My accountant wants access to my bank statements - is this normal practice?

I'm a tax professional, and yes, this is becoming more common practice. Many accountants request bank access to ensure accuracy and save time for both parties. Bank statement access helps verify income sources, identify potential deductions, and ensure all taxable transactions are properly reported. The "view-only" or "accountant access" that most banks offer is specifically designed for this purpose - it lets professionals see statements and transaction history without the ability to move money around. It's basically the digital equivalent of handing over paper statements, just more efficient. That said, you should always verify what type of access they're requesting. Ask specifically what permission level they need and how they'll protect your information. A reputable CPA should have no problem explaining their security practices.

I was skeptical too when my tax preparer asked for this last year! After researching, I found this tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that lets you upload your statements and transactions in a more controlled way. It organizes everything into tax categories automatically and then you can just share the relevant info with your CPA instead of giving direct account access. The difference is you control exactly what they see, and the software helps identify potential deductions too.

Just wanted to update - I tried taxr.ai after posting my skeptical question. I was impressed with how it handled my banking data. It pulled all my statements, categorized everything tax-related, and I was able to share just the relevant parts with my accountant without giving bank access. Found a few deductions I would have missed too. Definitely easier than my previous method of downloading statements and highlighting relevant transactions manually.

So my accountant asked for the same thing last year, but I wasn't comfortable with it. When I called the IRS to ask about this practice, I spent TWO HOURS on hold! Finally found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which got me connected to an actual IRS agent in under 20 minutes. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c showing how it works. The agent confirmed that while giving access is legitimate, it's completely optional. If you're uncomfortable, you can provide statements manually - your accountant can't force you to give account access.

Alright I need to eat some crow here. After dismissing Claimyr as BS, I was desperately trying to reach the IRS about a notice I received. After sitting on hold for an hour and getting disconnected TWICE, I remembered this thread and tried the service. Got connected to an agent in about 15 minutes. The agent confirmed what the previous poster said - giving your CPA bank access is completely optional and you can just provide statements manually if preferred. Saved me a massive headache.

Have you considered just asking her why she wants the access now when she didn't need it before? Maybe her practice changed software or something. I've been giving my accountant bank access for years and it's actually saved me money because he catches deductions I would miss. Also way less work than downloading and sending statements manually.

This seems so weird to me. Been doing my taxes for 20 years and never had an accountant ask for direct access. Just bring them your documents like normal? Why do they need to poke around in your accounts?

Anyone know if giving this kind of access affects anything with the bank's fraud protection? Like if something does go wrong, would they say "well you gave someone access" and not help?

I understand your hesitation - it's smart to be cautious with financial access. Before making a decision, I'd recommend asking your CPA a few specific questions: What type of access exactly are they requesting? Which accounts do they need to see? How long would they need this access? And most importantly, what's their data security policy? You might also want to check if your bank offers temporary or limited-time access that automatically expires after tax season. Some banks allow you to grant access for just 30-60 days, which could be a good compromise. If you're still uncomfortable, remember that providing statements manually is perfectly acceptable - your CPA should be able to work with whatever format you're comfortable providing. Trust your instincts here.

As someone who's dealt with this exact situation, I'd say trust your gut feeling here. If this is the first time in 3 years she's asking for this, it's totally reasonable to ask why the change. Maybe she's upgraded her software, taken on new clients, or is trying to streamline her process - all legitimate reasons. That said, you have every right to say no. I've seen people get great results using alternatives like the taxr.ai tool mentioned earlier, or even just organizing their own statements better before handing them over. The key is finding an approach that works for both of you. One thing I'd definitely recommend - if you do decide to give access, make it conditional. Ask for a specific end date (like April 30th), confirm it's truly read-only access, and maybe start with just one account to test how comfortable you feel. You can always expand access later if things go smoothly. Your financial security is worth more than a slightly more convenient tax prep process.

As someone who was initially very skeptical about giving bank access to my tax preparer, I ended up doing it last year and it worked out well. But I made sure to set clear boundaries first. Here's what I recommend: Ask your CPA to walk you through exactly what she needs and why the change after 3 years. When I asked my accountant, she explained that her new tax software could automatically import and categorize transactions, which saved both of us time and helped catch deductions I would have missed. I started by giving access to just my main checking account for 45 days, with a clear end date. My bank (Chase) sent me email notifications whenever the access was used, which gave me peace of mind. After seeing how it worked, I was comfortable expanding to other accounts the following year. The key things I insisted on: read-only access only, a specific expiration date, and a written explanation of their data security practices. Any reputable CPA should be happy to provide these details. If they're evasive about security or push back on reasonable boundaries, that would be a red flag for me. Trust your instincts - if you're not comfortable, manual document sharing works just fine too.

I went through this exact situation last year and can definitely understand your hesitation! After going back and forth on it, I ended up giving my accountant limited access through my bank's official "professional access" feature, but I made sure to ask a lot of questions first. What really helped me decide was when my CPA explained that her firm had implemented new software that could automatically categorize transactions and spot potential deductions that might otherwise be missed. She also showed me exactly what the access looked like from her end - literally just read-only transaction history, no ability to move money or see account numbers beyond the last few digits. I started conservatively by only granting access to my main checking account for 60 days with an automatic expiration date. My bank (Wells Fargo) sent me email alerts every time the access was used, which was reassuring. After seeing how smoothly it went and catching two deductions I hadn't even thought of, I felt much more comfortable with the process. The key for me was treating it like any other professional relationship - clear boundaries, specific timeframes, and good communication. If your CPA has been solid for 3 years, this might just be a natural evolution of their practice. But definitely trust your gut and don't feel pressured if you're not comfortable with it.

I completely understand your concerns - this was exactly my reaction when my tax preparer first requested bank access a couple years ago. After initially saying no, I ended up researching it thoroughly and eventually agreed, but with very strict conditions. What I learned is that this practice has become much more common as tax software has evolved. Many CPAs now use systems that can automatically import transactions, categorize them for tax purposes, and identify potential deductions that might be missed when reviewing statements manually. The efficiency gains are real for both the preparer and the client. However, the fact that your CPA is asking for this after 3 years of working together without it definitely warrants a conversation. I'd ask her specifically: What changed in her process? What type of access exactly does she need? Which accounts? For how long? And what are her data security protocols? If you decide to move forward, I'd strongly recommend starting small - maybe just one checking account with a 45-60 day expiration. Most banks offer legitimate "accountant access" or "read-only" permissions that are specifically designed for this purpose, and many will send you notifications when the access is used. Remember, this is completely optional. A good CPA should be able to work effectively with manually provided statements if that's what you're comfortable with. Trust your instincts here - your peace of mind is worth more than a slightly more streamlined process.

I've been following this discussion with great interest since I'm facing a similar decision with my own tax preparer. What really stands out to me from everyone's experiences is how much the approach and boundaries matter. It seems like the key factors for success are: 1) Getting a clear explanation for why the CPA needs this access now, 2) Starting with limited scope (one account, specific timeframe), 3) Using the bank's official accountant access features rather than sharing login credentials, and 4) ensuring you get notifications when the access is used. The stories about catching missed deductions are compelling, but I think @Victoria Charity and @Sean O'Brien make the most important point - this should never feel pressured. A good CPA will respect your comfort level and work with whatever method you choose. For anyone still on the fence, it sounds like the middle-ground approach of trying tools like taxr.ai might be worth exploring too. That way you get some of the efficiency benefits while maintaining full control over what gets shared. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences here - this thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding both the legitimate benefits and the reasonable precautions to take.

I've been a CPA for over 15 years and can offer some perspective on this practice. The request for bank access has indeed become much more common in recent years, primarily due to advances in tax software that can automatically import and categorize transactions. This helps ensure nothing gets missed and can identify deductions that might not be obvious from manual review. That said, the timing of your CPA's request after 3 years is worth discussing. Common reasons for this change include: upgrading to new tax software, taking on more complex clients that benefit from automated processes, or simply streamlining operations for efficiency. None of these are red flags, but you deserve a clear explanation. If you decide to proceed, I'd recommend these safeguards: 1) Use your bank's official "accountant access" feature rather than sharing login credentials, 2) Set a specific expiration date (30-60 days is typical), 3) Start with just essential accounts, and 4) request details about their data security practices in writing. Remember, this is entirely optional. Many of my colleagues still work effectively with manually provided statements. Your comfort level should be the deciding factor, not convenience. A professional relationship built over 3 years should easily accommodate whichever method you prefer.