Switching accountants
How to Switch Accountants for Your Agency or Practice
You can switch accountants at any time, including in the middle of the year or the middle of a Medicare cost report. Soriaga & Associates, LLC handles the move: we ask your current accountant for your files and plan the switch around your next deadline. Book a free 20-minute call to start.
- CPA firm since 1985
- 20+ years in healthcare
- 5.0 on Google · 16 reviews
A smooth handoff
Is it time to switch accountants?
Most owners wait too long. They worry about the awkward call, the lost files and a missed deadline. A switch is a routine job for a CPA firm, and the steps are the same each time: you give us permission, we collect your records, and we pick up the work where it stands.
We are a CPA firm in Lisle, Illinois. We serve home health, hospice, home care and dental owners nationwide, fully remote.
Signs
What are the signs it is time to switch accountants?
- Deadlines are missed, or you hear about them from a notice instead of your accountant
- Emails and calls take days or weeks to get answered
- Your accountant does not know your industry, such as Medicare cost reports, the hospice cap or dental practice books
- Bills show up with surprises and no written quote beforehand
- Your books are months behind, or you never see financial statements
- You only hear from your accountant once a year, at tax time
One of these on its own may be fixable. If you recognize three or more, it is worth a free call to compare.
Timing
When is the right time to switch?
Any time. You do not have to wait for the end of the year. The best time is the one that gives your new CPA the most room before the next deadline, so the earlier you call, the better.
Switching in the middle of a year is common. We pick up your books from the last closed month, catch up whatever is behind, and plan the next filing. If books are months behind, our catch-up bookkeeping service brings them current.
Switching in the middle of a Medicare cost report is also possible. The due date comes from your fiscal year end, not from your accountant: a cost report is due on or before the last day of the fifth month after the period ends (42 CFR 413.24(f)(2)). When you call, tell us your fiscal year end and we count backward to find what is left. If a deadline has already passed, see our page on a late or rejected Medicare cost report.
Your part
What do we need from you?
The list is short. We confirm the exact items on your free call.
- Access to your accounting software, such as QuickBooks Online, or an export of your books
- Your prior-year tax returns
- Your last Medicare cost report, if you are a home health agency or hospice
- Payroll reports and payroll tax filings, if you have employees
- Any open notices or letters from the IRS, your state or your Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC)
- Your written permission for us to contact your current accountant
No awkward call
How do we get your files from your old accountant?
You do not have to chase your old accountant. Once you sign a permission form, we send the request ourselves and ask for the files you will need: prior returns, workpapers, payroll records and your last cost report.
If something is slow to arrive, we keep following up. In the meantime we can start from what you already have, such as your software, bank statements and prior returns, so the work does not wait.
First 30 days
What happens in the first 30 days?
- 01Day 1 to 3: free 20-minute call. You tell us what is not working and what is due next. We confirm your fiscal year end and your next three deadlines.
- 02Day 3 to 7: you sign the engagement letter and the permission form, and give us software access. We send the request to your old accountant.
- 03Week 2: we review your books and your last filings, and list anything that needs fixing, such as unreconciled accounts or open notices.
- 04Week 3: we send you a written plan with each deadline and who does what. Anything that is behind goes on the plan first.
- 05Week 4: your regular work starts, whether that is monthly bookkeeping, payroll, tax or a cost report. You know who to call and what to expect.
Our industries
Who do we work with?
We focus on healthcare and small businesses, and we work remotely with clients in every state. Our niches:
- Home health agencies: cost reports, bookkeeping, payroll and tax
- Hospices: cost reports, aggregate cap tracking and bookkeeping
- Home care agencies: caregiver payroll, books and planning
- Dental practices: bookkeeping, tax and practice financials
See everything we do on our services page. Our team serves clients in English and Spanish.
Pricing
What does it cost to switch?
We publish our flat fees for Medicare cost reports on our pricing page. Other services depend on the size and scope of your business, so we quote them in writing after a free 20-minute call. You see the quote before any work starts, and there is no obligation.
What happens next
- 01
Free 20-minute call
Tell Christian about your agency and what is on your plate. No pitch deck, no pressure.
- 02
Written fee quote
You get a clear written quote for the work before we start. No surprises.
- 03
We handle it
Your CPA team takes it from there and keeps you posted until it is filed.
Client reviews
What our clients say
5.0 from 16 Google reviews
“I've been working with this Accounting firm for many years across multiple companies, and they've consistently delivered exceptional service... a team you can truly depend on.”
“Very professional, completed all our company tasks in a timely manner, we will certainly recommend.”
“Very accommodating & knowledgeable. Great expertise, Carl Soriaga & Christian Soriaga.”
FAQ
Switching accountants: your questions, answered
Still have questions? Ask them on a free 20-minute call.
Can I switch accountants in the middle of the year?
Yes. You can switch at any time. We pick up from your last closed month, catch up anything behind and plan your next deadlines. Switching earlier gives your new CPA more room before the next filing.
Can I switch in the middle of a Medicare cost report?
Yes. The due date is set by your fiscal year end, not by who prepares the report. A cost report is due on or before the last day of the fifth month after the period ends. Tell us your fiscal year end on the first call and we plan backward from the due date.
Will I miss a deadline if I switch?
Not if you start early. On the first call we list your next deadlines and put them in a written plan. If a deadline has already passed, we tell you what to file first.
Do I have to talk to my old accountant?
No. You sign a permission form and we send the request for your files. We follow up so you do not have to.
What if my old accountant is slow to send the files?
We keep following up, and we start from what you already have: your accounting software, bank statements and prior returns. Work does not wait on one slow reply.
What do you need from me to get started?
Access to your accounting software or an export of your books, prior-year tax returns, your last Medicare cost report if you file one, payroll reports, any open notices, and your written permission to contact your current accountant.
How long does it take to switch?
Most of the setup happens in the first 30 days: the call, the paperwork, the file request, a review of your books and a written plan. Your regular work starts in about the fourth week. Timing depends on how quickly your old files arrive.
What if my books are behind?
We can bring them current. Our catch-up bookkeeping service reconciles the accounts, fixes errors and gets you ready for taxes or a cost report. We quote cleanup after a free call because the scope varies widely.
Do you work with agencies and practices outside Illinois?
Yes. We are based in Lisle, Illinois, and we serve clients nationwide, fully remote. We prepare Medicare cost reports for agencies served by any Medicare Administrative Contractor.
What does it cost to switch?
There is no separate fee to start the conversation. Our Medicare cost report fees are on the pricing page. Other services are quoted in writing after a free 20-minute call, and you see the quote before work starts.
How do I get started?
Book a free 20-minute call with Christian Soriaga, CPA. Tell us what is not working and what is due next. We will tell you what a switch would look like.
Related pages: Pricing · Our services · Catch-up bookkeeping · Late Medicare cost report · Home health accounting · Hospice accounting
Free 20-minute call
Ready to switch? Book a free 20-minute call.
Talk directly with Christian Soriaga, CPA. No pitch deck, no obligation.
On the call we’ll cover
- Your situation and what is due next
- Deadlines and filing status
- A clear written fee quote
- Clear next steps, no obligation
Christian Soriaga, CPA
Soriaga & Associates, LLC