10 Questions You Don’t Ask Your Accountant (But Should)

10 Questions You Don’t Ask Your Accountant (But Should)

Introduction

An accountant is not just the person who “files your tax return.” They are – or should be – the closest ally of every entrepreneur, professional, and investor. From company structure and pricing to efficient taxation and audit readiness, your accountant knows, anticipates, and guides.

However, in practice, accountants often get reduced to the role of a “compliance executor.” Why? Because most clients don’t ask the right questions.

Below are 10 questions that very few clients ever ask their accountant – but everyone should. Because ignorance isn’t just a risk. It’s a cost.

❓ 1. “Can My Tax Position Be Improved Within the Year? Or Is It Already Too Late?”

Most entrepreneurs ask their accountant after May:
– “Will I pay a lot of tax this year?”

The answer is almost always: “There’s not much we can do anymore.”

That’s because tax planning is not an annual return. It’s a continuous process that begins in January and ends on December 31st. If you ask your accountant early:

What expenses can I substantiate?
Can I make investments that reduce my taxable income?
Are there changes in my corporate structure that would benefit me?

… then you can save thousands of euros. But if you only contact them “right before the return,” all they can do is calculate the bill.

🟦 What You Should Do:
Talk to your accountant every February and October. These are the two critical periods for strategic tax review.

❓ 2. “Do I Have the Right Legal Form? Could Another Structure Be More Advantageous?”

Many businesses started as:

Sole proprietorships,
General partnerships,
Single-member Private Companies (IKE) or Limited Partnerships (EPE),

… and remained that way for years without ever reassessing their legal structure. Yet, laws change. Tax rates evolve. Social security contributions fluctuate. And opportunities… are lost.

📌 An Example:
A freelancer earning €50,000 pays:

Income tax up to 44%,

Whereas if operating through an IKE:

They’d pay 22% tax on net profits,
Could receive a manager’s fee or dividends,
Would have options for tax restructuring.

The difference? Thousands of euros annually.

🟦 What You Should Do:
Ask clearly:
– “If I were starting today, what company structure would you recommend? And why?”
If the answer is the same as 5 years ago, something’s wrong.

❓ 3. “What Happens If I’m Audited? How Prepared Am I for an Inspection?”

Many view a tax audit as a rare scenario. But with new digital tools (e.g., myDATA, E9, VIES, POS), the odds of triggering an audit increase every year.

And when it happens, most business owners:

Don’t know where their documents are,
Don’t know if they have gaps or inconsistencies,
Assume “the accountant has everything.”

This is incorrect. Audit readiness is a joint responsibility between client and accountant.

📌 Key Questions to Ask Your Accountant:

Are my books up to date and consistent with tax filings?
Do my expense invoices contain all required information?
Have my submissions (VAT–E3–MYF) been cross-checked for discrepancies?
In case of a VAT audit, can we justify a refund?

🟦 What You Should Do:
Once a year, request a preventive internal compliance audit. It’s a small investment that could save you from major problems.

❓ 4. “Which of My Expenses Are Tax-Deductible – and Which Are Not?”

Most taxpayers believe that “all business-related expenses are deductible.” But that’s not true. There’s a clear distinction:

Recognized expenses → deductible from taxable profits.
Non-recognized expenses → recorded in accounting but don’t reduce tax.

Examples:

Expense	Recognized?	Note
Business mobile phone	✅	If supported by a contract
Private car	❌	Unless used by the business
ENFIA property tax for private home	❌	Only if it’s a business property
Clothing purchases	❌	Unless it’s a specific work uniform
Subscription to professional software	✅	As long as it’s relevant to the activity

🟦 What You Should Do:
Don’t just ask: “Is this deductible?” – Ask:
– “Is there a way to make this expense tax-deductible?”
A good accountant won’t answer yes/no. They’ll show you how.

❓ 5. “Are There Any Incentives, Subsidies or Tax Breaks I Can Benefit From?”

Most professionals operate without any strategy for accessing incentives or programs. Yet every year there are announcements for:

Subsidized social security contributions for new hires,
Equipment or digital upgrade grants,
Tax deductions for innovation or exports,
EFKA refunds for employers hiring unemployed individuals,
VAT exemptions for newly established companies below thresholds.

However, without initiative or research on the accountant’s part, most clients miss out completely.

🟦 What You Should Do:
Each year, ask your accountant:
– “What opportunities are available this year for my business category?”
If they don’t know, you’re losing time and money.

❓ 6. “Can My Business Transition from Sole Proprietorship to Company? What Does That Entail?”

Many professionals start out as sole proprietors (or freelancers) and stay that way out of habit or because “it’s simpler.” Yet:

Sole proprietorships are taxed progressively (22% to 44%) without a tax-free threshold,
They don’t separate personal and business liability (unlimited liability),
They lack inheritance or succession structure.

By contrast, switching to an IKE (Private Company):

Can reduce the tax burden (22% + 5% dividend tax),
Offers legal personality and clear risk separation,
Allows the addition of partners/investors in the future.

🟦 What You Should Do:
Ask your accountant:
– “Would it benefit me to convert my sole proprietorship to an IKE? What would my net after-tax income look like?”
A competent professional will run a tax and social security simulation and give you figures, not just an opinion.

❓ 7. “What Exactly Does Our Collaboration Cover? What’s Not Included?”

Very often, clients assume their accountant will:

Remind them of all obligations without notice,
File all returns automatically,
Warn them about every legal change.

In reality, the accountant handles only what has been explicitly agreed – either in writing or as part of routine engagement.

If there’s no:

Written service agreement (e.g., collaboration form),
List of assumed responsibilities,
System for tracking deadlines,

… misunderstandings, omissions, and fines inevitably follow.

🟦 What You Should Do:
Ask your accountant:
– “Please specify exactly what you handle for me. What’s excluded? What are the deadlines and costs for each additional service?”

A clear partnership protects both parties.

❓ 8. “What Should I Know About My Social Security Obligations? How Much Am I Really Paying?”

Most professionals don’t know how much they’re paying in contributions — or what entitlements they actually have. In practice:

The professional can choose their insurance class (e.g., 1st, 2nd, 3rd),
Contributions for auxiliary pension and lump-sum benefits are added,
If there are parallel activities (e.g., salaried + company manager), contributions are cumulative.

There are also special discounts or exemptions:

New insured persons (first five years),
Board members of S.A.s (AE) with participation below 3% (not subject to EFKA as managing directors).

🟦 What You Should Do:
Ask:
– “Given my activity, what’s the minimum and maximum I can pay?”
– “What pension can I expect if I stay in my current class?”

A good accountant doesn’t just give numbers — they provide forecasts and strategies.

❓ 9. “What Can I Do Today to Prepare for Retirement or Business Succession?”

Retirement is not just a date of exit. It’s a complex process that starts at least 5–10 years in advance. Without proper planning:

You lose tax control during future succession,
Inheritance procedures are delayed,
You end up paying capital gains or gift taxes that could have been avoided.

Especially for family businesses, where the company is intangible wealth (e.g., IKE with commercial value, real estate, revenue), unplanned succession leads to tax and structural losses.

🟦 What You Should Do:
Ask:
– “If I were to stop today, how do I transfer my business? Who pays what? How can I make it tax-efficient?”

A good accountant prepares early for:

Company liquidation or transformation,
Gift of shares with exemptions,
Organization of fixed assets and real estate.

❓ 10. “Can You Help Me Build a Better Financial Image for the Bank or the Market?”

The accountant’s role isn’t limited to tax calculations. A strategic accountant can help their client:

Appear more attractive to lenders,
Build a strong financial profile, with balance sheets that show stability and potential,
Plan investments to strengthen creditworthiness,
Create budgets and forecasts for submissions to banks or institutions.

For example: a company that shows zero profit to “avoid taxes” cannot get a loan or join a grant program.
In contrast, a business with a well-prepared E3 and a structured presentation has access to financing tools, leasing, grants, etc.

🟦 What You Should Do:
Ask:
– “What can I change in my finances to appear more stable to banks or partners?”
– “Can we prepare a profile together that will help my business grow?”

The accountant is your financial advisor — not just your tax preparer.

🔚 Conclusion: The Accountant Is Not Just a Technical Partner — He Is a Business Ally

Most businesses see their accountant as an “external employee.” That’s a mistake. The accountant:

Knows your numbers better than anyone,
Has a full picture of your movements, obligations, weaknesses,
Can protect, warn, and advise you.

The real question is: Have you given them the space to do so? Have you asked?

Don’t be afraid to ask.

The questions you avoid today are the answers that will save you tomorrow — from taxes, audits, or failure.

A good accountant won’t judge you. They will guide you.

Because when an entrepreneur asks the right questions, the accountant is not just useful.
They are invaluable.