When should you seek the advice of a Tax Professional?

Question

Do you feel that QuickBooks tutors should be giving tax advice?

I am often asked to give advice on tax related questions, or they will ask how to make a certain entry that affects how taxes are reported. I promptly advise them to speak with their tax professional.

Wyzant is not the platform for these types of questions, it is strictly a teaching platform. What are your thoughts on this subject?

Answer 1

Hi. I am both a CPA tax professional and a QuickBooks ("QB") ProAdvisor. I agree with you that they are related but separate fields. It would be like the electrician giving plumbing advice, just because they both work on systems of a home. QB is in line with financial accounting principles; tax preparation is based on taxation law. So, you should keep saying what you're saying, unless/until you gain some tax preparation experience that you can confidently share with others.

Answer 2

I agree that QuickBooks tutors should not be giving tax advice, and I think it’s important to clearly define where that line is.

In my experience, most tax-related questions students ask are not really about tax strategy or compliance — they’re about how transactions are recorded, categorized, and reported in the accounting system. Understanding how income, expenses, payroll, and sales tax flow through QuickBooks is part of learning bookkeeping fundamentals, not practicing tax law.

Where I draw the line is intent and impact. If a question affects tax elections, filing positions, deductions, or compliance decisions, that belongs with a CPA or EA. If the question is about how QuickBooks works, how reports are generated, or how to avoid data errors, that is appropriate for an accounting or QuickBooks tutor.

Wyzant is a teaching platform, and teaching students how accounting systems function — while also reinforcing when to consult a licensed tax professional — helps students use their tax advisors more effectively, not replace them.

Clear boundaries protect everyone, but so does helping students understand the mechanics behind the numbers they eventually hand to their tax professional.