak to the IRS - they just handle the hold time. I completely get the skepticism. I thought it sounded too good to be true too. But I was desperate after waiting on hold for over an hour twice and getting disconnected. It's not free, but saving 3+ hours of my time was totally worth it. They don't claim to get you through faster than normal - they just wait on hold so you don't have to.

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Aisha Rahman

•8M

Okay I have to eat my words here. After posting that skeptical reply, I actually tried Claimyr yesterday because I needed to talk to the IRS about a notice I received. I've NEVER gotten through to a human at the IRS before without at least 90 minutes on hold. With Claimyr, I got a call back in about 40 minutes with an actual IRS agent on the line. I was shocked it actually worked. The agent helped me understand exactly what documents I should be getting from my tax preparer when switching. Apparently, they're required to give you copies of your returns and supporting documents within a reasonable timeframe. Knowing this made me feel more confident about making the switch to a new CPA.

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Ethan Wilson

•8M

I asked about their typical response time for emails/calls during both tax season and off-season. A good CPA will be honest about being busier during tax time but should still have standards like "within 48 hours during peak season." I also asked about their fee structure - flat fees vs. hourly, what triggers additional charges, and whether they provide fee estimates upfront. This helps avoid surprise bills. I specifically asked "What would cause you to charge me more than the base rate we agree on?" Their answer tells you a lot.

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