Who to Get to do Tax?

Who should I go to to get advice or prepare tax returns for the revenue.
A tax professional or an accountant?

accountant. cheaper and usually know how to deal with most things they encounter regarding tax

Thanks Spongebob.
We asked a few related accountants some questions recently and weren't blown away by their tax knowledge...so how do you know they know??

Mommah

Why not check out names from the relevant professional body (Irish Taxation Institute) and get some quotes. Most listed are accoutants also that have seperate tax qualifications.

If you are looking for general advice on the completion and filing of tax returns for PAYE, self-employed, directors, then most accountants will have sufficient knowledge, experience and qualifications to do so effectively and thoroughly. All accountants in practice who are members of professional bodies must undergo Continuing Professional Development/Education courses regularly to retain their practising certificate. However if your tax query is in relation to something outside the meanstream or potentially contentious then the advice of a good tax consultant is well worthwhile. Some accountants engage tax consultants for specialist consultations on such issues. It all depends on what your tax queries relate to.

Definitely recommend the "Tax Expert" route rather than the accountant (sorry Spongebob1).

There are lots of these available and they will provide quality advice on all personal tax matters from personal to CGT to CAT to ...

As a general guide if you are looking for someone to generate a set of accounts for a limited company go to the accountants. If you are trying to sort out your personal tax affairs - as a PAYE employee or a Company Director - talk to a Tax Expert.

I would of course say the tax expert - not all are expensive!!!

Well we have gone from mostly PAYE income to mostly (much less) self employed income and have spent most of 2 tax years abroad.
So to me its complicated but doesn't involved alot of money...so I want someone who knows their stuff and potentially someone who might be able to file for us in France too(even though we earned nothing in france...so need to figure if its better to stay under the radar in france or not....its possible we might want to come back) We will be returning to Ireland and will have a small PAYE income again....so there it is...probably not enough to pay a Nobel prizing winning tax consultant but thorny enough. Hubby want to start up a business in Ireland and will need advice on how best to structure it. It will be unlikely to make money for a few years.

Domo said:

I would of course say the tax expert - not all are expensive!!!

Click to expand...

Domo, could I ask, as one who has used tax experts in the past, would you have a ball-park hourly rate ? Do all tax experts normally use the hourly rate structure? Just curious as one I have used adheres strictly to the hourly rate and sometimes it can be expensive, though I must add always worthwhile.

Graham_07

A lot of tax advisors and accountants charge by hourly rates. However, some, like myself quote a fixed fee in advance for specific work where the work can be quantified.

I would quote a fixed fee for most compliance work - tax return completion, accounts preparation etc.

Where a lot of unquantified research was involved, I would quote an hourly rate, but indicate how many hours I thought it would take.

PM me if you want more detail.