*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.*
1 Enterprise Dr Suite 210
Shelton, Connecticut 06484
The Innovative CPA group is an excellent firm. Everyone from the receptionist to the accountants are friendly and knowledgeable. Our personal accountant is Pamela Matocha. Pamela is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. She also gets our tax return completed quickly. This year her client ( my mom) passed away. Pamela was so thoughtful and efficient in answering my questions and getting my mother?s tax return done quickly and thoroughly. She was so helpful to me during the entire process. I would highly recom
I have used this firm for about 10 years and have seen them grow and merge with another firm. They continue to provide excellent service. I have worked with Zach Smith the last couple of seasons and he has been very responsive. Keep up the good work!
I have been dealing with The Innovative CPA Group for years and even though I have moved 1 1/2 hours away I will continue to use them. The group is extremely knowledgeable and everyone, including the ladies at the front desk are professional and kind!
Jim LeFebvre is outstanding to work with. He is extremely knowledgeable and thorough, and he turns around annual tax filings quickly. It is a painless process with Jim, and he is always quick to respond to questions. Regards, David and Camilla
I can't recommend Innovative CPA Group highly enough. Zack, our accountant, is everything you need in an accountant. He's knowledgeable, responsive, funny and kind. He makes doing taxes look easy -- even though ours are really complicated! If you need an accountant, Innovative is where you need to go!
My late husband Craig and his family have been using IPA for years when it was T M Byxbee. Since my husband passing, I have continued to use the firm. Robin is my accountant and has always been there for me especially since Craig was the financial person in our marriage. I am a retired nurse so the laws of tax returns, etc are definitely foreign to me. Robin has always been patient with me and for that I could never thank her enough. All my gratitude
Al Stiewing is an amazing CPA, not only as a person who looks after your interests as a client, but as a great professional, and delightful person who you can always trust. Highly recommend him and his group.
Horrible in so many ways. Incompetence and overpriced. We use them last year and I thought it was just the person in Shelton we used was a poor communicator and incompetent. We called to complain and the manager assured us that he had someone better. So this year we use somebody from a different location that continued to make mistakes. Clerical errors that we had to catch over and over. And then charged us $1200! Never again.
I find Chris Nickse of Innovative CPA Group to be very responsive in every respect; responding to emails and filing our tax returns. Appreciate all his help.
Been dealing with John Melillo for over 30?years and in the past few years gotten to know Joe Maher John is just amazing , a great financial CPA & advisor and ever so knowledgeable and amazing customer personality Joe is very knowledgeable and very easy to communicate with
Overall positive experience but would have liked more frequent/earlier communication from Al S. . After submitting my info. in late February a month went by before I heard back from Innovative.
viji is always on top of things and SO accommodating to our whole family !(oops...shouldn't forget charlie too. a good friend and advisor for 30+ years !)
Experienced, knowledgeable, friendly & professional. Robin and the team have been great for many years. Highly recommend
Cannot say any more than Al is the Best. He helped me through the hardest time of my life and did it with kindness and care. Thank you Al
I give our paperwork directly to one of the partners, therefore, I do not need the reminders to upload documents, etc. This has worked well for the past 3 years.
Reliable, friendly, and kind. They answered all questions with a timely and informative response. Highly recommend!
Have been going to Lauren and her team for a couple years now and have experienced a seamless tax return process every time. The entire team is incredibly professional, super quick, and quite thorough. Would highly recommend them for all your CPA needs.
I had my personal taxes prepared by Melillo and Mitchell for many years and loved them. Since they became part of the Innovative CPA group the timeliness and service was HORRIBLE. In addition to the horrible service and late filings I was informed that their fees will be going up. I was able to find another provider to do my taxes at half the price. So I do not recommend the Innovative CPA group at all for personal tax services.
Michele Nevins makes our tax filing painless for us. So happy we found you Michele. Many thanks. Stu and Isabel Clymer
The Innovative CPA Group has worked with us for over 12 years, and we have always been impressed with them. We have complicated returns and often our bookkeeping has not been as clear as it should be. They are incredibly patient with us, have set up with Quickbooks Online and have helped make our business more and more efficient through the years. We highly recommend them.
Great experience, fast turnaround, professional, reasonably priced.
Charlie and Sunny are the best. Always there for us, Response is immediate and direct. They are always looking out for their client's best interest. Tax returns are done on time. Best CPA"s you can have.
I got audited for some mistakes I made on previous tax returns. The people at innovative really helped me out. They were knowledgable, friendly and worked quickly. Most importantly, not only did they stop me from having to pay back money to the IRS, they even recovered some taxes I overpaid! I'm going to use them going forward for any of my tax preparation needs. Highly recommend.
I would strongly recommend Viji Krishnamoothy and Charles Smith, who have prepared my tax returns for almost 20 years. I have always found them to be knowledgeable, professional and responsive. Together with their partners at Innovative, they also expertly managed estate tax returns after the death of my mother.
I have worked with Lauren for the past few years. She makes year end less stressful. She is very helpful and knowledgeable. The firm always delivers my financial statements in a timely manner. Would highly recommend.
Working with the team at innovative was great! Everyone was super professional and responsive. I would recommend to any family and friend looking for a top notch group to work with.
We couldn't be happier with the Innovative CPA Group. The group has a wonderful group of employees that are quick and knowledgeable on all of our questions. We have recommended them to our clients and are very happy we did.
If I could give it zero stars I would. After going to the same place for over 15 years, they have become horrible since innovative cpa group took over. The person I worked with was absolutely terrible. Horrible customer service and they do not care about the individuals they are working with. I even had to wait for a check in the mail because the incompetent person doing my taxes decided not to check the box for direct deposit, even though it has been that way forever. AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!!
very competent and friendly team, always very helpful with even international tasks. I am their very satisfied customer even especially going back with John for more than 15 years and will be staying with them for the time to come
We have had both our personal and business returns handled here. Their professionalism and personal approach makes the tax experience positive. No need to look elsewhere.
Zero stars. This firm could care less about their individual customers. They are solely focused on business clients. You don't even get to sit down with the person who prepares your taxes. They send you a packet to fill out and then they call you when it's ready - maybe. And it takes WEEKS! Awful, awful, AWFUL firm!!!!! Run screaming.
Called to schedule an appointment for simple tax prep. I was advised by the person on the phone that they would need to consult one of the partners of the group about pricing and they would get back to me. Weeks have gone by and I have received no response.
We've worked with Scott Mitchell for many years before the practice became the ICPA group. Always a pleasure; value his advice.
We are very happy with the support and response we received from Innovative, and we are looking forward to building on the relationship.
Nothing but good to say about the professionalism of the personnel we?ve dealt with, their expertise and quite efficient execution of our tax needs. Thank you.
Lauren is the best. She is proactive, thoughtful, and very knowledgeable in her field...we absolutely adore working with her.
Efficient and courteous. Very good job. Being open on Saturdays is a big help.
We were satisfied with the work but if there are questions, it is difficult to reach someone to talk to. I found it difficult to communicate via email or texts.
Tax prep is done in a timely and efficient way. I cannot ask for more. Carole Johannsen
Very Professional and timely! Several of my clients have used them and have always been very satisfied.
The staff is very efficient and helped this senior navigate the digital streamlined process of filing. Thank you
Have used innovative CPA group to prepare my taxes for many years. Always professional, responsive and timely!
Very expensive. After the increase in cost this year I had to go elsewhere to get a reasonable price, which was $300 less. WOW! look around for a better price.
My tax returns were done quickly and professionally. Makes the filing actually enjoyable!
Innovative CPAs is the best, they work with you to meet you where you are at and bring your company to the next level. Contact them now!
I have used Innovative CPA Group for years now and I highly recommend them!
Great service and support from a very competent team!
Professional and knowledgeable CPAs!
Always helpful and respond to emails very quickly.
My only issue is with ever increasing pricing for services.
Efficient and easy to deal with accountants, Thank you Innovative CPA Group, LLC
Scott Mitchell is wonderful to work with.
Wouldn?t take my tax info anywhere else
Scott Mitchell and team are consistently great.
As usual, very responsive and professional. A pleasure to work with.
Best service Always responsive without any delay
Great service, responsive and insightful
Outstanding customer service!
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.