I was tagged in a post on a Facebook group for someone that was asking for tax advice. The poster added the question “Are they licensed?” at the end of the post. It raised an interesting question.
As much as social media is not a great place to get your tax advice from it’s not a bad place to ask for introductions. The people that tagged me know I can do the work they were asking for and that I am in fact “licensed”.
By licensed I take this to mean a number of things.
For tax advice this means:
> Experienced. Someone that specialises in employment taxes is not the best place to get property tax advice. Same goes in reverse. Suitable experience is what’s relevant here. Although reviews aren’t infallible they do help. Check out their review profile on Google, Linked In and anywhere else you can. Speak with existing clients if possible.
> Insured. It is a basic premise of professional works that if something goes wrong insurance will step in to tidy any mess.
> Qualified. Someone that has passed relevant and pertinent exams and maintained their professional standards through annual resting. You should be able to find them. Easily. On a professional member’s list. Here is mine from the Chartered Institute of Taxation.
While this is not an exhaustive list fit you check these things before you engage you should normally be good. This is not just for tax advisors of course. Solicitors (Law Society), gas engineers (Gas Safe), window fitters (FENSA) and most others have similar bodies.
Check a Trade and Trusted Trader type schemes are normally largely based on payment for advertising space with nominal checks so take care there! Again they are better than nothing but still do the basic checks yourself.