Local service guide
El Paso tax preparation and accounting
For tax preparation and accounting in El Paso, choose a provider who can handle your business records and identify the filings you need. Compare written quotes for the same scope, separating bookkeeping cleanup from return preparation. For a taxable Texas entity, discuss franchise reporting alongside federal work: the Comptroller sets an annual May 15 report deadline, with a next-business-day adjustment for weekends or holidays. [3]
Compare quotes for a defined job
Describe your entity type, income sources, employees, and tax years needing attention. Include rental activity, work in another state, and transactions involving another country. Have each candidate explain which parts they will handle and which need another specialist. Choose someone who can explain the proposed work in terms you understand.
For bookkeeping cleanup, identify the accounts that need reconciliation and the records you cannot find. Request a separate estimate for that work. For ongoing accounting, specify the reports you want, the delivery date, and who will answer questions about them. This gives you concrete deliverables to compare across proposals.
Compare written quotes for the same scope. Have the provider identify charges for additional filings, amendments, missing records, and responses to tax notices. If they cannot give a fixed cleanup price before examining the books, agree on an initial review fee and a point at which they must obtain your approval for further work.
Check the CPA firm and review process
The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy offers a Licensed Firm Lookup with searches by firm license ID or criteria including firm name, city, state, and five-digit ZIP code. For a proposed CPA engagement, match the lookup result to the firm name on the agreement. [4]
Have the firm name the person preparing your work and the person reviewing it. Discuss how you will send sensitive documents, who can access them, and how the firm handles corrections. If you need explanations in Spanish or another language, confirm that arrangement during the first conversation.
Before approving a return, review the income, deductions, payments, and balance due or refund with the preparer. Request an explanation of entries you do not recognize. Keep your complete return and supporting accounting reports, and agree on how you can retrieve your records if you change providers.
Resolve Texas franchise questions by report year
The Comptroller describes Texas franchise tax as a privilege tax imposed on taxable entities formed or organized in Texas or doing business in Texas. Have your accountant determine whether your entity falls within that scope and identify the relevant report year before calculating tax or correcting a filing. [3]
The Comptroller publishes a $2,650,000 no tax due threshold for report years 2026 and 2027. It publishes different thresholds for earlier report-year groups, as the chart shows. For prior-year work, have the accountant use the threshold corresponding to the year being filed. [3]
The Comptroller's July and August 2026 notice guidance associates Form 05-211 with unmet 2026 filing requirements and Form 05-213 with unmet 2025 requirements. In those notice-resolution situations, it directs recipients at or below the applicable threshold to file their Public Information Report or Ownership Report. Give your accountant the complete notice so they can address the cited year and required corrective work. [3]
Prepare a usable records package
Request a document list tailored to your business. Start with the prior return, account statements, income and expense records, payroll records, and notices. Add a list of business accounts and mark missing items. Explain owner transfers and unfamiliar transactions instead of leaving the accountant to guess how you intended to record them.
Set dates for delivering records and reviewing the draft. Clarify who will handle any needed extension and payment arrangements, and how the provider will tell you that filing is complete. If you need ITIN assistance or a specialized personal return alongside the business work, identify that need during intake so you can arrange the appropriate service.
Texas franchise tax no tax due thresholds by report year
Local details that affect your job
Arrange El Paso ITIN document review
The IRS lists El Paso among Taxpayer Assistance Centers offering in-person ITIN document review for applications and renewals. Staff can review original documents and copies certified by the issuing agencies, then return them at the end of the appointment. Schedule through 844-545-5640 and confirm what to bring. The IRS offers professional foreign-language interpretation through an over-the-phone service. Coordinate this visit with the person handling your ITIN application. [2]
Check UTEP's foreign-scholar preparation lead
UTEP's March 3, 2026 report describes free Project VITA preparation administered locally by GECU. It identifies the Sun Bowl site as El Paso's only VITA site certified at that time to assist non-resident foreign scholars, including international students and researchers. Its listed March and April appointments have passed as of October 14, 2026. If you need that specialization for a personal return, confirm a future schedule and return eligibility before planning a visit. Do not assume the program will prepare your business return. [1]
Choose the next service to discuss
| Your situation | Service to discuss | First step |
|---|---|---|
| Organized books and a business return to prepare | Return preparation | Request a written list of included filings. |
| Missing records or unreconciled accounts | Bookkeeping cleanup | Request an initial review and a separate cleanup estimate. |
| Texas Form 05-211 or 05-213 notice | Report-year review and corrective filing | Give the accountant the complete notice and identify its year. |
| ITIN application or renewal needs document review | IRS appointment in El Paso | Call 844-545-5640 and confirm required documents. |
| Non-resident foreign scholar needs personal preparation | Specialist preparation; UTEP VITA as a seasonal lead | Confirm return eligibility and future appointment availability. |
Your hiring checklist
- Prepare a short business summary and identify the years needing work.
- Mark missing records and accounts needing reconciliation.
- Compare proposals with matching deliverables and separate cleanup charges.
- Check the prospective CPA firm's name in the official firm lookup.
- Provide complete notices, including the form number and report year.
- Confirm document delivery, draft review, and filing responsibilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a low-revenue entity still need to respond to a franchise notice?
For the listed 2026 Form 05-211 and 2025 Form 05-213 notice situations, the Comptroller directs recipients at or below the applicable no tax due threshold to file their Public Information Report or Ownership Report. Have your accountant review the notice and identify the corrective filing. [3]
How should I compare a monthly accounting fee with a return-preparation fee?
Have each provider list the deliverables covered by each fee. Specify whether monthly work includes reconciliation and financial reports, and whether return preparation or cleanup carries a separate charge. Compare the total proposed work before choosing a provider.
Will the IRS keep my documents after an ITIN review appointment?
The IRS says staff return your documents at the end of the appointment. Its review service covers originals and copies certified by the issuing agencies. Confirm the documents needed for your application or renewal when scheduling. [2]
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.