“Wait, are you saying we shouldn’t trust our clients?”
Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying.
And before you react, let me explain.
Trust is earned. Due diligence is required. In this profession, you don’t just pay the price for what you do, you pay for what you believe without verifying.
That price can be your credibility, your license, or your career.
Most clients mean well. But good intentions don’t always translate into accurate numbers, timely documents, or full disclosures.
And let’s be honest, some clients won’t tell you the full story until they’re cornered by consequences.
I have seen and heard CPAs go down, not because they were unethical, but because they trusted blindly.
I have personally experienced this issue of inadequate documents and numbers from a couple of clients.
They filed with documents that were doctored.
They accepted self-prepared financials without digging deeper.
They relied on “my previous CPA never asked for that” as a green light to cut corners.
That’s not compliance. That’s risk management failure that can cost you much more.
Here’s how I protect my firm and my name:
- Every tax document gets reviewed for consistency. If the numbers look off, I ask. If they resist, I pause the process.
- Every business client gets a checklist. We don’t skip steps. I don’t care who referred them.
- Every conversation about income, deductions, or entity structure is documented. If the story changes, I have a record of the first version.
Trust doesn’t mean saying “yes” without proof.
It means doing your part to verify before you validate.
When you do this, you are not accusing clients of lying, you’re protecting both of you from the fallout of assumptions.
Because here’s what I know: The IRS won’t audit your client’s character. They’ll audit the numbers. And if you filed them, they’re coming to you first.
Apply This Now:
Pick one area of your workflow where you’ve been too trusting, client-reported income, cash-based deductions, self-prepared spreadsheets.
Build a verification step into your process this week.
Small habits now prevent career-level problems later.
Ready for lesson 10 tomorrow? Don’t miss it.
Book your free 15 minutes clarity session today: 757-977-8911 or email [email protected]
If we haven’t met,
I am Dr. Lilly Mbinglo, CPA,
❤️Daddy YONGKA’s Nyomshiliv,
💃🏾Abakwa’s FINEST and SMARTEST CPA,
💸Tax Strategist and Tax Alchemist Extraordinaire,
👩🏽💼Regent University MBA Professor,
I serve through The Ark NPS, a full-service Accounting Firm, where we provide Accounting services, Bookkeeping, Payroll, Tax Preparation, Planning, Resolution and Consulting, as well as Startup services to Individuals, Businesses and Nonprofits.
Let’s Connect!
#cpa #cpafirm #taxaccountant
