Choosing the Right Accountant
Choosing the Right Accountant is just like choosing the service of other professionals such as doctors or lawyers. People would normally choose someone who is registered, competent and who can give you the best value for your hard earned money.
In today’s complex word, finding the right accountant becomes a challenging task due to ever changing laws and regulations governing taxation, finance, record keeping and Accounting practice. It is important then, that your Accountant should have the relevant experience in dealing with your specific needs.
General Accountants and Specialized Accountant
This analogy would help us better understand the difference between a General Accountant and a Specialized Accountant.
We all have gone to a doctor’s visit. Normally, a patient would come in to the clinic, and would consult with a General Practitioner – someone who has undergone medical training and has a general understanding of Medicine. If we are lucky, the doctor would just prescribe us some medicine for our illness.
However, there are instances wherein our GP would refer us to a Specialist (i.e. Surgeon, Cardiologist) because he does not have the relevant knowledge and experience to handle our case. A General Practitioner is not trained and equipped to perform heart surgery in the same way that a Heart Surgeon is not prepared to take on a brain related illness.
This is true in the case of Taxation. A General Accountant would be able to assist you with your general accounting needs but you would need a Registered Tax Agent to lodge your tax returns. A Registered Tax Agent has more experience, has more knowledge in dealing with the complexities of tax rules and regulations, and is better equipped to handle your tax needs.
Becoming a Chartered Accountant
Becoming a Chartered Accountant is a long and tedious process as it is considered as a post graduate degree in Accounting field. For starters, one should have a relevant Bachelor’s degree (AQF level 7 or higher) with coverage of required competence area.
Accountants would need to apply to the Accountant Chartered Program wherein they have to finish the Graduate Diploma of Chartered Accounting (GradDip CA). They then must gain at least 3 years full time approved employment in a relevant Accounting role. They must also complete a practical experience under a recognized mentor.
Cryptocurrency Taxation as a Specialization
Cryptocurrency is a relatively new and booming industry. Due to its emergence into the mainstream, the rules and policies in place for its tax treatment can be subject to changes and revisions by the governing bodies. There are also a lot of technical terms (i.e. blockchain, forks, mining, airdrops) that are generally unknown to most Accountants.
Given all of these, you would need someone who not only has the specialization in taxation, but someone who will understand when you are talking about ICOs, someone who can answer your questions about the tax treatment of coins from a hard fork, someone who can help you navigate the taxation events of your trades across a range of exchanges, and compile it all into a report for you.
Conclusion
Finding the right accountant is like finding the perfect pair of jeans. Such a person should be qualified and be registered, should provide the best value for your money, and should fit perfectly with your needs. Not all Accountants are equal, so you should find one who has the right specialization, and correct relevant experience.
For all of your crypto tax needs, please contact one of our specialized and experienced Cryptocurrency Tax Accountants. We offer the convenience of an online Accountant service, so we can help you no matter your location.
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