My tax agent has retired. Switching

Long story shot my tax agent of 13 years has retired, but the business is still operating but I would like to change to a new accounting firm.
Question I have is how hard is this to do as we have 3 x IPs and shares. Is all this set up with the ATO (property depreciation etc) and its a simple switch? Or is it a hard process and if so what is involved.
Sorry if this has been asked before.
Kurt

 

Fairly simple. A new accountant would only need last years tax return and any relevant depreciation schedules.

But if you sell shares/ property etc you would need to be able to provide the costbase information to the new accountant.

 

You need to get from him before he goes
Soft copies of
1: eight year balance sheet
2: eight year trial balance
3: comparative for the five years
4: detailed transactions of all the ledger transactions since the beginning
5: reconciliation of the balance sheet for the last 8 years
6: reconciliation of accounting profit to tax profit
7: depreciation schedules for each of the years
8: debtors and creditors schedules for eight years
9riginal documents held
10:audit notes (if any)
11: nice bottle of wine for being a great customer

 

Agree - Just make sure you have copies of ALL data (irrespective of date) they have on file as it may become "lost" otherwise. Ask them if you can hand them a USB and have it all copied over. If they hold old company binders etc (old school firm) then make sure this is in your hands. Ditto any trust docs such as a deed !!

Otherwise moving between is simple. New accountant will need last years returns and things like QS reports etc. Important you have all knowledge re CGT costs, dates etc anyway.