Lincoln tax preparation and accounting

Define the work before comparing fees

Describe what you want the accountant to take over. Separate preparation of returns from transaction cleanup, monthly bookkeeping, payroll coordination, and planning. Identify each business entity and whether your personal return belongs in the engagement. Give candidates the same description so you can compare their proposed work.

Request a written quote that separates recurring accounting, cleanup, and filing. Have the candidate explain whether they charge a fixed fee or an hourly rate, which records they need to confirm the quote, and how you will approve additional work. Include the cost of responding to a later tax notice in that discussion.

For ongoing accounting, assign responsibility for categorizing transactions, reconciling accounts, resolving questions, and reviewing reports. Agree on when you will supply records and when the accountant will return the work. Describe the reports you want to review together rather than accepting an undefined monthly service.

Check credentials and the working relationship

The Nebraska Board of Public Accountancy provides a Licensee Search gateway to its public registry. Request the exact professional name of a prospective CPA and compare it with the registry information. Resolve questions about the entry before signing the engagement. [1]

Identify who will prepare your returns, who will review them, and who will answer your questions. Describe your business activity and show the candidate a sample of your records with sensitive information removed. Discuss how they would handle unresolved transactions and which decisions they would bring back to you.

Agree on a secure document-transfer method and instructions for granting accounting-software access. Name your main contact and establish a process for missing information. Before filing, request a review meeting covering the completed returns, payment instructions, and records you should retain.

Make tax-year verification part of planning

For a partnership or S corporation, include a review of Nebraska entity-level tax options in the proposed scope. Request an explanation of the rules that apply to your tax year, the consequences for owners, and responsibility for any related applications or payments. Have the adviser document the recommendation before you authorize an election.

Nebraska DOR’s 2023 legislative summary described an annual irrevocable pass-through entity tax election, related refundable owner credits, and corporate-style estimated payments beginning with tax years in 2024. That historical summary does not establish the requirements in effect on October 16, 2026. Use it as background for questions and have your adviser verify applicable law. [3]

The corporate-rate chart reproduces the schedule published in that same 2023 summary. It illustrates why you should identify the tax year in a planning discussion. Have your accountant confirm the applicable rate and tax base before calculating payments. [3]

Coordinate household credit paperwork

If the engagement includes your household return, discuss Nebraska’s child care refundable tax credit before filing. DOR requires parents or legal guardians to submit Form 7203 through eDASH and receive approval before claiming the credit. Assign responsibility for the application and keep the approval with your tax records. [2]

DOR lists $2,000 per qualifying child for household income of $75,000 or less, or $1,000 for income above $75,000 through $150,000. Eligibility also depends on Nebraska residency, the child’s age and federal dependent status, and qualifying care arrangements or the poverty-level exception. Have your preparer review those conditions before including a credit in your planning. [2]

As retrieved October 16, 2026, DOR’s page said application submissions were closed and that it would announce the 2026 opening date. DOR processes completed applications against a $15 million annual limit. It may reduce or disallow an approved amount if application information differs from the return, so have your preparer compare both before claiming the credit. [2]

Nebraska corporate rates scheduled in the 2023 legislative summary

Match the engagement to your records

Your hiring checklist

1. List the entities, owners, tax years, and returns you want included.
2. Separate bookkeeping cleanup from recurring accounting and return preparation.
3. Gather prior returns, account statements, payroll summaries, asset-purchase records, and tax correspondence.
4. Check a prospective CPA through the Nebraska Board’s official search gateway.
5. Request written fees, exclusions, document deadlines, and a process for approving extra work.
6. Assign responsibility for checking applicable tax-year rules and calculating payments.
7. Assign household credit applications and approval tracking if personal returns are included.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check a Nebraska CPA?

Use the Nebraska Board of Public Accountancy’s Licensee Search gateway to reach its public registry. Request the professional’s exact name and resolve questions about the entry before signing an engagement. [1]

Should bookkeeping and tax preparation share one quote?

Request separate line items even if one firm will perform both jobs. Define the cleanup period, recurring tasks, returns, and planning meetings. Include a process for approving additional work and a named contact for questions.

What should an S corporation discuss before hiring?

Include review of the entity and owner returns, applicable Nebraska tax elections, and payment planning in the proposed scope. Have the adviser verify rules for the tax year involved and explain the recommendation before you authorize an election.

Can my preparer claim the child care credit without an application?

Nebraska requires parents or legal guardians to submit Form 7203 through eDASH and receive DOR approval before claiming the refundable credit. Confirm the application status and decide who will submit the paperwork and retain the approval. [2]