You’ve made the decision and chosen a CA to help you with your financial needs. You’re probably feeling a great deal of relief and satisfaction, because CAs have the expertise to help you with a wide range of financial issues. You’ve made an appointment for your first meeting, but you’re not exactly sure what you need to do to be sure you make the most of it.

If you are meeting with your CA about your annual tax return, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia New Zealand recommends that these are some of the documents you should be prepared to bring:

• Your Working papers.
• Documents you may have received for business
• Documentation of any other income you received during the year, such as self-employment income, rental or other payments.
• Paperwork showing tax-deductible expenses, including mortgage interest, purchase costs and moving expenses..
• Documentation of contributions you have made to business.
• Details of any estimated tax payments you made.

This is not an exhaustive list. Your CA’s office may be able to provide you with a more specific idea of the best paperwork to bring. In addition, don’t forget a copy of last year’s return so that your CA can develop a better understanding of your financial situation. Your CA may also ask you for some type of identification, such as a passport.

Along with this paperwork, you should also come armed with all your most pressing financial questions. For instance, you may want to ask your CA what he would recommend to help you make better sense of your financial life. In reviewing your documents, your CA may notice that you haven’t made the most of tax-advantaged opportunities or that you’re paying too much interest on your outstanding debt. Because of their extensive financial knowledge, your CA should be able to offer smart ideas to address these and many other issues. In addition, ask about whether you’re taking advantage of tax-saving opportunities. CAs can spot deductions or credits you may be missing or identify other chances to cut your tax bite.

Because of their strong business background, CAs usually provide a wide variety of services for both individual and business clients. What can a CA do for you? That’s a great question to ask in your first meeting. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the many solutions that CAs can offer to address all your financial challenge.