How to Find a Good Accountant or Tax Agent in Australia

Choosing who handles your tax and finances is one of the more important decisions you will make for your money, and one of the easiest to get wrong. The right accountant does more than lodge a return: they find deductions you miss, keep you compliant, and give advice that pays for their fee many times over. The wrong one, or worse, an unregistered preparer, can leave you with penalties and a return you are legally responsible for. This guide walks through how to find a good accountant, how to check they are legitimate, the questions to ask, and how to avoid the common traps.

First, the Non-Negotiable: Are They Registered?

Before anything else, confirm the person is a registered tax agent. In Australia, anyone who charges a fee to prepare or lodge your tax return, or to give you tax advice, must be registered with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB). Operating without registration is a Commonwealth offence, and using an unregistered preparer shifts the risk onto you: the lodgement can be invalid, and you bear the consequences.

Tax Agent, Accountant or BAS Agent: What Is the Difference?

The titles are used loosely, but they mean different things, and the difference decides who can legally do what for you.

How to Choose the Right Accountant: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Check registration and qualifications

Start with the TPB register, then look for membership of a recognised professional body such as CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), or the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA). Membership signals formal qualifications, ongoing professional development and a code of conduct. A registered tax agent who is also a CPA or CA has met a high bar on both fronts.

Step 2: Match their specialisation to your needs

A great small business accountant is not automatically the right fit for a rental property portfolio or a self-managed super fund. Decide what you actually need help with, then find someone who works with clients like you every day. If you own an investment property, someone who handles investment property tax deductions and depreciation routinely will find more than a generalist. If you run a company, a specialist in small business tax returns will understand your structure.

Step 3: Ask how they charge, in writing

Fees vary widely, so agree on them before any work begins. Ask whether they charge a fixed fee per return, an hourly rate, or a package, and what is included. A good practitioner will give you a clear quote and a letter of engagement setting out the scope. Be wary of anyone who cannot tell you what something will cost, or whose fee is a percentage of your refund, which is a red flag.

Step 4: Test how they communicate

The best tax outcomes come from a year-round relationship, not a once-a-year transaction. Ask how they prefer to communicate, how quickly they respond, and whether they proactively flag opportunities and deadlines. If you value meeting online rather than travelling, confirm they offer it. Responsiveness in July tells you little; responsiveness in November tells you a lot.

Step 5: Look for proactive advice, not just compliance

Lodging a correct return is the baseline. A good accountant looks ahead: structuring your affairs, timing decisions before 30 June, and pointing out deductions and offsets you did not know about. Ask a prospective accountant what they would look at first in your situation. A thoughtful answer shows they think beyond data entry.

Step 6: Check reviews and ask for a referral

Genuine reviews and word-of-mouth referrals are strong signals, especially from people in a similar situation to you. Look for consistency across independent review platforms rather than a handful of glowing testimonials on the firm's own site. A practitioner confident in their work will happily point you to real client feedback.

2. Check Professional Body Membership

Membership of CPA Australia, CA ANZ, or the IPA is voluntary but meaningful. Members must maintain continuing professional development (CPD) each year, adhere to a professional code of conduct, and may be subject to disciplinary proceedings by their body. An accountant who is a member of a recognised professional body has an additional layer of accountability beyond TPB registration. The Kalculators is an IPA Practice of the Year SA/NT 2025 award recipient.

3. Industry Experience Relevant to Your Situation

Accounting issues vary significantly by industry and entity type. A tradesperson faces different deduction questions than a doctor; a family trust has different obligations than a sole trader. An accountant who regularly works with businesses like yours will code your transactions correctly, know the common deductions for your occupation, and flag issues specific to your situation without needing to research them at your expense.

4. Accounting Software Competence

If your business already uses cloud accounting software (Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks Online), your accountant should be proficient with it. Xero Advisor Certified and MYOB Certified status are annual qualifications that require testing. An accountant who is an Xero Gold or Platinum Partner (or equivalent MYOB status) has met a high volume threshold with the software, indicating genuine proficiency rather than occasional use. The Kalculators is an Xero Gold Partner.

5. Clear, Written Pricing

Pricing ambiguity creates billing disputes. Before engaging any accountant, get a written engagement letter that specifies the scope of work, the fee structure (hourly, fixed, or monthly retainer), what is included, and what is billed additionally. Vague verbal fee estimates are frequently exceeded. Ask specifically whether my return is more complex than expected, how the pricing change will affect me, and when you will let me know.

6. Scope of Services That Matches Your Needs

Some accounting firms specialise in individual tax returns only. Others cover the full spectrum: bookkeeping, BAS, payroll, business tax returns, SMSF, CGT planning, and business advisory. If you anticipate growing into more complex needs, choosing a firm that can grow with you avoids the disruption of switching accountants as your situation evolves. Confirm upfront which services are in-house and which are referred to a third party.

7. Communication Style and Availability

Your accountant should be reachable by phone and email within a reasonable timeframe during the income year, not just at tax time. An accountant who is inaccessible when you have a question about a transaction, an ATO letter, or a business decision with tax implications is not functioning as an advisor; they are a once-a-year return filer. Ask specifically how they handle client communications and what their typical response time is.

8. Who Will Actually Prepare Your Work

In larger accounting firms, a junior accountant or bookkeeper often prepares returns and workpapers, with a senior accountant reviewing and signing off. This is not inherently bad; it is standard practice, but you should know it up front. Ask who prepares my return, who reviews it, and whom I will speak with when I have questions. A junior preparer overseen by a knowledgeable senior is a reasonable arrangement. An unreviewed junior filing without oversight is not.

9. Proactive Advice, Not Just Reactive Compliance

The difference between a good accountant and a great one is proactive communication. A great accountant notifies you when the super guarantee rate changes, when an ATO focus area matches your profile, when a new deduction becomes available for your situation, or when a business decision you are considering has tax implications you should know about. If the accountant’s only contact with you is an annual form to sign, they are not working in your interest.

10. Reviews, References, and Reputation

Google reviews, accounting body member directories, and direct client references all provide signals. For South Australian businesses, check whether the firm holds local professional recognition. Ask the accountant for one or two client references in situations similar to yours. An accountant who has nothing to hide will readily provide them. Read Google reviews critically: pay attention to how the firm responds to negative reviews as much as the reviews themselves.

Questions to Ask Before You Hire an Accountant

Bring these to a first meeting. The answers tell you as much as the credentials do.

• 
  Are you a registered tax agent, and what is your TPB registration number?
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  Are you a member of CPA Australia, CA ANZ or the IPA?
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  Do you regularly work with clients in my situation (my industry, property, SMSF, business type)?
• 
  How do you charge, and can I have a written quote and engagement letter?
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  How and how often will we communicate through the year?
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  What would you look at first to improve my position?
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  Who actually does my work, you or a junior, and who reviews it?

Red Flags to Watch For

How The Kalculators Can Help

We are registered tax agents and a Xero Gold Partner based in Adelaide, working with individuals, businesses, property investors and SMSF trustees across South Australia and online nationwide. Whether you need a straightforward individual return or a coordinated strategy across your business and investments, our tax return services in Adelaide start with understanding your situation and quoting a fee upfront. If you also need bookkeeping, our Adelaide bookkeeping services keep your records up to date year-round.