Questions to Ask Your CPA

A practical meeting-prep checklist so tax and accounting conversations begin with better questions. Services vary by professional and engagement, so ask which of these apply to yours.

1. 1.

   Is there anything in my books you want handled differently going forward?

   If your CPA prefers a particular report, category, documentation process, or bookkeeping treatment, it is useful for your bookkeeper to know.

2. 2.

   Are there any Balance Sheet accounts you want reviewed or corrected?

   Old loans, owner accounts, liabilities, fixed assets, receivables, and other balances can create questions at year-end.

3. 3.

   Are there transactions you want me to discuss with my bookkeeper?

   Some questions are simply bookkeeping cleanup. Others require your CPA’s professional judgment.

4. 4.

   Do you need additional documentation for any major purchases?

   Equipment, vehicles, improvements, and other significant purchases may require records beyond the transaction itself.

5. 5.

   Are there owner transactions you want reviewed?

   Contributions, draws, distributions, reimbursements, and personally paid business expenses, where applicable, should be understandable before year-end.

6. 6.

   Are there tax or accounting decisions I need to make before year-end?

   Ask early enough that you still have time to act if your CPA identifies something requiring attention.

7. 7.

   Is there anything my bookkeeper should change or track differently next year?

   This creates a useful feedback loop between the professional maintaining the records and the professional using them.

8. 8.

   What reports do you want from my bookkeeping system?

   Ask whether your CPA wants the Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, General Ledger, aging reports, or other specific reports.

9. 9.

   What documents should I have ready before our next meeting?

   Requirements vary by business and engagement, so ask your CPA directly rather than relying on a generic tax checklist.

10. 10.

    Is there anything in my current financial picture that I should be asking you about but haven’t?

    Sometimes the best professional questions are the ones the business owner does not yet know to ask.

Your CPA does not need you to become a tax professional. They need accurate information, organized records, and enough communication to understand what happened in the business.