Whether you crave deeper conversations or just need that quick compliance fix, this episode will help you understand how to build a partnership with your CPA that goes the distance.
Welcome to another episode of the Empowering Entrepreneurs Podcast. Glenn Harper and Julie Smith talk about one of the most common questions facing business owners and taxpayers during tax season—why isn't my CPA calling me back?
In this episode, they break down the differences between compliance-focused CPAs and those who act as year-round advisors, highlighting the importance of proactive communication and relationship-building.
They explore practical advice for listeners struggling to connect with their tax professionals, discuss strategies for navigating the busy tax season, and offer tips on getting the most value from your CPA relationship—beyond just filing your returns.
This episode is brought to you by PureTax, LLC. Tax preparation services without the pressure. When all you need is to get your tax return done, take the stress out of tax season by working with a firm that has simplified the process and the pricing. Find out more about how we started.
Key takeaways:
Know your CPA’s role: If your relationship is focused only on compliance (just getting the return filed), expect limited time for deep conversations during tax season. Building an ongoing advisory relationship means vital conversations happen all year, not just in April.
Communicate efficiently: During these busy weeks, keep your questions direct and to the point. Save in-depth discussions for after the filing deadline, or consider filing an extension to create space for them (03:03).
Plan for next year: If you felt rushed or frustrated, use this as an opportunity to find a CPA who prioritizes year-round communication and proactive advice (01:51, 03:48).
Running a business doesn’t have to run your life.
Without a business partner who holds you accountable, it’s easy to be so busy ‘doing’ business that you don’t have the right strategy to grow your business.
Stop letting your business run you. At Harper & Co CPA Plus, we know that you want to be empowered to build the lifestyle you envision. In order to do that you need a clear path to follow for success
Glenn Harper, CPA, is the Owner and Managing Partner of Harper & Company CPAs Plus, a top 10 Managing Partner in the country (Accounting Today's 2022 MP Elite). His firm won the 2021 Luca Award for Firm of the Year.
An entrepreneur and speaker, Glenn transformed his firm into an advisory-focused practice, doubling revenue and profit in two years. He teaches entrepreneurs to build financial and operational excellence, speaks nationwide to CPA firm owners about running their businesses like entrepreneurs, and consults with firms across the country. Glenn enjoys golfing, fishing, hiking, cooking, and spending time with his family.
Julie Smith, MBA, is a serial entrepreneur in the public accounting space. She is the Founder of EmpowerCPA™, Founder of PureTax, LLC, COO for Harper & Company CPAs Plus, and Co-host of the Empowering Entrepreneurs podcast.
Named CPA.com's 2021 Innovative Practitioner of Year, Julie led Harper & Company's transition to an advisory-focused firm, doubling revenue and profit in two years. She now empowers other CPA firm owners nationwide through consulting and speaking, teaching them how to run their businesses like entrepreneurs. Julie lives in Columbus, OH with her family and enjoys travel, coaching basketball, sporting events, and the occasional shopping spree.
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Visit www.harpercpaplus.com to book a complimentary discovery call today - or call us at 614-456-7222.
Hello everyone. Welcome to another edition of the Empowering Entrepreneurs Podcast. I'm Glen Harper.
Julie Smith [:
Julie Smith.
Glenn Harper [:
What's going on, Julie?
Julie Smith [:
Well, here we are in the throes of tax season.
Glenn Harper [:
The greatest time of the year. Kind of like Christmas.
Julie Smith [:
For some.
Glenn Harper [:
Yes.
Julie Smith [:
But I think one of the questions that we get asked even when we're out and about is like, my CPA is not calling me back. I can't get ahold of my CPA. I really need them. It's tax season. How do you feel about that?
Glenn Harper [:
Well, you know, that's unfortunate. They're not getting the callback. It's probably a couple reasons. One, just CPA probably doesn't like you. I'm kidding. Of course, that's not the case. Number— but the big reason is that if your CPA is doing nothing but compliance work, which is just grinding out returns, that means everything is due in that month and a half of tax season. And there's no time to really talk to anybody and give them any advice.
Glenn Harper [:
So if you're working with a CPA who is more of an advisor and a planner, all those conversations are having all year. So all those questions are handling all the year. So there's great communication and tax season is just like, hey, We got your return ready. Everything is exactly as planned. We'll get with you in a few weeks and map out the next year and start the consulting advising the rest of the year. That's the kind of relationship you want.
Julie Smith [:
So I think we need to define, though, the people that are looking for the relationship and looking for the call and the people that are maybe looking for that compliance that just want the output because that's what they have to do. Who do you think, or how do we navigate that channel?
Glenn Harper [:
Well, again, people think, we'll call just the taxpayer, business owners, they think that they only need the tax preparer to do the compliance work. And that is 99% of the time not true. You need somebody that can be an advocate to teach you how to run a better business, to teach you how to take advantage of the tax code. You cannot help somebody take advantage of the tax code on April 12th when you're doing last year's data. It's really hard to be a tax advisor. You can plan the next year maybe and start doing things, You're trying to get things done. These conversations should have been happening all last year. So you think you needed a, just a tax preparer, but you really need an advisor throughout the year.
Julie Smith [:
So what advice would you give our listeners who maybe are stuck in that loop of they can't get the email back, they can't get the phone call back, whatever, they can't get ahold of their person? What advice would you give them here as we're in tax season?
Glenn Harper [:
I would send coffee and donuts to the office of your CPA, and I think you'll probably get a callback because that's the best way to do that. But no, I think, um, Just recognize, again, it's like everything else. Everybody has a busy season and your CPA at this time of year is every single client they have needs to be touched in 6 weeks and every single client has a unique situation needs work through. It's really hard to give a long drawn out deep conversation in tax season because you have to see everybody. So just be cognitive of that. So be very direct with your question. Small talk as a minimum, at a minimum, and just trying to, get the connection and see what needs done and then move on. And then talk after tax season about what needs to happen.
Julie Smith [:
Well, and I think if you have the ability to maybe file an extension to be able to have that deeper conversation, reminder, it's not an extension to pay, it's just an extension to file. But maybe being able to have that time to sit down to maybe get that attention that you are so craving, it could be a possibility as well.
Glenn Harper [:
Right, because again, most people don't realize with the changes in the tax law and what happens, We, you know, our clients, we communicate what's going on. We got it covered, but a lot of folks don't do that. So when they get to their tax return, now those questions come up. And every time you have a question, there's 50 more questions that come up. Most preparers are not set up to answer 50 questions from a timing standpoint on April 12th. So it just can't happen. So you got to have those questions prior to that. And again, just recognize that's a one bad, and then you're going to do better the next year and try to find somebody that, can have that conversation throughout the year.
Julie Smith [:
That's good advice.
Glenn Harper [:
I know, it's great advice. And again, just your CPA is working their butt off this time of year trying to get everything right and put it all together. Heck, Ohio didn't even let us file tax returns until 3 days ago for our businesses. So I mean, when you think about that, there's just a lot that has to happen. We appreciate everybody's patience. But no, send over some coffee and donuts and I'm sure your CPA will call you back right away.
Julie Smith [:
Give them that caffeine.
Glenn Harper [:
You got that right. Another great edition of Empowering Entrepreneurs Podcast. I'm Glen Harper.
