Working with us
Independent Tax Preparer or National Tax Chain?
National chains do some things very well. So does an independent firm. The right choice depends on what you need from the person preparing your return.
Reviewed by LaToya Clark-Thompson, FounderLast updated
What national tax chains do well
It is worth being fair about this. National chains are built for volume and availability, and that suits many people:
- Many locations, often with walk-in hours during filing season
- Standardized software and procedures across offices
- Familiar names, which some people find reassuring
- A straightforward experience for straightforward returns
If your return is simple and convenience is what matters most, a chain can be a sensible choice.
Where the experience can differ
The trade-off with a high-volume model is continuity. Seasonal staffing means you can see a different preparer from one year to the next, and each one starts from your documents rather than from knowing you. For a simple return that matters little. For a family whose situation shifts, a self-employed client, or a business owner, it matters more.
The other difference is time with your return. When the person across the desk is working through a queue, there is less room to ask about the year behind the forms: the side income, the parent who moved in, the home you are planning to sell.
What working with us looks like
- LaToya Clark-Thompson personally leads the work. You deal with the person doing it, not a queue and a different name each season
- The same preparer whether you come into the Easley office or work virtually through the secure client portal
- An explanation of what drove your liability, and a walk-through of the return before it is filed
- Year-round support: bookkeeping, payroll and tax planning as well as the return itself
- Help when a letter arrives, with representation matters coordinated through the independent licensed CPA we work with (tax preparer or CPA?)
You can read what clients have said after filing with us.
Comparing on price
If you paid a chain or anyone else last year, our Best Rate Guarantee is built for exactly this comparison: "We beat competitors’ prices by at least 10%, based on your previous year’s tax return. Bring last year’s return and the invoice you paid for it, and we will quote against it."
Two conditions matter. The comparison needs last year’s invoice, and it is for the same scope of work. Without an invoice, we quote normally. How we quote explains what goes into the figure.
Frequently asked questions
Is a local tax preparer better than a national chain?
Not automatically. A chain offers availability and a consistent process, which suits many simple returns. An independent firm usually offers continuity: the same person each year who already knows your situation and has time to ask about it. If your return changes year to year, or you have self-employment or business income, that continuity tends to be worth more.
Will I see the same tax preparer every year?
Here, yes. LaToya leads the work and the firm is built around you dealing with the person doing it, whether you come into the Easley office or work through the client portal. That means next year starts from what we already know about you, not from a blank intake form.
Can you beat what I paid a tax chain last year?
That is what the Best Rate Guarantee is for. Bring your previous year’s return and the invoice you paid for it, and we quote at least 10% below that figure for the same scope of work. Without the prior invoice there is nothing to compare against, so we quote normally instead.
Do I need to tell my old tax office I am leaving?
No. There is nothing to cancel for a return that is already filed, and you do not need their permission to use a new preparer. What helps is a copy of last year’s return, which you are entitled to. Switching tax preparers covers what to bring.
Not the question you had? The full tax FAQ covers more ground, and our client reviews say what the work is actually like.
Related pages
Switching tax preparers
What to bring, what carries over, and how the Best Rate Guarantee works.
Learn moreUs vs. DIY tax software
When software is enough, where it falls short, and what a preparer adds.
Learn moreHow we quote
What drives a quote, when you get it, and how the Best Rate Guarantee works.
Learn moreTax preparer vs. CPA
What AFSP means, who genuinely needs a CPA, and how we handle matters that do.
Learn morePart of Working With Us. Not sure which service fits? Answer a few questions.
Tell us what you need
Send a short note about your situation and we’ll come back to you with a straight answer — whether that’s a quote, a next step, or a referral if it isn’t something we handle.
Prefer to talk it through first? Book a consultation and we’ll find a time, in the Easley office or virtually.
Ready when you are. In the office or virtually.
Call (864) 781-4035 or book a consultation, in the Easley office or virtually.