Finding someone to prepare your taxes might seem like a large leap. After all, can't you just buy a computer program to do them for you? Yes, you can. If you have a simple tax situation, this is probably a good way to go. If you financial life is a bit more complex, however, a tax preparer is probably a better choice for two reasons. A tax preparer can help you proactively create a plan for reducing your taxes for next year, which can save you a bundle. A tax preparer is also a living being, which means you can call them if the IRS sends you a notice of audit.

So, how do you find someone to whip your tax returns together? Well, word of mouth is probably the best way to go. Ask friends and business associates if they have any suggestions. One or two of them will rave about their preparer. That is the person you want to speak with about your situation.

All that being said, there are some things you want to keep an eye on with preparers. As with any business, some are good and some are not so good. A few warning signs include a tax preparer who is unwilling to sign your return even though they created it, a preparer who offers to receive your refund check on your behalf, a preparer who tries to sell you on some financial scheme that sounds iffy to you. All of these are things that should make you think twice about sticking with a preparer.

When picking a tax preparer, you should really focus on trying to find someone that is proactive instead of reactive. What does this mean? You want someone that will prepare your taxes this year, but also sit down and plan out what steps are going to be taken this year to save you money when filing time comes around next year. Such a tax preparer is worth their weight in gold, so take the time to find one.