Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

“I only hear from my CPA once per year.” If you only hear from your accountant once a year, you’re not alone. What most people don’t realize is it’s not necessarily a problem with your CPA, it’s just an issue of miscommunication.

For many business owners, that’s become the norm: you upload your documents, wait a few weeks, and get your return.

If you’ve hired someone only to file your taxes, once-a-year contact might be exactly what you agreed to. This can lead to a big problem with your CPA, especially when you expected strategy, but only got compliance.

TL;DR

• Communication defines the value of your accountant relationship.
• If you only hired them for tax prep, once-a-year contact might be appropriate.
• If you want advice, planning, and accountability, that requires a year-round relationship.
• Start by reviewing your engagement letter. If there isn’t one, that’s a red flag.

Your CPA’s Role, aka Why You Hired Them

Not every accountant offers the same level of service. 

There’s nothing wrong with hiring someone just to file your taxes. That’s a transactional relationship: data in, forms out, signatures exchanged.

Where business owners get frustrated is when they assume, “My CPA will tell me if something’s off,” but that was never part of the engagement.

Just like with other service providers, your CPA may have a range of services, and better communication will help you understand the differences and help you set realistic expectations. 

For example, getting frustrated when you pay your accountant $750 to file your return and they don’t return your laundry list of questions mid-year without requesting a paid consult or payment in advance.

The Engagement Letter: Your Blueprint for Communication

Your engagement letter is your service roadmap.

It should spell out exactly:

• What services are included (tax prep, bookkeeping, projections, etc.)
  
• How often you’ll communicate
  
• What’s expected from both sides
  
• How scope changes are handled
  

If you don’t have an engagement letter, that’s not just inconvenient: it’s a red flag.

Without it, no one knows what’s been promised or when to expect communication.

That’s how expectations get mismatched and trust erodes.

Problem With Your CPA? How We Do It at Abundantia

At Abundantia Advisory, we honor our clients exactly where they are.

While we specialize in year-round strategic relationships because that’s where the deepest transformation happens, we also understand that sometimes it’s just not in the budget.

And that’s okay.

Our goal is to make high-quality financial support accessible at every level of business growth.

That’s why, starting with the 2025 tax season, we’re offering three levels of tax preparation support:

1️Bronze Support: Standard Tax Filing: “Just the Forms”
For business owners who simply need accurate, compliant returns prepared and filed. Straightforward and stress-free. 

2️Silver Support: Tax Filing + Custom Loom Video
You’ll receive a personalized video walkthrough of your tax return as if we were sitting beside you. We’ll explain what everything means, so you understand your numbers, not just sign off on them. This is our recommendation for most budget-conscious taxpayers who do not want ongoing support.

3️Premium Tax Filing + One-Hour Strategy Call
After your return is complete, we meet for a one-hour consultation to review your return together. We’ll discuss estimated payment strategies for the upcoming year, identify opportunities to improve your tax position, and highlight any red flags or planning opportunities. During this call, we can explore what it would look like to communicate throughout the year.

Whether you just want your forms filed or you’re ready for proactive strategy, we’re here to support your needs every step of the way.

For all levels of service, if you receive an IRS or state notice, we ask you to upload it to the portal for assessment. From there, we can guide you on whether the issue requires a second engagement, or is part of your tax filing.

CFO Insight

Even the best accounting work fails without communication. Your accountant can’t optimize what they don’t know, just like you can’t plan around what you don’t understand.

Before there is a problem with your CPA, ask questions. Set expectations. And make sure those expectations are in writing.

And don’t worry about offending your accountant. They want to understand your expectations. 

Journal Prompt

Before you file this season, take a moment to think about what you really want from your accountant.

Do you value clear communication? Proactive guidance? Someone who explains your numbers instead of just reporting them?

There’s no wrong answer. Only the right fit for where you are right now.

At Abundantia, our role is to meet you there.

If you simply need a return prepared and filed, we’ll handle it with accuracy and care.

If you want more conversation, education, or support through the year, we can build that together.

Once your return is filed and you’ve had a chance to breathe, we can talk about what ongoing financial clarity might look like, and design something that fits your goals and your budget. Reach out to work with a tax expert.

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