What is the average turnaround time to wait for an accountant to do my taxes?

[olimits7]

It's been over 16 days since I've send my accountant all my tax documents. 

I feel my tax preparation is pretty straight forward, how long is the average to wait for an accountant to do my taxes?

[xmasbaby0]

You should be asking your accountant.

[olimits7]

I have and he keeps on telling me over the weekend but the weekend comes and goes; so I was just looking to get an "average" based on other people's experience.

[SweetieJean]

Also be aware that Turbotax is not licensed for use by paid tax preparers.

[Lisa995]

Every accounting firm is different in turn around time.  When you mail/send the information in, they have to try and squeeze you in between clients that have appointments in person.

If you feel like its been too long, call the office.  Make sure you didn't get filed away on accident, or they're not missing any info needed for your return.

I generally I call a client once the info arrives, let them know I received it and give them an approximate time as to when I might finally be able to get it on my desk to work on it.  Not all offices may follow that same pattern.

Tax offices are crazy busy right now, you should give them a call.

[olimits7]

Ok, thank you for your reply!  But just so I have a guideline, for example; in your firm what would you say your normal turnaround time usually is?

[Lisa995]

I can generally get them out within a week...I'm a very small office though.  I would assume that some offices can take multiple weeks, just depending on the number of clients they see each day/week.

[tewplanman]

The correct answer is as long as they want and you absolutely want them to take their time and get it done right the first time.  Unless you have a big refund that you need to pay your current expenses tell your accountant to put you on extension and take his time.  You will get a better result and probably a lower fee.  I only accept returns that I can put on extension. 

[CR43]

Our CPA has had our 2021 file since January 15, 2022 and it's now May 16.  I need to update a lot of invoices in last year's file, which will not change the amounts, just the look of the income in a report but this CPA keeps our file for months at a time.  Last year I got it back in October making it hard to move on.  If your saying the normal time is a few weeks to a month, ours is way off and she takes it upon herself to move transactions from business to personal without asking so we have had to correct her on several occasions.  UGH.  Hate CPA's.

[Critter-3]

If your return is on extension and you don't like the CPA you are using to complete the return correctly and timely  then simply find a new person and fire the old accountant.  

[CR43]

its not that easy.  Finding a CPA that is efficient and knows the rules and regs when dealing with a professional office with contracts from the government is very hard to find.  this guy is lacking and very slow and we are looking but very hard to find a decent CPA.  I'm finishing school in hopes of sitting for that license and that will solve the problem.

[Critter-3]

First do you really need a high priced CPA ?   Do you need your books done (seems like they need to correct your work).  Or do you just need a tax pro like an Enrolled Agent to file the return ?   Call your guy and if you can't get a satisfactory answer then consider switching ...  https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/enrolled-agents/active-enrolled-agents-and-the-freedom-of-info...

[Highlanders]

That absolutely did NOT happen to me!!! My documents were ready, but my accountant had her people tell me to file an extension, which I did, and I was asked to pre-pay so I sent them $500. They knew I owed over 20k for 2021 because they did my taxes that year!  I asked them to give me an idea of when they will be done, because we are expecting a huge return to apply towards that debt. They said the taxes will be done on time! We have to do business taxes first! That was in April. It's October 3rd and my CPA 'finished' them last week.  I needed to pay in full to see them, so I sent another $355. First thing I noticed was that an HVAC unit was depreciated out 39 years and $5,500 lower that what I paid!! And another HVAC unit was correctly depreciated to 5 years. She has been in possession of my taxes for almost six months and I found a mistake in five minutes. I know very little about taxes... She's supposed to be the best around.... 

Don't think for one second that the longer they have them, they better job they do...