Q. Can anyone recommend a good cpa or tax assistance service in Northern Mass? Close to Boston or Lowell area?? I need someone with a strong legal background and or past IRS employment Thanks!!

A. What is your real problem?

Q. Do you get more money back using a CPA or not? What advantages do they offer? Are they worth the money?

A. First off not every CPA prepares Tax Returns. CPA stands for Certified Public Accountant, and like attornies or doctors they deal with certain specialties. If you want a professional tax preparer who is up to date with the latest tax laws and is used to dealing with the specifics of your financial picture look for a CPA that specializes in Tax Preparation or find an EA (Enrolled Agent) who is licensed to prepare taxes and defend you in the event of an audit, CP2000 letter, or other tax concern. Tax software is very generic and only useful for a very basic tax return unless you are able to keep up with tax law changes yourself. Not much better would be a retail tax outlet like H&R Block who on the whole are less concerned with accuracy and more concerned with getting you in & out quickly with a refund rather you are due one or not.

Q. I had a CPA prepare my tax return. We gave the information late minute but he did a good job. However, I received a letter from a state agency saying a county tax was not paid. CPA admitted he did not pay enter that tax on the state tax return . The tax owned is less than $500. Should the CPA issue a refund for this services? For how much?

A. He should pay the additional interest owed if any, but not the tax itself.

Q. After looking at a certain user's credentials, it made me question it because it really doesn't make sense. The person had 24+ years of accounting, 14+ years of CPA, and 7+ years of tax preparation experience. So why is it that you can do tax returns as a accountant and not be licensed as a tax preparer? It seems a little backwards to me. I mean you should be licensed to prepare taxes before you could be a CPA and a CPA before you could be an accountant. That's just my two cents.

A. You can be an accountant just by working in the field and getting on the job experience. The CPA credential is given by state boards in order for the holder to give an opinion on financial statements. That is the only purpose of the CPA designation. This is why the person had so many years as a CPA without the same years of tax experience. Taxes are secondary to us CPA's as our main job is protecting users of financial statements. Most CPA's make their big money from audits and consulting, not tax work. Just about anybody can do tax work. However, only Tax Attorneys, CPA's, and EA's can argue in front of the IRS.

Q. HOW MUCH CAN THEY MAKE WORKING FOR SOMEONE AND FOR THEMSELVES? IS THIS JOB DIFFICULT? IS JOB SIMILAR OR DIFFERENT FROM BEING A CPA? WHAT'S THE 411?

A. You can make a lot more than $25,000 - $35,000 being a tax preparer. Obviously, working for someone else you are going to make less than you probably would working for yourself. But, by working for someone else, you get a steady paycheck, instead of having to rely on yourself for a paycheck. The job isn't that that difficult, but you have to make sure you buy the right tax software, and that you keep up-to-date on tax law changes. You can be a tax preparer without being a CPA, and you can be a CPA without being a tax preparer, and you can be a CPA with being a tax preparer. Being a CPA means that you can represent a client before the IRS if they get audited. If you weren't a CPA but were a tax preparer you couldn't represent the client before the irs. There are many jobs that you can do as a CPA without doing taxes.

Q. I am a CPA in WI and currently employed by a CPA firm. My question is, can I do tax work on the side on my own and advertise my services without violating any CPA standards? Let me add that these are clients that our firm would not take on. They would be very basic individual clients that would not meet our firms minimum requirements to take on.

A. What is your employer's policy? That should decide the issue.

Q. I am a CPA with experience in tax preparation / review. I recently quit my job to work with a family member to assist her in the accounting / tax function of the business. Can I still get a seasonal tax job with a CPA firm? Do firms hire on a seasonal basis and when ???

A. The trick is to know the firm personally. If you have proven your skills to someone, firms can always use the extra help during tax season. If you have the experience there's no reason they wouldn't want the help, but I do think you would have to be a sure bet in the firm's view though. Good luck!

Q. Hi, I was wondering if there was anywhere where i can use the fees paid to take the CPA exam on my income tax form. I am already in the accounting profession and the CPA license is required to advance in my job.

A. Haha, I had a co-worker wondering the same Q, yes it is deductible, but I think it's classified as a misc. deductible, either as an edu expense or business exp; So I think it's subject to the 2.5% floor of your AGI. Something about expenses on improving skills that enable to further in your profession. Also note that if you get reimbursement from your employer, you would not be able to deduct this expense.