When It Makes Sense to Switch Tax Firms & CPAs (and When It Doesn’t)
Early January is when we start having the same quiet conversations with business owners every year, especially new ones that come to our door. They’re not usually dramatic conversations. No one’s storming out of a relationship with their current (or prior) CPA. It’s more like this:
“I can never get a hold of tax guy.”
“I feel like I’m always reacting instead of planning.”
“I don’t really understand any of it”
If you’re thinking about switching tax firms right now, that doesn’t automatically mean something went wrong. It also doesn’t automatically mean switching will fix the problem either. Well…here’s how we think about it and what we recommend.
When To Switch Tax Firms & CPAs
Most of the time, switching tax firms does make sense when the issue is clarity and communication. The biggest thing we hear is that the CPA or firm won’t call you back. Another is if you consistently feel rushed, unheard, or surprised by your tax bill every year, that’s usually a sign the relationship isn’t set up in a way that supports you. Right, if you can’t speak with them, get left in the dark, feel confused… yeah, it may not be the best fit to continue with that firm.
It can also make sense to switch when your business has changed, but the service hasn’t. A firm that was fine when you were smaller might not be a great fit once income grows, payroll starts, or decisions get more complex.
When NOT To Switch Tax Firms & CPAs
Where switching usually doesn’t help is when the underlying issue isn’t the firm — it’s the inputs. If bookkeeping isn’t being kept up, documents are always late, or everything is handled at the last minute, a new firm won’t magically change that. Good tax work still depends on good information. Switching firms without changing the process usually just resets the frustration clock.
This is the part people don’t always expect: solid tax firms will ask more of you, not less. And here’s they and we ask for (or at least the good ones do haha)
prior-year returns
documents up front
portal uploads instead of email threads
Why? Well, that’s how accurate work actually gets done. If a firm doesn’t ask questions or doesn’t need documentation, that’s often a red flag, not a convenience.
As far as timing goes, January is actually a reasonable window to explore a change. You don’t need to switch on January 1, but early conversations give you more options and less pressure than waiting until March.
The real question isn’t “Should I switch tax firms?” It’s this: What problem am I actually trying to solve?
If you’re looking for clearer communication, fewer surprises, and a more proactive approach, switching can make a lot of sense. If you’re hoping a new firm will fix missing information or last-minute chaos without changing anything else, it probably won’t.
