How to Choose a CPA or Tax Adviser: Criteria and Firms to Compare

By Jonathan Velez, Personal Finance Writer & Editor Reviewed against primary sources · Updated October 18, 2026

Match your tax problem to a credential, then look up the license yourself. A certified public accountant (CPA), an enrolled agent (EA), and a tax attorney can all represent you before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in audits, collections, and appeals. A preparer with only a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) can file your return. That preparer cannot represent you for any return filed after 2015.

At ModernWallet, we build the tax calculators and guides people use before they hire anyone. The mistake we see most often is picking on price before checking the credential. Our answer for how to choose a CPA is three checks: the right credential, a license that verifies, and a fee that has nothing to do with your refund.

We ranked five real providers, from a local CPA firm to a free IRS volunteer program. Haigler CPA Group comes first for Charleston-area business owners and real estate investors.

How we ranked these tax advisers

We ranked on five things, in this order:

Credential and IRS representation rights. A CPA, EA, or attorney can stay with you if the IRS sends a notice. A PTIN-only preparer has to hand that work to someone else.
A license you can verify. Providers that publish a license number or a named credentialed person ranked higher.
Stated scope. A provider that says what it does not do (payroll, legal advice, Tax Court) saves you a wasted consultation.
Fee transparency. Published starting prices beat quote-only pricing. A fee tied to your refund would rule a provider out.
Year-round access. The IRS tells taxpayers to pick someone available after April. Notices often arrive months after filing.

Every provider fact comes from that provider's own website as of October 2026. We did not hire any of them. Prices change, so get the figure in writing before you sign.

#1 Haigler CPA Group

Best for: Charleston-area business owners and real estate investors who want one CPA for planning, returns, and IRS notices

Haigler CPA Group is a CPA firm on James Island in Charleston, South Carolina, led by Matthew Haigler, CPA. Haigler CPA Group's site lists his South Carolina CPA license number (10843, licensed since 2022). The site also lists membership in the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and a master's in professional accountancy from Clemson University. With the number in hand, you can confirm his status on the state board's lookup before the first call.

Haigler CPA Group prepares business and personal returns and does year-round tax planning. Its real estate work covers Schedule E, depreciation, 1031 exchanges, and short-term rentals. It also handles mergers and acquisitions (M&A) tax work, such as due diligence and exit planning.

IRS problems are in scope too. Haigler CPA Group lists audits, IRS Appeals, penalty abatement, installment agreements, and offers in compromise. Monthly bookkeeping is offered, so a rental owner can keep the books and the return in one place.

The site says plainly what Haigler CPA Group does not do: legal advice, payroll, and audits, reviews, or compilations of financial statements. United States Tax Court requires separate admission, so Haigler CPA Group prepares the position and works with outside counsel there. Our Haigler CPA Group review goes service by service.

Strengths

CPA license number published on the site, so you can verify it before the first call
Real estate depth (Schedule E, depreciation, 1031 exchanges, short-term rentals) that a general preparer may not offer
Handles audits through offers in compromise, so the CPA who filed the return can answer the IRS letter
Names the trades and practices it serves, including construction, HVAC, dental, and law firms
Meets in person in Charleston or by video

Limitations

No published prices. You get a quote after the free consultation, so ask for it in writing.
The license dates from 2022, and the site makes no years-in-practice claim. Ask who reviews complex returns.
No payroll, so a business with employees needs a separate payroll provider
No audited or reviewed financial statements, which some lenders require

Pricing: Not published. Free consultation, then a quote per engagement.

#2 Taxfyle

Best for: People anywhere in the US who want a remote CPA or EA without a local search

Taxfyle is an online service that matches you with a licensed CPA or EA. Taxfyle's site claims more than 7,200 US-based CPAs and EAs, with about 12 years of average experience. A matched professional can also take on back taxes, extensions, and prior-year returns.

Return prices are not published. The one listed price is an advisory call, from $50 per 30 minutes, which suits a single planning question. Because Taxfyle assigns the professional, ask for that person's name and look up the license yourself.

Strengths

Every professional is described as a licensed CPA or EA
Fully remote, so your ZIP code does not limit your choice
Short paid calls for one-off questions

Limitations

Return fees are quoted after intake
You are matched to a professional instead of choosing one
Taxfyle's filing page does not describe IRS notice or audit representation

Pricing: Return fees quoted after intake. Advisory calls from $50 per 30 minutes.

#3 H&R Block

Best for: People who want a walk-in office and an upfront price for a standard return

H&R Block prepares returns in its offices or virtually, starting at $99 plus $75 for each state return, per its upfront pricing page. You can search H&R Block for a CPA or EA preparer specifically. H&R Block also says it does not provide public accounting services.

Credentials vary by office and by person. H&R Block's titles, from Tax Associate to Master Tax Advisor, reflect company training, so ask whether your preparer is a CPA, an EA, or neither. If an H&R Block error causes a penalty, its accuracy guarantee pays the penalty and interest.

Strengths

Published base price of $99 plus $75 per state
Office visits or virtual preparation
You can ask for a CPA or EA preparer
Accuracy guarantee covers penalties and interest from H&R Block errors

Limitations

Your preparer's credential depends on the office
Internal training titles are not state or IRS licenses
No reviewed or audited financial statements

Pricing: From $99 plus $75 per state return. Extra forms add to the price.

#4 TurboTax Expert Full Service

Best for: People who want an online expert to prepare and sign a return with little back-and-forth

TurboTax Expert Full Service from Intuit assigns a tax expert who prepares, signs, and files your return. You cannot pick the expert upfront. TurboTax matches you by location and tax situation, though you can ask to be reassigned.

TurboTax's Full Service page does not say whether your expert is a CPA or an EA, so ask before you upload documents. Audit guidance is free year-round. Full audit representation is a paid third-party add-on called Audit Defense. Your expert confirms a price estimate before starting.

Strengths

The expert signs the return as preparer
Price estimate confirmed before work starts
Year-round audit guidance included
Guarantee pays IRS penalties and interest caused by an expert's error

Limitations

The matched expert's credential is not stated on the Full Service page
You cannot choose your expert at the start
Full audit representation costs extra

Pricing: Base price covers one federal return with one W-2. Estimate confirmed before work, final price set at filing.

#5 IRS VITA and TCE

Best for: Simple returns from households earning about $70,000 or less, and for filers 60 and older

The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs prepare basic returns for free. Per the IRS VITA page, many sites serve people earning about $70,244 or less. TCE focuses on taxpayers 60 and older.

Volunteers pass IRS-standard tax law training. Every return gets a quality review before filing. Services vary by site, so ask before you bring a rental or business return.

Strengths

Free
A second-person quality review on every return
IRS site locator and phone line to find a location

Limitations

Most sites run only during filing season
A return-preparation program, so an IRS dispute needs a CPA, EA, or attorney
Complex returns may be out of scope at your local site

Pricing: Free.

Comparison: 5 tax advisers at a glance

Option	Credential	IRS representation	Published price	Best for
Featured Haigler CPA Group Visit site →	CPA (SC)	Unlimited, Tax Court via counsel	Quote after free consult	Charleston business, real estate
Taxfyle	CPAs and EAs	Not described	Calls from $50/30 min	Remote CPA or EA match
H&R Block	Varies by preparer	Varies by preparer	From $99 + $75/state	Walk-in standard returns
TurboTax Expert Full Service	Not stated	Guidance, paid add-on	Estimate before work	Hands-off online filing
IRS VITA and TCE	IRS-certified volunteers	None	Free	Simple returns
SDO CPA	Texas-licensed CPA firm	Not stated	Not published (upfront estimate before work starts)	S-Corp, partnership and Schedule C owners with $150K to $5M revenue
Jain Consulting	CPA and IRS Enrolled Agent	Yes, Enrolled Agent represents clients before IRS and states	Individual returns generally $400 to $2,000	Small business owners and individuals in the Raleigh and Cary area
Shruti CPA	Licensed CPA	Not stated	Not published	Tech professionals, business owners and expats in the Bay Area
Apex CPAs & Consultants	CPA, CVA and CGMA credentials listed	Not stated	Not published	Closely held, growth-minded business owners in Illinois and Arizona
SK Financial CPA	Every return reviewed by a CPA; credentials not itemized	IRS notice assistance listed; representation not stated	Individual returns from $295	Wesley Chapel, FL; Tampa Bay self-employed and small businesses
San Diego Tax Professionals	CPA and Enrolled Agent services; staff credentials not listed	Not published	Not published; contact for an estimate	Rental owners, small business owners and multiple-income households in San Diego County
Elder Hanson	CPA firm (listed partners are CPAs)	Not published	Not published; intake form first	Owner-run professional service firms around Naperville, Illinois

Rates, fees and terms are as each company publishes them. Confirm current details before you apply. Listed here? Update your listing.

Our verdict: which should you choose?

Hire a CPA when the return is tied to a decision: an entity choice, a property sale, a business purchase, or an IRS letter. For a business or rental owner around Charleston, Haigler CPA Group fits that job. It has a license you can verify, real estate and M&A work, and IRS representation. Get the quote in writing, and plan on a separate payroll provider if you have employees.

An EA holds the same IRS representation rights for federal tax work, so an EA-led practice can prepare the return and answer the IRS letter. A PTIN-only preparer can file the return but has to hand any notice to someone else. For a standard return, H&R Block's $99 base price or a free VITA site will do. Whoever you pick, run the license through a public lookup first.

CPA vs Enrolled Agent vs Tax Preparer vs Tax Attorney

The main kinds of paid tax help differ in who licenses them and what they can do when the IRS writes back. The IRS credentials page sets out each one's rights. Treasury Circular 230 sets the conduct rules for everyone who practices before the IRS.

Credential	Licensed by	IRS representation	Typical fit
CPA	State board of accountancy	Unlimited	Planning, business returns, financial statements
Enrolled agent	IRS	Unlimited	Returns and IRS disputes, federal tax only
Tax attorney	State bar or court	Unlimited	Tax Court, criminal exposure, legal structuring
Annual Filing Season Program (AFSP) participant	Voluntary IRS program	Only returns they prepared, no appeals or collections	Simple returns, with yearly training
PTIN-only preparer	No license	None for returns filed after 2015	Simple returns

A CPA passes the Uniform CPA Examination and meets state education and experience rules. An EA passes the IRS's three-part Special Enrollment Examination, which covers only tax. Attorneys add attorney-client privilege and court experience.

In Tax Court, a non-attorney needs to pass the Tax Court's nonattorney exam. For most households and small businesses, the practical choice is between a CPA and an EA.

Pick the CPA when you also need accounting work like reviewed financial statements, which only a CPA firm can issue. Our tax attorney vs CPA vs enrolled agent comparison covers edge cases. For the power of attorney form, see whether a CPA can represent you before the IRS.

How to Verify a CPA or Tax Adviser's License

Every credential has a free public lookup, and checking takes a few minutes. Do it before you share a Social Security number.

Any credentialed preparer: search the IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers. It lists CPAs, EAs, attorneys, and AFSP participants who hold a PTIN.
CPA: search CPAverify, run by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), or the state board's own lookup. For Haigler CPA Group, that is the South Carolina Board of Accountancy.
Enrolled agent: send the IRS Office of Enrollment an EA verification request. The office aims to reply within 72 hours.
State-licensed preparers: Oregon licenses paid preparers through its own state board, so search the Oregon Board of Tax Practitioners lookup.
Tax attorney: search your state bar's member directory.

A lookup shows whether the license is active. The South Carolina board also posts its disciplinary orders, so you can see past board action against a CPA licensed there.

Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Tax Adviser

Ask these eight questions at the first meeting:

What is your credential, and what is the license number?
Will you sign the return with your own PTIN?
Who else works on my return?
Is the fee per form, hourly, or a flat engagement fee?
What do you charge to answer an IRS notice on a return you prepared?
Can I reach you after April 15?
Which services do you not offer, such as payroll or Tax Court?
How do I send documents and get a copy of the filed return?

The notice question tells you the most. A CPA or EA who prepared your return can answer the IRS letter under a power of attorney. A PTIN-only preparer has to send you to someone new, who starts the file from scratch at their own rate.

How CPAs and Tax Advisers Charge

Tax advisers charge by the form, by the hour, or by a flat engagement fee. The published prices in this ranking show the spread. H&R Block starts at $99 plus $75 per state, Taxfyle's advisory calls start at $50 per 30 minutes, and VITA is free.

CPA firms that do planning and IRS work often quote after a consultation, as Haigler CPA Group does. Ask what the quote includes. A second state or an extra schedule should not be a surprise on the invoice.

Circular 230 limits contingent fees. Section 10.27 generally bars a fee based on a percentage of the refund on an original return. Narrow exceptions cover IRS examinations and some refund claims.

Messy books raise every fee on this list. The adviser bills hours to sort transactions before the return can start. A bookkeeper usually costs less per hour, and our ranking of bookkeeping services for small businesses compares them. Self-employed filers can also compare tax preparation services for freelancers.

Red Flags When Choosing a Tax Preparer

The IRS publishes a short list of warning signs, and any one is a reason to leave. These come from its ghost preparer warning and its tips for choosing a tax professional:

Ghost preparers. Every paid preparer must sign the return and include a PTIN. One who will not sign is a ghost preparer, and you stay liable for what they file.
Refund-based fees. A fee set as a percentage of your refund, or an offer to split it.
Refund sent to the preparer. Check the routing and account numbers on the return. They should be yours.
Blank returns. Never sign a blank or incomplete return.
Big refund promises. Nobody can promise a refund amount before seeing your documents.
Cash with no receipt. You need a record of what you paid and to whom.

Report preparer misconduct to the IRS on Form 14157. If someone filed or changed a return without your consent, use Form 14157-A. Both are on the IRS preparer misconduct page. Our list of common tax filing mistakes covers the errors that trigger notices.

Who Should Skip a CPA

Skip the CPA if your return is W-2 wages and a few standard credits. A free VITA site or tax software covers that return. VITA costs nothing, and the lowest published price in this ranking is $99 plus $75 per state.

A CPA is also the wrong first call in two other cases. With a Tax Court deadline or possible criminal exposure, hire a tax attorney first and let the CPA support them. That is how Haigler CPA Group describes its own Tax Court work.

If you owe back taxes and need a payment plan, an EA can negotiate it. Our IRS payment plan calculator shows the monthly figure before you call anyone.

What Would Change Our Ranking

Three changes would reorder this list. Published starting prices would put Haigler CPA Group's fee transparency on par with H&R Block's. If Taxfyle or TurboTax Expert Full Service named each professional's credential before you pay, either would move up. Any provider that started charging a fee tied to refund size would come off the list.

Your location changes the ranking too. Outside South Carolina, Haigler CPA Group's Charleston office matters less, and a remote CPA or EA can serve you just as well. Before you book any consultation, search the person's name in the IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers and on CPAverify or the state board lookup, then bring the eight hiring questions.

Frequently asked questions

How do I choose a CPA or tax adviser?

Start with the credential your situation needs. That means a CPA for planning and business accounting, an EA for returns and IRS disputes, or a tax attorney for Tax Court or criminal exposure. Then verify the license on the IRS Directory or your state board's lookup, and get the fee in writing.

Is a CPA better than an enrolled agent for taxes?

Not for most tax work. Both hold unlimited IRS representation rights, and the EA exam covers only tax. A CPA is the better pick when you also need financial statements, entity planning, or help with a business sale.

How do I check if a CPA is licensed?

Search CPAverify, run by NASBA, or your state board of accountancy's lookup. Either shows whether the license is active. The IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers also lists CPAs who hold a current PTIN.

How much does a CPA charge to do taxes?

Many CPA firms quote per engagement after a consultation, so the price depends on your forms. For reference, H&R Block starts at $99 plus $75 per state, and Taxfyle's advisory calls start at $50 per 30 minutes.

Can a tax preparer represent me in an IRS audit?

Only a CPA, EA, or attorney can represent you without limits. An AFSP participant can represent you only on returns they prepared and signed, and not in appeals or collections. A PTIN-only preparer has no representation rights for returns filed after December 31, 2015.

What is a ghost preparer?

A ghost preparer does your return for pay but will not sign it or include a PTIN. The IRS calls this a red flag. You stay responsible for everything on the return, with no preparer of record to answer for errors. Report one on IRS Form 14157.

When do I need a tax attorney instead of a CPA?

Hire a tax attorney when a case may turn criminal, when you need to litigate in Tax Court, or when you need attorney-client privilege. A CPA or EA can still prepare the numbers. Our guide on whether an enrolled agent can represent you in Tax Court explains the nonattorney exam.

Do I need a CPA in my own state?

Not for federal work. IRS representation rights for CPAs, EAs, and attorneys apply nationwide, and many advisers work remotely. A local adviser helps when your state has its own tax rules, such as Oregon's local taxes, or when you want to meet in person.

Free calculators to help you decide

IRS Payment Plan Calculator → Self-Employment Tax Calculator → S Corp Tax Calculator →

Sources

We prioritize primary sources for rules, formulas, rates, limits, and definitions. See our calculator methodology and editorial policy.

Related comparisons

Layer3 Labs sometimes earns sponsorship revenue when we promote certain companies.