HOW TO HIRE · BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a self-assessment accountant in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A self-assessment help in Ireland costs €250–€400 per return, typically around €300. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a self-assessment accountant in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers self-assessment accountant work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — tax Planning Strategies — self-assessment services often encompass strategic tax planning to minimise liabilities.
- How does complexity of your financial situation change the price?It decides how much of the day the job takes. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does professional's experience change the price?A specialist charges above a generalist for the same hours. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does specific services required change the price?An upgraded package costs more because it includes more. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Record Keeping Advice — experts provide guidance on maintaining proper records throughout the year, helping you track expenses and income effectively — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a self-assessment accountant job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
THE TERM 'ACCOUNTANT' IS NOT PROTECTED — anyone may use it, which surprises most people. What is checkable is membership of a professional body (Chartered Accountants Ireland, ACCA, CPA Ireland), each of which maintains a searchable member list, requires professional indemnity insurance and gives you a complaints route. An agent filing on your behalf also needs an agent registration with the tax authority.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Which professional body, and their member number — then check it on that body's own register; Professional indemnity insurance and its limit; Their agent registration, if they will file for you; Who does the work and who reviews it; The fee basis: fixed, hourly, or per return, and what is outside it; What you are responsible for providing, and by when.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect professional indemnity insurance, which the professional bodies require. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 23%, the standard rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers self-assessment accountant work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — tax Planning Strategies — self-assessment services often encompass strategic tax planning to minimise liabilities.
A good answer: It decides how much of the day the job takes. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A specialist charges above a generalist for the same hours. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: An upgraded package costs more because it includes more. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Record Keeping Advice — experts provide guidance on maintaining proper records throughout the year, helping you track expenses and income effectively — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a self-assessment accountant job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect professional indemnity insurance, which the professional bodies require — tax Return Preparation — self-assessment help often includes the preparation of your annual tax return.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the self-assessment accountant starts, and an itemised invoice after — tax Planning Consultation — proactive advice on tax planning strategies to optimise future self-assessment submissions and minimise liabilities.
Getting the quote right
- Complexity of your financial situation — it decides how much of the day the job takes.
- Professional's experience — a specialist charges above a generalist for the same hours.
- Specific services required — an upgraded package costs more because it includes more.
- Number of income sources involved — more of them means more to prepare beforehand.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: complexity of your financial situation — it decides how much of the day the job takes
- They will not talk about it: professional's experience — a specialist charges above a generalist for the same hours
- They will not talk about it: specific services required — an upgraded package costs more because it includes more
- A price for the self-assessment accountant before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the self-assessment accountant has begun
What a self-assessment accountant costs: €250–€400 per return
The figures are for the job, per return, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Individual self-assessment and Business self-assessment each carry their own band. Self-Assessment Help price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Self-assessment accountants near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstComplexity of your financial situation — it decides how much of the day the job takes — that is what the self-assessment accountant is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneProfessional's experience — a specialist charges above a generalist for the same hours — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfSpecific services required — an upgraded package costs more because it includes more — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherNumber of income sources involved — more of them means more to prepare beforehand — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the self-assessment accountant is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, condition of your records — wear and tear adds repairs the job did not originally include.
- Tax Return Preparation
- Self-assessment help often includes the preparation of your annual tax return.
- Record Keeping Advice
- Experts provide guidance on maintaining proper records throughout the year, helping you track expenses and income effectively.
- Tax Planning Strategies
- Self-assessment services often encompass strategic tax planning to minimise liabilities.
- Business Self-Assessment
- Support for small business owners in managing their tax obligations and filing accurate self-assessment returns.
- Freelancer Tax Assistance
- Guidance for freelancers on managing income from various sources and understanding allowable expenses.
- Rental Income Reporting
- Help for landlords in reporting rental income and claiming appropriate deductions related to property management.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a self-assessment accountant: questions people ask
The cost can vary based on the complexity of your financial situation, the professional's experience, and the specific services required. More complex cases involving multiple income streams or tax planning strategies will typically incur higher fees.
The duration can vary widely; a straightforward tax return might take 1-2 hours, while more complex cases could require several sessions. It's advisable to discuss your specific needs with the professional to get a better estimate.
While general tax advisors can assist with self-assessment, a qualified accountant or tax specialist is recommended for more complicated situations. They have the expertise to navigate complex tax laws and regulations effectively.
Some professionals may offer emergency or same-day services, but this often comes at a premium. It's best to inquire directly with providers about their availability for urgent assistance.
Yes, many professionals offer packages that can include multiple services, such as tax planning and filing. Booking multiple services together may also result in discounted rates.
Out of scope services often include ongoing bookkeeping, representation in tax disputes, or advisory services for unrelated financial matters. It's important to clarify with your provider what is included in their self-assessment help.
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