Here's How to Proceed Change Your Tax Advisor
Do you want to change your tax advisor? Here you will learn how to find a suitable firm, what to consider regarding termination and costs, and how to prepare the handover of your documents.
Reasons for Changing Your Tax Advisor
Difficult-to-reach contacts, unclear invoices, or little advice on important decisions: There are various reasons to question the previous collaboration. New requirements can also make a change sensible – for example, if your company is growing or you want to organize your accounting digitally.
Note what you have been missing so far and what should improve in the future. This helps you to select a new firm specifically. It is crucial whether the firm fits your company and your advisory needs. Clarify as concretely as possible in the initial meeting:
Experience
Does the firm serve companies of your industry, size, and legal form?
Services
Which tasks does it take over, which remain with you?
Support
Who is your contact person and how are inquiries resolved?
Collaboration
Which programs are used and how do you exchange documents?
Fee
Which services are included, which are charged additionally?
Takeover
From when can the firm handle your mandate?
Choosing the Right Time for the Change
A change of tax advisor is generally possible during the year. A completed bookkeeping month or the turn of the year can facilitate the delineation of tasks. It is crucial that both firms know who is handling which tasks.
Therefore, determine in advance who will prepare any outstanding tax returns and annual financial statements, from which month the new firm will take over accounting and payroll, and who will monitor ongoing deadlines. Submission and objection deadlines continue despite the change.
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Review Termination and Contract Conditions
In tax advisory contracts, termination without notice according to § 627 BGB is often considered. Whether this applies in your case depends on the specific contractual relationship and the agreements made. Therefore, review your contract and any termination regulations before terminating. Legal basis: § 627 BGB
Document the termination in writing for proof and request confirmation of the termination date. Also, agree on which tasks the previous firm will complete and when the documents will be handed over.
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Clarify Costs Before the Change
The costs of a change depend on which tasks are still pending and what effort is involved in the takeover. Clarify with both firms which services are still to be billed and whether additional costs will be incurred for data transfer, setup, or training.
Ask the new firm for an offer that separately lists ongoing services and one-time efforts. A clear division of tasks helps to avoid duplicate processing and unnecessary costs.
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Transfer Documents and Digital Data
The documents the new firm needs depend on the agreed assignment. For companies, these typically include:
Tax returns and tax assessments for relevant previous years
Annual financial statements or income surplus statements
Ongoing accounting data, receipts, and reports
Information on outstanding receivables and liabilities
Asset register and possibly payroll documents
Important contracts and correspondence on open tax issues
An overview of ongoing deadlines, objections, and audits
With DATEV, the required data sets must be specifically coordinated. This may include accounting, digital receipts, payroll, and tax data. Let both firms clarify which data sets are to be transferred and what additional backups or exports are necessary. Information on DATEV client data transfer
Certain documents must be handed over by the previous firm upon request. However, a right of retention may exist for outstanding fees, as long as this is not unreasonable. Therefore, clarify any outstanding invoices early. Legal basis: § 66 StBerG
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Inform Tax Office and Update Authorizations
The new firm can inform the tax office of the takeover with your authorization. Explicitly agree that they will take this step and transmit the necessary authorizations.
Also clarify the revocation of the previous authorization and who should receive tax assessments in the future. The revocation only becomes effective with the tax office once it is received there. The termination of the mandate alone is not sufficient for this. Legal basis: § 80 AO
Switch to EGIDOWith the EGIDO Change Service Change Your Tax Advisor Now
We contact your previous tax advisor
Takeover of your complete data
We review the efficiency of your current structure
Development of an advisory concept
Is any information lost when changing tax advisors?
On the contrary: Benefit from a structured tax advisor change. As part of setting up your mandate, we record your data in a structured manner and review it.
Quickly gain an overview of your financial situation and its tax potential. We review the efficiency of your current structure and build our advisory concept on this.
New Clients
Marcell H.
Your Personal Contact Person
Would you like to switch to EGIDO? Your contact person will clarify with you which services you need and how the takeover of your mandate can proceed.
Why EGIDO Tax Advisory?
| Digital Processes | |
| Process Consulting | |
| Efficient Interface Integration | |
| Drop Off Document Folders | |
| Gather Documents | |
| Active Consulting | |
| Technology-driven Consulting | |
| Clear, Easy-to-Understand Explanations | |
| Quality Management | |
| Process-Oriented Thinking | |
| Reliability | |
| Implementation of Consulting Projects | |
| Continuous Proactive Support |
Free Change Check
We review your current situation, clarify documents and deadlines, and provide a realistic timeline.
You receive a clear recommendation for the next step.
Questions & Answers
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Contact us. In the first meeting, we clarify which services you need, which tasks are currently open, and from when a takeover is possible.
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Helpful are details about your company, your previous tax support, and the software used. Also, let us know if important deadlines are approaching and what you expect from the collaboration.
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First clarify with us whether and when we can take over your mandate. After that, you can coordinate the termination and handover with your previous firm.
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We clarify this before the change based on your used programs and the available interfaces. Together, we coordinate how documents and accounting data will be exchanged in the future.
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Before the takeover, we determine which documents and digital data are needed and who will initiate the handover. If your previous firm uses DATEV, the appropriate transfer method will also be coordinated.
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The fee depends on the agreed services and the scope of your mandate. Before starting the collaboration, we clarify the terms with you and whether additional costs will arise for the takeover.
