HOW TO HIRE · BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a tax advisor in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A tax advisor in Ireland costs €100–€300 per hour, typically around €150. 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 tax advisor in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers tax advisor work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — VAT and Indirect Tax Services — tax advisors assist businesses in navigating VAT regulations and compliance.
- How does their experience change the price?Reputation is the reason two quotes for one job differ so much. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of your tax situation change the price?It changes the risk the provider is taking on. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does specific services required change the price?A basic option and a premium one are different jobs. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Business Structuring Advice — advisors offer insights on the best business structure (e.g., sole trader, partnership, limited company) to optimize tax efficiency — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a tax advisor 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 tax advisor work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — VAT and Indirect Tax Services — tax advisors assist businesses in navigating VAT regulations and compliance.
A good answer: Reputation is the reason two quotes for one job differ so much. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: It changes the risk the provider is taking on. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A basic option and a premium one are different jobs. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Business Structuring Advice — advisors offer insights on the best business structure (e.g., sole trader, partnership, limited company) to optimize tax efficiency — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a tax advisor 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 Planning Strategies — tax advisors assist businesses in developing effective tax planning strategies to minimise liabilities.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the tax advisor starts, and an itemised invoice after — tax Dispute Resolution — assists clients in resolving disputes with tax authorities, including negotiations and appeals.
Getting the quote right
- Their experience — reputation is the reason two quotes for one job differ so much.
- Complexity of your tax situation — it changes the risk the provider is taking on.
- Specific services required — a basic option and a premium one are different jobs.
- Volume of documentation — the first few are the slowest; the rest go faster.
- 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: their experience — reputation is the reason two quotes for one job differ so much
- They will not talk about it: complexity of your tax situation — it changes the risk the provider is taking on
- They will not talk about it: specific services required — a basic option and a premium one are different jobs
- A price for the tax advisor 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 tax advisor has begun
What a tax advisor costs: €100–€300 per hour
Most tax advisors quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. Tax preparation and Tax planning each carry their own band. Tax Advisor 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
Tax advisors 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, or book by the hour.
- Look firstTheir experience — reputation is the reason two quotes for one job differ so much — that is what the tax advisor is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneComplexity of your tax situation — it changes the risk the provider is taking on — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfSpecific services required — a basic option and a premium one are different jobs — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherVolume of documentation — the first few are the slowest; the rest go faster — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the tax advisor is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, advisor's expertise — skill shows in the parts of the job you never see.
- Tax Planning Strategies
- Tax advisors assist businesses in developing effective tax planning strategies to minimise liabilities.
- Business Structuring Advice
- Advisors offer insights on the best business structure (e.g., sole trader, partnership, limited company) to optimize tax efficiency.
- VAT and Indirect Tax Services
- Tax advisors assist businesses in navigating VAT regulations and compliance.
- Tax Preparation
- Involves gathering financial information and filing tax returns accurately on behalf of clients.
- Tax Planning
- Focuses on developing strategies to minimise tax liabilities and optimize financial outcomes over time.
- Audit Representation
- Provides support and representation for clients undergoing tax audits by regulatory authorities.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a tax advisor: questions people ask
The cost of hiring a tax advisor can vary based on their experience, the complexity of your tax situation, and the specific services required. For instance, a straightforward tax return may cost less than comprehensive tax planning or audit support.
The duration of a meeting with a tax advisor can range from one hour for a basic consultation to several hours for in-depth planning sessions. The complexity of your needs will largely dictate the length of the engagement.
While general tax advisors can handle many situations, complex cases, especially those involving international tax laws or significant business structures, may require a qualified specialist. It is advisable to check their credentials and experience.
Same-day service may be available, but it often depends on the advisor's schedule and the complexity of your needs. It’s best to call ahead to inquire about availability for urgent matters.
Yes, many tax advisors offer packages that include multiple services, such as tax planning, compliance, and business structuring advice. This can often lead to cost savings and a more integrated approach to your tax strategy.
Tax advisors generally do not provide legal advice or services unrelated to tax matters, such as accounting or bookkeeping. If you require these services, you may need to consult with a different professional.
MORE GUIDES