How to Choose a Bookkeeper or Accountant in Greenville, NC
Six questions to ask before you hire, and what the IRS says to check on any paid tax preparer.
How do you choose a bookkeeper or accountant in Greenville, NC?
Write down the work you need first: monthly books, tax returns, payroll, or all three. Then ask each firm who does the work, which reports you get each month, what software it uses and what the starting price is. Elite Accounting Services in Greenville keeps books, prepares taxes and runs payroll for small businesses, churches and nonprofits, and Michael Hayes runs the firm. The first consultation is free, so it is a fair place to ask every question on this page.
Do you need a bookkeeper, a tax preparer, or both?
A bookkeeper keeps the records current through the year: bank and credit card reconciliation, payables and receivables, and the monthly reports. A tax preparer turns those records into a return once a year. If you run payroll, that is a third job with its own filings. When one firm does all three, the return is built on books that firm has already reconciled. Elite handles bookkeeping, tax services and payroll under one roof.
What should you ask a bookkeeper before you hire one?
- Who does the work? Ask for the name of the person who will keep your books and answer your questions. Elite Accounting Services is run by its owner, Michael Hayes.
- Which reports arrive each month? A good bookkeeper can tell you, before you sign, which reports you will get and when.
- What software do they use? If your books are in QuickBooks, ask whether they set it up, clean it up and support it, or only read it.
- How do documents move? Ask how you send statements and receipts. Elite gives existing clients a client portal for documents.
- When do they reply? Ask for their hours. Elite is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, and replies during office hours.
- What is the starting price? Get it in writing, and ask what is quoted separately. Elite's monthly bookkeeping starts at $500 a month.
Not sure what the monthly reports should be? Read the three reports your bookkeeper should send every month. If your books have fallen behind, start with QuickBooks cleanup in Greenville.
How do you check a tax preparer with the IRS?
The IRS says anyone paid to prepare tax returns must have a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN), and by law the paid preparer has to sign the return and put that PTIN on it (IRS Topic no. 254). You stay accountable for every item on your return, even when someone else signs it.
To check credentials, the IRS points to its Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications, which lists preparers who hold professional credentials the IRS recognizes or an Annual Filing Season Program record of completion (Choosing a tax professional).
What warning signs does the IRS list?
- A preparer who claims they can get you a larger refund than others can.
- A fee based on a percentage of your refund.
- An offer to deposit all or part of your refund into the preparer's own account.
- Being asked to sign a blank tax form. Never do it.
Topic no. 254 also says good preparers ask to see your records and receipts, and that you should pick a preparer you can still reach months or years after filing, in case the IRS has questions about how your return was prepared.
What should a church or nonprofit ask?
Ask how designated funds are kept separate, who prepares the report the board sees, and how staff payroll is handled. Elite's church and nonprofit accounting is one of the four services the firm is built around. For the questions a board should raise before it votes, read what a Greenville church board should ask before approving the budget.
Who can you call in Greenville and Pitt County?
Elite Accounting Services is based in Greenville and serves Greenville, Winterville, Ayden, Farmville, Bethel and the towns around them. Call (252) 916-3278 Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, or ask for a free quote.
Questions people ask
What should I ask a bookkeeper before I hire one?
Ask who will do the work, which reports you will get each month, what software they use, how documents move between you, when they reply, and what the starting price is in writing.
How can I check a tax preparer's credentials?
The IRS says anyone paid to prepare returns must have a PTIN and must sign the return. Its Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications lists preparers who hold IRS-recognized credentials or an Annual Filing Season Program record.
What are the warning signs when choosing a tax preparer?
The IRS warns against preparers who claim they can get larger refunds than others, who base their fee on a percentage of the refund, or who want your refund deposited into their own account. Never sign a blank tax form.
How much does a bookkeeper cost at Elite Accounting Services?
Monthly bookkeeping starts at $500 a month. Cleanup, catch-up work and tax returns are quoted separately.
Does Elite Accounting Services work with churches and nonprofits?
Yes. Church and nonprofit accounting is one of the four services the firm is built around, alongside bookkeeping, tax services and payroll.
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Where to Next
Jump straight to any service or service area, or get a free quote. We work with growing businesses, churches, nonprofits, and individuals in Greenville, NC and across eastern North Carolina.