Best Tax Preparation Services
H&R Block
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Absolutely terrible service! I was recalled back 3 times for trash cause they didn't do correctly.
Future Assist Group of Companies
Future Assist has been managing our super in the past decade, I can see a strong grow of our assets, happy with the service and professional advice.
MYOB
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I have been on hold for support for an hour and twenty-four minutes and waiting. The support I need is not relevant to this post. Noting the… Read more
experience for the record is. Profile: 20+ year customer.
Absolute disgrace.
Note to MYOB: don't bother posting here how sorry you are to hear of my experience. I won't believe you and nor will anyone who reads it.
Appreciate your feedback Howard, that kind of wait changes… Read more (+1 reply)
Xero
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The software, at the lower end of the scale (ie basic transaction processing) is user friendly and very flexible. Support is usually very prompt and accurate as well.
One Click Life
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Tax agent did fraudulent tax return in wrong name a year after account was set up by fraudster and became then became inactive as transferred to… Read more
another agent. Account first set up with old and invalid id that had expiry date within days. Id documents had been changed and updated months before. Then I changed name to stop fraud. When account reactivated and they took access without my permission - they Didn’t ask for proof of name change - put tax return in with wrong name. obvious code 7 and 8 issues. Likely code 1 issues. Several complaints made. Don’t use them !
Tax Today
Booked a phone appointment for 4pm to do taxes with wife and I. Never got confirmation email so thought it didn't go through. received a text the day… Read more
before about it so was surprised it worked, filled out all the forms before the meeting. No one called all day.... Excellent job guys, no idea how that happened
TaxShield
Tax Depreciation Schedule – Very efficient and super fast getting our tax depreciation schedule completed. Thank you so much.
Beyond Accountancy
Cryptocurrency tax accountant in Coffs - great value – I was recommended Tanya Cruwys by a family member after bemoaning the pricey fees for getting my crypto tax done online. I was totally satisfied… Read more
with Tanya’s prompt, efficient and very reasonably priced service. I got a great refund! I highly commend Tanya for those with crypto at tax time. Will most definitely be returning next year!
Platinum Accounting & Taxation
Excellent service – Corinne has been so helpful with my taxes over the past few years, especially since mine have been quite complicated. Would definitely recommend her services!
TaxBiz Australia
Financial services and advice – I have only been with TaxBiz for a short time however in that time the friendly efficient and straight-forward service offered by Max and his associates has worked well for me.
Pointax
exceptional service with meticulous attention – exceptional service with meticulous attention to detail and timely communication. Highly recommend for reliable and efficient accounting expertise!
The Kalculators
I am working with them for last 10 years. Very good services. Professionalism and timely response are their best features and they are investing in technology as well.
Digi Tax Advisors
Outstanding service! – Outstanding service! Extremely satisfied with the level of care and professionalism.
Focus Taxation and Accounting
Fatiha – We have been using focus taxation service for last 10 years and Fatiha is doing wonderful job since then. She is a great help. Thank you so much
Tax Solutions Brisbane
Communication needs to be improved. Just hard to contact. Used to be good but comms have gone bad
Power2 Brisbane
Accountants that are real humans! – We've shopped around for a good accountant for years before we were referred by a friend to Power2 Brisbane at Slacks Creek. They were able to fit us… Read more
in at a time that suited us and the office was easy to locate with plenty of parking. Our accountant was so approachable and helped us organise our small business accounting in a way that was easy to understand and didn't pressure us into extra services that we didn't need. They happily explained accounting terms and practices that we weren't familiar with and looked at our situation holistically to give us the best advice.
Source Accounting Australia
Wonderful professional service from Melbourne accoutant – Review for One Minute Tax. I have a small business and needed help with my annual tax return. This was 6 years ago, and Julie has been helping me… Read more
ever since. My knowledge about tax matters was limited so I needed someone like Julie who understands the whole process. I am very thankful for all her help and I recommend her professional tax services without reservation.
Hinkler Accounting
Great Service... Great Advice – Greg from Hinkler Accounting has completed my personal and business tax returns for quite a few years now. I am very impressed by his… Read more
professionalism, knowledge and efficiency. He explains everything clearly and answers all my questions patiently. He saved me a lot of time and money by finding deductions and credits that I didn't know about. I highly recommend him to anyone who needs a personal tax accountant.
One Minute Tax
On point – Julie is accurate and efficient at what she does. I have been using her services for many years now and referred her services onto others. We all couldn't be more happier
Highly Recommended Tax Agent – I went to Sam for my Personal and Business Income Tax and helped me so much with my tax return. Very friendly. Highly recommended.
My accountant company – They have been handling our tax returns since 2010. I never had any issues. Kargar and his team do their best to maximise your tax return. They… Read more
listen with care and give best solutions for your financial situation. If you are looking for a great and affordable accountant, I would certainly recommend Kargar & Associates to you.
Byford Accountants
simply the best – used Byford Accountants the last 3 years, Ashley is a wiz wont be going anywhere else ever
Tax Refund On Spot
I recently received a call from a company claiming that I had been audited by the Australian Taxation Office and that there was incorrect information… Read more
in my tax return. They told me I had to pay the money back immediately and asked me to transfer the payment directly to them.
At first, everything seemed legitimate. Their website looked professional and they even appeared to be registered as a tax agent with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). However, before making any payment, I decided to verify the information directly with the ATO.
After contacting the ATO, they confirmed that I had not been audited at all and that no such request had been made. This clearly indicated that the call and payment request were misleading and potentially a scam.
I have now filed a formal complaint with the ATO regarding this matter.
I’m sharing this experience to warn others: always verify any tax-related claims directly with the ATO before making any payments, even if the company appears legitimate online.
Ezytaxback
Great service – I find Ezytaxback highly reliable and have been using their service for many years. Connor helped me a lot and for this, I am grateful. For those who complained, have some patience. They do their job well.
Taxation experts with outstanding communication skills – We had a complex tax situation that had not been well managed previously. Saul and Nakao worked with us to sort things out. Their tenacity, patience… Read more
and excellent communication skills resulted in an excellent outcome for us and we really appreciate the opportunity to benefit from their skills, experience and expertise. Would highly recommend these guys.
City Tax Accountants
Aggressive, money hungry and complete time wasters – We had an initial phone meeting which went well but it was determined that I needed to provide additional documentation based on the information that… Read more
I provided to the accountant whose name was [Name Removed] in the Sydney office. This was five days ago, since then I have received three phone calls demanding immediate payment for services rendered, even though we are not even half way through finishing the tax return.
I had not yet sent the additional documents as I have been busy with work but both the accountant and his assistant became increasingly rude and demanding. I explained I have not yet had time and will pay after the service has been completed (like every other tax return I have ever done) but they could not understand this and kept asking for my credit card number. It was completely unprofessional and the third call I received all I could hear when I picked up the phone was the assistant saying, "give us your credit card number please." I then politely told her this is inappropriate and I will not be paying until services are rendered. She then hung up on me and told me to forget about the tax return.
The attitude and behavior that I received was completely inappropriate and I would advise anyone AGAINST doing any kind of business with this company. They are rude, pushy and focused on money rather than performing a good service for their clients.
General Taxation Services
Completely shockingly useless. Anyone who charges upfront before revealing their professional ignorance and incompetence should be reprimanded. (ick - S*****y please attend to the Nodular scarring and dens whitening!).
Tax7 Accountants
No service – Disappeared after repeated emails for him to help do my tax returns. Unprofessional.
Very fast, efficient and reasonable price – Peter was excellent. He helped me through the particulars of my situation, and was very patient with me, even though I had lots of questions. The refund was excellent, and done very quickly. Happy to recommend to anyone.
What can a tax preparation service do for you?
A tax preparer is a professional who works for a tax preparation business. They are qualified to calculate, file and sign individual and business income tax returns.
Reasons you need to lodge a tax return
There are several reasons why you might need to file a tax return such as the following:
- Had any tax taken out (withheld) from the income you receive
- Had $1 or more of foreign income
- Are a liable or recipient parent under a child support assessment
- Had business or investment income
- Are leaving Australia and have a study or training support loan.
Tax agents are accountants who have received special training in how to prepare and file Income Tax Returns, and they are constantly studying tax so you don't have to.
A tax agent has more training and qualifications than a regular accountant. As a result, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) allows agents to assist taxpayers and lodge tax returns, as well as gain access to special ATO systems.
A TPB logo, such as the one shown here, should be displayed by every registered tax agent, along with an official registration number.
Example TPB Registration #12345678
Pros and cons of hiring a tax preparation service
It is based on personal preference and circumstance whether you’ll fnd it worthwhile to hire a tax preparation service or not. Those with financial experience and expertise or those with a simple financial situation may find it more time-efficient and cheaper to do it themselves. However, for those filled with dread about the idea of filing a tax return, fret not because you don’t have to face it alone and you can get help from a tax professional.
You can save yourself hours of slaving over tax forms and scouring your house to find lost receipts and bills by bringing in a professional. Between house purchases and dealing with loans and multiple incomes, your financial situation may be complicated and it may be worth hiring someone to double check your finances for you.
This does not mean you cannot do your own taxes though as the difficulty in everyone’s tax return is different. Here is a summary of a few advantages and disadvantages to consider before hiring a tax professional. Each pro and con is explained in more detail below.
Key benefits of using a tax agent
Saves you time (and time is money)
The average person spends 20-40 hours on their tax returns, and many people spend more than that; that's a full work week's worth of time and money.
A tax professional, on the other hand, can work quickly and efficiently, saving you not only time but also the stress of calculating finances and finding old bills.
Simplifies complicated financial situations
It is not only difficult and confusing to file a tax return, but it is also constantly changing. Tax laws in Australia are updated regularly, making it difficult for the average taxpayer to keep up with all of the changes that may affect them. Situations like these can make your tax return more complicated, so you should consider consulting a tax professional if:
- You own, sold, or are starting a business
- You have many investments with losses and gains
- Capital asset transactions (homes, cars, investment properties, stocks, bonds)
- Real estate transactions
- Change in marital status
- Your income and residence are not in the same state or country
- Self-employment income
Accurate and efficient work
Even if you enjoy managing your own finances and are capable of it, hiring an accountant to prepare your tax return may be a wise decision. A professional who can double-check your income, expenses and deductions can help you avoid costly mistakes. Two eyes are better than one.
Hiring a tax professional will not only provide you with a second set of eyes to ensure that everything is in order, but it will also put someone in your corner if you are audited.
Expertise
Let's face it: tax is a complicated business for those of us who aren't trained accountants, which is why many people prefer to leave it to the professionals to get the best possible refund. It's unlikely that you'll be able to spot all of the deductions you're entitled to if you're not an expert in occupation-specific deductions.
Accountants and tax agents are trained to look for ways to get the most out of your tax return in the shortest amount of time possible. It also pays for itself because the fee your accountant or tax agent charges is tax-deductible.
Cons of using a tax agent
They can be costly
While the cost of a tax accountant is tax-deductible, you will still need to pay an upfront cost. Prices to fill in and lodge the tax return on your behalf tend to range from $100 to $300+ depending on the complexity of your situation.
In addition to hourly fees that you will often incur, the price can quickly rise based on the complexity and paperwork required by your return.
You might hire a scam
If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.
Unfortunately, many scam artists start surfacing towards the 31st of October deadline, pretending to be tax advisors or the ATO themselves.
It’s worth reading reviews on a particular company and asking them to verify their certification number before handing over any personal information.
Also keep in mind that In reality, the ATO will never ask for personal information, including credit card details and TFN, by text or email. Nor will they ask you to pay money to access a refund.
They can still make mistakes and you’re still accountable
There's a reason you have to sign off on your tax return, even if it's done by an accountant. You're declaring that the agent completed the return correctly, and you're the one who bears responsibility.
If an issue arises later, and you provided the correct information to an agent, you can file a complaint with the Tax Practitioners Board. However, this will add to the amount of time, money and paperwork required.
To avoid this, make sure you hire a reputable service with a long-standing history of happy clients.
Tax help programme
ATO’s free Tax Help programme helps people earning $60,000 or less lodge their tax return online. If you need help lodging your tax return, you may be eligible for the Tax Help program.
Tax Help is a network of ATO-trained community volunteers who can help you prepare your tax return using myTax.
From July to October each year, accredited volunteers help people lodge their tax returns online. They can also help you:
- Lodge amendments
- Claim a refund of franking credits
- Create a myGov account
- Tell the government if you don't need to lodge a return
You can receive Tax Help online or by phone. You can also get help face to face from Tax Help centres across Australia.
What to look for when hiring a tax accountant service
Qualification
Tax agents must be registered with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) to charge a fee for their services. Every tax agent accredited by the TPB meets the board’s qualification and experience requirements so you can rest assured that you are in good hands. Look out for this qualification before hiring any tax accountant or service to avoid potential scams.
Fees and partial/full assistance
Take into consideration how much a company is charging for a basic tax return. These fees will depend on your tax needs and will take into consideration whether you’re a student, a sole trader, a senior citizen or are representing a business. Cheaper services start at $50, but these only include semi-assistance and involve reviewing your form before you submit it.
Full-assistance tax returns are normally done face to face and costs can range from $100-300.
Types of tax services
For those who don’t have time to visit a tax agent’s office during business hours, you can now opt for an online or over the phone service. On the other hand, you can go see your tax advisor in person if you require a more direct and comprehensive approach. For those struggling to choose between the two, you can opt for a combination of both to best suit your needs.
Timeliness and customer service
Reading reviews will give you a good indicator of how long a company will take to file your tax return and whether they stick to their promises. In the same vein, a company’s reputation is important to consider - something you can scope out by reading reviews on our website.
Specialities
Some tax agents may specialise in tax returns for students, backpackers, seniors, immigrants and emigrants. In addition, you might want to check out if they’re able to perform more complex tax returns, such as those required by SMSFs, small businesses, sole traders and people with various income streams.
You can read reviews on the best tax preparation services in Australia today on our website.
Disclaimer: The information on this website is for general information only. It should not be taken as constituting professional advice from the website owner - ProductReview.com.au. ProductReview.com.au is not a financial adviser. You should consider seeking independent legal, financial, taxation or other advice to check how the website information relates to your unique circumstances. ProductReview.com.au is not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information provided directly or indirectly, by use of this website.
Hi Rachy, Thank you for taking the time to share your… Read more