Why Your Bookkeeper and Your CPA Should Be Talking

Every tax season, I see the same pattern. A business owner hands me a set of books that took hours to untangle. Transactions are miscategorized. Owner draws are mixed with expenses. Loan payments are booked as expenses instead of liability reductions. By the time we sort it out, we have spent time and money that could have been avoided.

The fix is simple. Your bookkeeper and your CPA need to communicate.

Why It Matters

Your bookkeeper handles the day-to-day recording of transactions. Your CPA looks at the big picture: tax planning, compliance, and financial strategy. When these two roles work in silos, things fall through the cracks.

A bookkeeper might not know how to classify a piece of equipment for depreciation purposes. A CPA might not realize that a new revenue stream has been running for months without proper tracking. These gaps cost money.

What Good Communication Looks Like

It does not have to be complicated. A quarterly check-in between your bookkeeper and your CPA can catch problems before they snowball. Here is what that looks like:

Review the chart of accounts to make sure categories still fit the business. Flag any unusual transactions for proper classification. Discuss upcoming purchases or changes that could affect taxes. Confirm payroll is being recorded correctly.

We work with many clients who use QuickBooks Online for their bookkeeping. When we have access to review the books periodically, tax season becomes straightforward. No scrambling, no surprises.

When One Firm Handles Both

Some business owners prefer to have one firm handle both bookkeeping and tax preparation. That eliminates the communication gap entirely. At Cain Tax Advisors, we offer both services. Our team stays on top of your books throughout the year so that when tax time comes, everything is already organized.

Whether you keep your bookkeeper separate or bring everything under one roof, the key is making sure the people who touch your numbers are talking to each other. It saves time, saves money, and keeps you out of trouble.