Can I switch from another tax preparer to Zenith?

Absolutely. Switching to Zenith Financial from another tax preparer is straightforward. We handle transitions regularly and have a smooth onboarding process designed specifically for clients coming from other firms.

To make the transition seamless, we will need your most recent filed tax return (1-2 prior years is ideal). This allows us to review the positions taken, carry forward any relevant information (such as foreign tax credit carryovers, depreciation schedules, and FEIE elections), and identify any issues that may need to be addressed.

If you do not have copies of your prior returns, we can request transcripts from the IRS using Form 4506-T. Tax transcripts provide the key information we need, though they do not include all schedules and attachments.

During the transition, we perform a complimentary review of your prior year's return to check for missed opportunities or errors. Common issues we find when reviewing returns from non-specialist preparers include: failure to claim the Foreign Housing Exclusion, incorrect FEIE/FTC strategy selection, missed FBAR or FATCA filings, failure to claim treaty benefits, and incorrect foreign income sourcing.

If we discover errors on prior returns that resulted in overpayment of tax, we can file amended returns (Form 1040-X) to recover the overpaid amount. You can generally amend returns for up to 3 years from the original filing date. We have recovered thousands of dollars for clients who were previously using non-specialist preparers.

The transition does not affect your tax filings or standing with the IRS. There is no form to file or notification required to change preparers — you simply authorize us as your new preparer and we take it from there. If you have an ongoing matter with the IRS (audit, collection, etc.), we can take over representation with a Power of Attorney (Form 2848).