This is the archive of CPA Now blogs posted on the PICPA website through April 30, 2025. Want more recent blogs?
Filing Taxes Is More Than Plug and Play
If you want to take full advantage of all the tax breaks available, you need to understand that tax planning is more than plugging numbers into a form. Big life changes can often trigger the need for a professional to do your taxes.
By Maureen Renzi, vice president - communications
What’s new for the 2016 filing season? Whether it’s a lot or a little, it doesn’t matter: taxpayers can always benefit from the knowledge and experience of a CPA. Taxes are complicated, and CPAs who provide tax advice know that.
If you want to take full advantage of all the tax breaks available, you need to understand that tax planning is more than plugging numbers into a form. Big life changes, for instance, can often trigger the need for a professional to do your taxes. Some of these include a marriage, a divorce, a birth, a death, a move, a new job, or a retirement. Pennsylvania state taxes add another level of complexity, especially if you live and work in different states. CPAs offer lots of free advice for this group. But whether you plan to hire an expert CPA or do your own taxes, getting organized and having your records in a good state is vital. One Pennsylvania CPA offers tips to help you get organized in the blog, “The Intersection of Taxes and Simplifying Life.”
CPAs who work with clients year-after-year understand not only what has happened in the past year, but can also help plan for what is going to happen in the years to come. In any given year there may not be any “big” tax changes, but often there are many subtle changes in the law that can make a big difference in a person’s tax liability. The continuing education requirements for CPAs to maintain a license, plus the year-round concentration in this area, enhance the profession’s understanding of the subtleties and of when they can be applied to reduce a bill.
 |
| In less than 30 seconds learn |
The Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs (PICPA) represents more than 22,000 members across the state who are dedicated to protecting the public interest. Many volunteer their time to provide timely tips to consumers all year long. Here are some resources that may help you manage your money:
- The Tax Help section of the PICPA website offers blogs and videos.
- A free Ask a CPA service allows an easy search of previously asked questions to get immediate help, and also provides the opportunity to ask your own unique question.
- Sign up to receive updates all year long. Choices include tax, personal finance, retirement, and small business. Select what topic interest you, and we’ll deliver them to your inbox.
- CPA Locator can help find a CPA near you.
One CPA firm may not have the big advertising budget that the big box tax services do. One firm may not have a presence in every mall and on every busy corner. One firm may not have the resources to provide loss leaders and gimmicks to drive customers into their offices and then subsequently upsell those customers. But what one, and every, CPA firm has is knowledge, experience, and a strong network of CPAs who help support their efforts and promote their expertise. If you are looking for someone who knows the tax laws, knows the subtleties of rules that may benefit you, and knows that taxes are much more than a plug and play game of numbers, you should hire a professional CPA. If you’re at a place in your life that doesn’t require a professional to complete your taxes, take advantage of the free CPA resources that can help guide you now and help you decide when it’s time to move on to a professional.
