Switching accountants.
A clear handoff for your business.

1. Agree on the handoff before changing access.

Changing accountants works best when there is a clear boundary between the old engagement and the new one. Confirm what the current accountant is finishing, what Collins CPA will handle, and the first period or return covered by the new engagement.

Before a filing deadline, identify who is responsible for the return, any extension, and payment estimates. Do not assume responsibility transfers simply because you contacted a new firm.

2. Gather the records behind the return.

Start with copies of previously filed business and personal returns, current financial statements, and your latest reconciled books. Your new CPA may need more than the final return to understand balances carried forward.

• Prior returns, amendments, and relevant correspondence.
• Depreciation and fixed-asset schedules, including purchases and disposals.
• Owner contributions, distributions, loans, and available basis schedules.
• Year-end adjusting entries and the adjusted trial balance.
• Bank, credit card, and loan statements for unreconciled periods.
• Payroll summaries and records of estimated tax payments.
• A list of missing information and unfinished filings.

Record availability varies. Identify gaps early so the review can establish what must be reconstructed and whether cleanup needs a separate scope.

3. Arrange software and document access.

Make a list of the systems used for bookkeeping, payroll, and document storage. For QuickBooks Online, agree on accountant access and who is responsible for the subscription. Use each platform’s invitation process and keep ownership with the business.

Share tax documents through the secure client portal after onboarding. The public inquiry form is for contact details and a description of the services you need; do not send passwords, Social Security numbers, or bank account numbers through it.

4. Confirm a reliable starting point.

A business return and the bookkeeping file may not match if prior-year adjustments were never posted. Review the starting trial balance, reconciliation dates, payroll totals, loans, equipment, and owner accounts before treating the books as ready.

For a Mobile or Baldwin County business, also identify the state and local filings already being handled, the jurisdictions involved, and the person responsible for each. Include current notices and unresolved questions in the handoff.

5. Set the new routine.

Agree on how frequently the books will be updated, when statements and supporting documents are due, and how questions will be resolved. Discuss tax preparation, estimates, and planning separately so the expectations are specific.

At Collins CPA, the first step is a review of your situation and a proposal. Cleanup, recurring bookkeeping, return preparation, and planning are scoped according to the work needed. We serve Mobile and Baldwin County with remote document sharing and direct communication with Regan Collins, CPA, MBA.

Discuss a transition to Collins CPA, explore bookkeeping and cleanup, or review our business tax services.