Local service guide
Austin tax preparation and accounting
Arrange tax preparation and accounting in Austin with a written scope separating income-tax returns, bookkeeping cleanup, Texas entity reporting, and any required business-property rendition. Name who prepares each filing and confirms submission. For Travis County assets, have the accountant identify reportable property and existing exemptions. For Texas entities, check information-report requirements even when revenue falls below the franchise-tax no-tax-due threshold. [2] [4]
Define the work before comparing accountants
Describe how your business earns income, its entity type, whether you have employees, and which records need attention. Include rentals, other businesses, ownership changes, and notices you want reviewed. Have the accountant identify the returns and accounting tasks they propose to handle.
Request an engagement that names the tax year, entity, filings, cleanup work, and deliverables. For ongoing accounting, specify whether you want bank reconciliations, financial statements, payroll coordination, or an asset register. Agree on the documents you must provide and the date you will review the work.
Give notice handling its own scope. Send a complete copy through the agreed document channel, then have the accountant identify the response deadline, proposed work, and person responsible for agency communications. Confirm whether the fee includes follow-up correspondence.
Check credentials and obtain written fees
For someone claiming to be a Texas CPA, use the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy’s Individual Licensee Lookup. Search by license ID or use name criteria with city, county, state, or ZIP code. Obtain the individual’s name and license number before you search. [5]
Find out who will prepare and review your work. Discuss their experience with your entity type and requested filings, their approach to incomplete records, and how you will approve the finished return. Agree on how you will receive copies and retrieve your accounting records if you change providers.
Obtain written fees based on your records and filing needs. Check whether each quote includes consultations, cleanup, state reporting, amendments, and follow-up questions. For hourly work, request an estimate and an approval point before additional work. Compare the included tasks alongside the total price.
Include Texas entity reporting
The Texas Comptroller imposes franchise tax on taxable entities formed or organized in Texas or doing business in Texas. The agency lists May 15 as the annual report deadline, with the next business day applying when May 15 falls on a weekend or holiday. Have your accountant determine your entity’s requirements and maintain a filing calendar. [3]
For 2026, an entity with annualized total revenue at or below $2.65 million does not need a No Tax Due Report. The Comptroller generally still requires a Public Information Report or Ownership Information Report. The agency identifies exceptions, including qualifying new veteran-owned businesses. Have the accountant name the required report and explain any exception they apply. [4]
For a franchise-tax notice, identify the report year before arranging help. The Comptroller’s July and August 2026 guidance distinguishes notices concerning missed 2026 requirements from notices concerning missed 2025 requirements. Request a review of missing reports, account status, and payment obligations. [3]
Prepare records and agree on the handoff
Request a document list tailored to your engagement. Gather prior returns, agency notices, bank and credit-card records, income records, payroll summaries, and major purchase or disposal details. Identify missing months and unexplained transactions before requesting a cleanup quote.
For a Travis County rendition, gather asset descriptions, costs, and acquisition dates. TCAD lists furniture, equipment, machinery, computers, and inventory among business personal property categories. It also says organizations with a previously qualified exemption covering personal property need not render that exempt property. Have the accountant distinguish reportable assets from exempt property. [2]
Set dates for document delivery and your review. Specify whether the accountant will prepare and submit each filing or hand you records to file it yourself. Request completed copies and submission confirmations, and keep a shared list of missing information and unresolved tasks.
Texas franchise-tax no-tax-due thresholds by report year
Local details that affect your job
Travis County renditions need a submission plan
TCAD lists April 15 as the rendition deadline. You can submit by mail, through its online portal, or at the drop box at 850 E Anderson Ln. The portal’s Online Forms – Status item confirms submission; TCAD does not accept late renditions through the portal. TCAD says it cannot confirm receipt of forms or extension requests and recommends a delivery-confirmation method when you need proof. Agree who will file and retain that proof. [2]
Confirm Prosper’s current personal-tax appointments
ACC scheduled Prosper Tax Help inside Building 1000’s Highland ACCelerator from February 3 through April 14, 2026. That season has ended. ACC described eligibility as individuals earning less than $60,000 per year and households of two to four earning less than $85,000, increasing by $5,000 for each additional family member. It listed prior-year returns, IRS-letter assistance, and ITIN applications among services. Confirm current appointments, eligibility, and whether Prosper accepts your requested work before choosing it for personal tax help. [1]
Match the engagement to your situation
| Your situation | Work to request | Question before hiring |
|---|---|---|
| Records ready for preparation | Defined preparation and review scope | Which returns and follow-up questions does the fee include? |
| Missing or unreconciled records | Bookkeeping cleanup | What documents do you need, and when must I approve additional charges? |
| Texas entity at or below the 2026 threshold | Review of information-report requirements and exceptions | Will you identify and file the applicable PIR or OIR? |
| Potentially reportable Travis County business assets | Asset and exemption review, plus rendition scope | Who prepares, submits, and retains proof? |
| Personal return potentially eligible for Prosper | Current eligibility and service check | Does the program accept this work, and when can I get an appointment? |
Your hiring checklist
- Describe your entity, income sources, employees, and record gaps.
- List the returns, accounting tasks, and notices you want handled.
- Check any claimed Texas CPA credential through the official individual lookup.
- Request separate written fees for preparation, cleanup, accounting, and notice responses.
- Have the accountant identify applicable entity reports, renditions, and exemptions.
- Agree on document delivery, review dates, and submission responsibilities.
- Request completed filings, submission confirmations, and an accounting-record export.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does owing no Texas franchise tax mean my entity has nothing to file?
For 2026 reports, an entity with annualized total revenue at or below $2.65 million does not need a No Tax Due Report. The Comptroller generally still requires a Public Information Report or Ownership Information Report. Have your accountant check the entity category and applicable exceptions. [4]
How can I check a Texas CPA claim?
Use the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy’s Individual Licensee Lookup. It accepts a license ID or name criteria, with location filters. Obtain the professional’s identifying details so you can search for the correct individual. [5]
Should I assume my accountant handles my Travis County rendition?
Include it in the engagement. TCAD requires renditions for reportable business personal property, with an exception for exempt property covered by an organization’s previously qualified exemption. TCAD lists April 15 as the deadline. Agree who checks exemptions, prepares the form, and submits it. [2]
Can I plan around free help at ACC Highland now?
Confirm current Prosper appointments and accepted services first. ACC’s published Highland season ran from February 3 through April 14, 2026 and has ended. Check current income eligibility and whether the program handles the return or assistance you need. [1]
Sources and scope
This guide combines the sources below with practical planning guidance. Figures apply to the stated geography and period; request a written quote for your property.