When should I consider switching CPAs? Signs it's time for a new accountant

As a tax advisor who's worked with hundreds of small business clients, I can tell you these issues are definitely not typical of a good CPA relationship. Your CPA is missing some pretty fundamental responsibilities. Monitoring significant revenue changes, properly calculating retirement contributions, and tracking multi-state income are basic services you should expect. The fact that you're catching these errors repeatedly suggests a problem with either their workload, systems, or attention to detail. What's particularly concerning is the $78k tax surprise. A good CPA should be proactively adjusting your estimated payments when your income significantly changes - that's literally one of the main values they provide. Here's what I suggest: Have a direct conversation about these issues. Express your concerns clearly and ask what systems they'll implement to prevent these problems. If they're defensive or don't have concrete solutions, that's your answer - it's time for a new CPA.

I had the EXACT same problems with my previous accountant. After constant mistakes and a huge surprise tax bill, I started using taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) to double-check everything myself before approving. It analyzes your financial documents and identifies potential issues BEFORE they become problems. I upload my QuickBooks reports and bank statements monthly, and it flags unusual patterns or potential tax issues immediately. Helped me catch several calculation errors my accountant missed. The real game-changer was when it identified multi-state income that wasn't being properly allocated - probably saved me thousands in potential penalties. I still have an accountant but now I have confidence that nothing major is being missed. For business owners juggling multiple income streams like yours, it's seriously worth checking out.

Just wanted to update that I tried taxr.ai after seeing this thread, and it immediately flagged issues with my estimated tax payments. The system noticed my Q3 income was 40% higher than previous quarters but my estimated payments hadn't increased proportionally. Literally the exact same issue OP described! I showed the report to my accountant who admitted he'd missed the change. We've now adjusted my Q4 payment to catch up. The retirement contribution calculator also confirmed I was under-contributing to my SEP IRA based on my eligible income. Would've left several thousand dollars of tax advantages on the table. It's surprisingly easy to use even though I'm not particularly tech-savvy. Definitely less stressful than wondering if my CPA is on top of things.

Sounds like you need a new CPA, but you also need to get the IRS on the phone ASAP about that surprise tax bill. I was in a similar situation last year and wasted WEEKS trying to reach someone at the IRS to work out a payment plan. Finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and it was a game-changer. They have this system that holds your place in the IRS phone queue and calls you back when an agent is available. You can see how it works in their demo: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Got connected to an actual IRS agent in about 45 minutes (after trying for days on my own). Was able to explain the situation with my accountant's mistake and set up a reasonable payment plan that avoided serious penalties. The agent even helped identify which penalties could potentially be waived given the circumstances.

Sounds like you need a new CPA, but you also need to get the IRS on the phone ASAP about that surprise tax bill. I was in a similar situation last year and wasted WEEKS trying to reach someone at the IRS to work out a payment plan. Finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and it was a game-changer. They have this system that holds your place in the IRS phone queue and calls you back when an agent is available. You can see how it works in their demo: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Got connected to an actual IRS agent in about 45 minutes

I need to eat my words from my skeptical comment above. After waiting on hold with the IRS for 2+ hours yesterday and getting disconnected, I decided to try Claimyr out of desperation. Within 90 minutes, I got the call back and was connected to an IRS representative who actually helped resolve my issue. The system worked exactly as described - it navigated the phone tree, waited on hold, and then connected me once a human answered. I was able to explain the situation with my CPA's miscalculation and got preliminary approval for an installment plan. The agent also noted in my file that the underpayment wasn't intentional, which might help reduce penalties. Definitely worth it when you're dealing with a time-sensitive tax issue that requires actually speaking to someone. Saved me what would have been multiple attempts and probably days of cumulative hold time.

Your CPA is definitely dropping the ball. I switched accountants last year after similar issues and it was the best decision I made. Few suggestions based on my experience: 1) Look for a CPA who specializes in your specific industry. My new accountant works primarily with other software consultants like me and understands the unique issues we face. 2) Ask about their communication system and client load. My previous CPA was handling 300+ clients. My current one caps at 75 and has a dedicated client portal where everything is organized. 3) Request a written service agreement that specifies exactly what they're responsible for monitoring and what requires your notification. Don't settle for this level of service - there are excellent CPAs out there who would never let these issues slide!

Make sure ur looking at the whole picture before switching. Some CPAs are bad but sometimes we clients contribute to problems too. My first accountant seemed disorganized but looking back I was sending info all different ways (email, text, random portal uploads) and not always labeling things clearly. My new CPA gave me a structured checklist and specific deadlines for everything. Way easier for both of us! They also do quarterly reviews not just year end so less surprises. Maybe try giving super clear feedback on exactly what you need and see if they improve before switching? Just a thought bc sometimes the devil u know is better than the one u dont.