Your first meeting with a CPA is the most important one. It's where they learn your financial situation, you assess their expertise, and both of you determine if it's a good fit. Walking in prepared means you get better advice, waste less time, and leave with a clear plan.
Here's exactly how to prepare.
What to Bring
For individuals:
- Last year's tax return (all pages, including schedules)
- W-2s, 1099s, and other income documents
- List of major life changes this year (marriage, home purchase, new job, child)
- Questions you want answered
For business owners (add these):
- Profit and loss statement (or a rough summary of income and expenses)
- Balance sheet (if available)
- Business bank statements
- Information about your business entity (LLC documents, S-Corp election)
- List of current business deductions you're taking
- Payroll information (if you have employees)
For self-employed/freelancers (add these):
- 1099-NEC forms from clients
- List of business expenses (organized by category)
- Mileage records
- Home office measurements (if applicable)
Don't worry about being perfectly organized. A good CPA has seen every level of preparation. But the more organized you are, the more time they spend on strategy instead of sorting paperwork.
Questions to Ask
About their practice:
- What's your specialization?
- Do you work with clients in my industry or situation?
- Who will actually prepare my return?
- How do you communicate (email, phone, portal)?
About your taxes:
- Am I in the right business entity structure?
- Am I missing any deductions?
- Should I be making estimated quarterly payments?
- What should I do differently this year to reduce next year's taxes?
- Is the S-Corp election right for me?
About fees:
- What do you charge for my type of return?
- What's included — just filing, or planning too?
- Are there additional charges for questions during the year?
What to Expect
Most initial CPA consultations last 30-60 minutes. Many CPAs offer the first meeting free or at a reduced rate.
During the meeting, the CPA will:
- Review your current tax situation
- Ask questions about your income, expenses, and goals
- Identify obvious opportunities or issues
- Explain their services and fees
- Outline next steps
You should leave the meeting with a clear understanding of:
- Whether this CPA is a good fit
- What they can do for you
- Approximately what it will cost
- What actions to take next
Red Flags in a First Meeting
- They don't ask many questions (they should be curious about your situation)
- They guarantee a specific refund or savings amount
- They can't explain their recommendations clearly
- They seem rushed or distracted
- They don't mention tax planning — only tax preparation
Finding the Right CPA to Meet
The best first meetings happen when the CPA already specializes in your situation. Don't meet with a CPA who focuses on corporate audits if you need help with freelance taxes.
ListMyCpa.com lets you filter CPAs by specialization, industry, and location — so you walk into a meeting with someone who already understands your world.