*Note: CPAs may specialize in different areas. Be sure to check credentials and service offerings.*
If this is your first time working with a CPA, don’t worry — most professionals offer a free consultation and will walk you through what to expect. You may be asked to complete an intake form, share financial documents, or set clear goals for your session.
*Note: Every CPA operates a bit differently. Don’t hesitate to ask questions before committing.*
*Tip: Organize your documents in advance to save time and ensure accuracy.*
*Note: Preparation helps you make the most of your CPA’s expertise.*
*Note: Every CPA is different — take time to find one who fits your goals and style.*
1451 E Lansing Dr STE 222
East Lansing, Michigan 48823
The ALG Group is TOP NOTCH. They work with integrity, intelligence, and incredible client care. We have worked with them for over 10 years, through different tax scenarios (small business, launching our children, acquiring new property, growing income) and they have ALWAYS been on the ready to advise and help. Our taxes are done efficiently and affordably, and any and all questions and concerns have been addressed immediately. Only the HIGHEST REGARDS for AJ and his colleagues. Truly.
I have been going to AJ for ten years now. He saved me my first year when other tax offices told me I was screwed. The ALG Group is the best in the business! Thanks again
ALG group has done a fantastic job for us for the several years we've used them. Some of our items were quite complicated and AJ researched and found the answer. Polite, efficient and smart! Thank you.
ALG Group is fantastic to work with. I am so glad that I was referred to them several years ago. Prompt. Thorough. Polite. Great communication. I will continue to use them for years to come and encourage others to try them as well.
The ALG group is very responsive to questions. They have an easy process for uploading documents. They are thorough in putting together and reviewing your return. They are great to work with.
AJ and the rest of the team were fantastic to work with. I was referred to them by a friend and even though I came to them late in the tax season they jumped right on it, were very responsive, and got everything taken care of quickly. Highly recommended.
I really enjoy the personal touch and rapid response times that the ALG office always has. I've had many problem situations and they've always been super helpful.
I've worked with ALG group for three years. They are very capable and professional, and easy to reach any time I have a question.
Timely, professional and top notch. These guys are the best! I appreciate all the hard work they put in to make sure my taxes are always filed on time and correct with great communication along the way.
The ALG people have been helpful and courteous, and sensitive to our special needs. They?ve done a great job every year.
We can always count on A.J. Gross and the Staff at The ALG Group - Tax Solutions to prepare our tax returns well, efficiently, and very courteously. Even when we were living outside of the US for about half a year, they were able to handle the added complexity of preparing our returns for that tax year competently, which was a great help to us! My husband and I are very, very happy with their service and recommend them highly!!
I've been working with ALG Group for almost 10 years and they continue to be an excellent and reliable part of my business and personal tax needs. They helped me through an IRS audit and took the stress out of the whole process. They answer tax questions throughout the year to help me make smart tax decisions. Lastly, I love the video summary of my tax returns that they send to me and which typically answer all my questions so I don't need a follow up call. Fantastic company!
The ALG Group gives me expert tax advise and prepares my tax return in a professional and timely manner. They take the time to answer my questions. I highly recommend them.
Very deserving of 5 stars. Helped me resolve a few tax scenarios that were quite a challenge to navigate alone. I have gained a new level of confidence knowing they are around now to help keep my endeavors in proper alignment in the future. Honestly, I dealt with a lot of shame over how I had ended up in a jumbled mess, and yet they sent ME a thank you for allowing them to resolve my issues! That is class service from ALG Group, and I am grateful to have found them as a partner.
I had the ALG Group referred to me by my sister and was so happy to find them. They have been exceptional in helping me get back on track and quickly answering any questions that I may have had. This is a team of highly skilled professionals that keep the client informed, assist to keep you on task, give you constant communications, and have a quick turnaround to deliver the results. If I left a message to Ajs team, as I live in another state, they gave me back a respone within 24 hours or less. I had some
A J and his team (Amanda) and group made filing my return so easy and painless,all done from Lazyboy..BADDA BING BADDA BOOM..Thanx again..Russ Hudson
A.J. and his team at ALG Group were fantastic! I am self-employed with a home office and had complicated taxes last year because I moved states and bought my first house. I was stressed! But AGL Group totally took care of me and helped me to understand all the questions I had about my filing. The team is communicative, nice, efficient, and A.J. set me up for success moving forward. I highly recommend!
Very professional in every part of the process. In the end the client receives a comprehensive set of documents for their file.
ALG group rocks! So organized. So efficient. They make everything so easy!
AJ and all the group at the ALG group are expediently helpful, and knowledgeable. I feel I am in safe hands with their expertise and willingness to help. They were recommended to me by a friend, and so happy they were, after having gone through three accountants in three years. THX so much!
This is not intended to be an unhinged rant against ALG. I recently had two brief phone conversations with them that were not very good. In searching out someone to do my taxes, I read great reviews about ALG and saw that they employed many women and people of color, things that are important to me. They set up a 15 minute call with me. When I called them at the appointed time 3/15/24, the person, AJ, who I was to speak with was not available. I was told he would call back shortly. He called back an hour la
Excellent service! Very helpful and makes the whole process easier. Highly recommend!
Great company to work with for tax preparation and IRS issues. They are very professional and friendly.
Had a far better experience with the ALG Group compared to TurboTax. Even with TurboTax's Live Full Service, the agent I dealt with was not knowledgeable about some straightforward personal tax situations that were slightly more complicated than basic "W2 only" cases. In contrast, the ALG Group demonstrated a thorough understanding of these complexities and handled my tax matters with expertise and professionalism. They also offer remote, cross-state filing, including local taxes, at about the same price as
AJ and his team - Emily, Julie, Amanda etc. have excellent communication skills, are detail oriented, efficient, patient and kind. I have had my taxes done for years by ALG Tax Solutions, and wouldn't go anywhere else!
ALG makes tax season so easy. Drop off your documents and they take care of everything. If they have questions after drop off they are done by email. Very happy with their service!
Such a joy to work with - efficient but thoughtful in their process. Highly recommend!
AJ was a great help with my difficult situation. Would recommend.
We have been using ALG Group and predecessors for years. We get wonderful advice and timely suggestions. We really like the tax organizer and the ease in providing our records digitally.
With the new year, I wanted to put in a plug for ALG. I've had AJ work on my taxes for a few years in a row. I don't have anything super complicated, but because of past bad experiences, I always want competent and professional help. AJ and his team have been great. Very responsive to emails and communication, and I have nothing but positive things to say. I'd recommend this business to anyone looking for tax preparation.
Everyone is so helpful and quick to answer questions. I highly recommend them.
My experience was not a good one. We have been with ALG for the past 3 years. We are currently still awaiting our 2019 tax return. We RESUBMITTED that return again 20 weeks ago and have yet to get a resolution. I spoke with the staff multiple times regarding this issue and was only offered phone numbers that lead to automated lines. This was not helpful because the IRS has moved on 2020 filing. The numbers provided to me were the Detroit IRS office and the Grand Rapids IRS office. I called back to ALG after
Friendliest, most professional, and well organized tax service possible. I recommend ALG to all my friends and will never go back to doing my own taxes!
Great group, extremely helpful, professional and reasonable. For obvious reasons do not want to be a repeat customer, because that means I need IRS help again, but would definitely not hesitate to reach out to The ALG Group again and recommend to all those seeking help in this area
I used ALG Group for over 3 years for filing my taxes and additional tax help. This company is 2nd to none! I would highly recommend them for all of the services they offer. The entire staff is helpful, kind, and knowledgeable.
Friendly staff that?s easy to work with. I?ve moved out of town but continue to use ALG Tax Solutions because of the great service.
AJ is always prompt and detailed with any answers to questions and gets our taxes (complicated) done in a speedy manner every time! Highly recommend.
ALG was easy to work with and did a thorough job on my taxes. I was able to do everything online which made it very convenient for me!!
I have used AJ and his company for the last 5 years and can not say enough good things about working with him and his team. Thank you ALG Group for everything
Highly recommend. Efficient, thorough, and professional. They always respond quickly and courteously. Great to work with...
Fabulous! That about sums it up. If you want your taxes done correctly, timely, and professionally this is the place. I can't say enough great things about The ALG Group!
AJ is very responsive and willing to explain tax matters in a way that is easy to understand. Very professional and taxes are done quickly and efficiently without having to worry about anything! I highly recommend him for any tax related matter.
AJ is very good at what he does - "VERY IMPRESSIVE".... about 9 months ago I (a Canadian investor in a US company) reached out to him as I had received different information from a friend of a friend who was a US tax lawyer. As I am sure you are aware that a Tax Lawyer does everything from soup to nuts whereas AJ only works on IRS related accounting/tax issues. After a week of back and forth I was convinced that AJ was the right path to follow and here 9 months later in good standing with the IRS. All of th
Charles "Chuck" Poor, PC, CPA and his staff were: friendly, welcoming, and super helpful for my wife and I! We were a bit nervous about doing our taxes with TurboTax again (we had 2 straight years of terrible experiences) and were in the market for a highly professional and trusting tax preparer. We easily found that with Chuck and his staff! My wife and I highly recommend making an appointment with his office, sitting down with Chuck, and getting a well experienced professional to do your taxes. We serio
I get immediate response to my tax questions from the office staff via phone calls and emails. Their video email explains how the taxes were prepared and compares them to the previous year.
A.J. and team have been doing my taxes for 5 years, and they are always prompt and thorough, and end up saving me money.
AJ and his team have been really helpful! They are responsive and give great advice!
Great folks all around! Very thorough in their work, and easy to work with - always quickly responsive!
These was my second year and Im very pleased with the service I received, I very high recommended...
I was a walk in but received help like I was a long time client. Thank you
Smart, efficient, effective, economical, thorough, friendly, competent with a candy dish at the door.
They resolved an issue and got me a return. Great job
Chuck is a very respectful and knowledgeable accountant. The staff is very friendly. I definitely recommend him.
Prompt and easy process. Answered all my questions and concerns.
AJ and team are great to work with!
Excellent service, very responsive and knowledgeable.
Very professional very friendly very satisfied
Excellent in every way! Highly recommend!
Experienced tax people.
Look for a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license, which ensures they’ve passed rigorous exams and meet state requirements. Check for relevant experience in your industry, additional certifications like CFA or CMA, and membership in professional organizations like the AICPA. Verify their credentials through state licensing boards.
Use online directories like the AICPA, CPAverify, or state CPA societies. Search platforms like Yelp or Google for local CPAs with reviews. Ask for referrals from business associates, friends, or financial advisors. Local chambers of commerce can also provide recommendations.
A CPA is a licensed professional who has passed the CPA exam and met state requirements for education and experience. An accountant may lack this certification and could have varying levels of expertise. For complex tasks like tax audits or financial reporting, a CPA is typically more qualified.
Ask about their experience with your specific financial needs, such as tax preparation, small business accounting, or estate planning. Review their website or LinkedIn for case studies or client testimonials. Inquire about their client base to ensure they handle similar financial situations.
Yes, reviews provide insight into a CPA’s reliability, communication, and performance. Check platforms like Google, Yelp, or the Better Business Bureau for client feedback. Look for patterns in reviews, but verify their authenticity, as some may be biased or outdated.
Visit your state’s Board of Accountancy website or use CPAverify.org to check a CPA’s license status. Confirm their license is active and check for any disciplinary actions or complaints. This ensures they’re in good standing and meet professional standards.
Ask about their experience with your financial needs, fee structure, availability, and communication style. Inquire how they handle tax filings, audits, or financial planning. Ask for references or examples of similar work to assess their expertise and fit.
Fees vary based on location, services, and complexity. Basic tax preparation may cost $150-$500, while business accounting or audits can range from $1,000 to $10,000+. Request a detailed fee structure upfront and compare quotes from multiple CPAs.
Yes, many CPAs offer remote services through secure online platforms for document sharing and virtual consultations. Ensure they use encrypted tools for data security. Remote CPAs can be effective if they understand your local tax laws or business regulations.
During consultations, evaluate their ability to explain complex financial concepts clearly. Ask sample questions about taxes or financial strategies and note their responsiveness and clarity. Good communication ensures you understand their advice and fosters a productive relationship.
Beware of CPAs who guarantee specific tax refunds, lack a valid license, or have disciplinary actions on record. Avoid those with poor communication, vague fee structures, or negative reviews highlighting unethical behavior. Always verify their credentials independently.
Large firms offer more resources and specialized teams but may charge higher fees. Solo practitioners often provide personalized service and lower costs but may have limited availability. Choose based on your needs, budget, and preference for personalized attention.
For individuals, annual meetings for tax preparation may suffice. Businesses may need quarterly or monthly check-ins for bookkeeping, tax planning, or financial reporting. Discuss your needs upfront to establish a meeting schedule that aligns with your financial goals.
Yes, many CPAs handle both, but confirm their expertise in both areas. Ask about their experience managing personal taxes and business accounting simultaneously. Ensure they can balance both without compromising attention to your specific financial needs.
Discuss concerns directly with your CPA to resolve issues. If unresolved, check your contract for termination terms. Seek a new CPA by researching reviews, credentials, and referrals. Request your financial records to ensure a smooth transition to a new professional.