Accountant in Chattanooga

June 15, 2026

Working one-on-one with an accountant in Chattanooga is a different relationship than visiting a seasonal tax storefront or retaining a large multi-staff firm. An individual accountant or small CPA practice keeps a manageable client list and handles the work personally, so the person who prepares a return in the spring is the same one who answers a summer question about an estimated payment, a new side business, or a letter from the IRS. Chattanooga is one of Tennessee’s largest cities, with a population of roughly 186,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and as a growing center for logistics, manufacturing, and a developing technology sector it produces a steady mix of wage earners, self-employed workers, and small business owners who benefit from an accountant who stays engaged year-round rather than only during filing season.

The work an individual accountant does for a household or small business reaches well beyond the annual return. A typical engagement covers year-round tax planning and preparation, ongoing bookkeeping, QuickBooks setup and cleanup, small-business and personal accounting, quarterly estimated tax projections, entity selection for a new LLC or S corporation, and basic advisory on cash flow and recordkeeping. Many Chattanooga practices are QuickBooks-certified and can repair a set of books that drifted out of balance during a busy year, then keep them current month to month. Because the practice is small, the client usually deals with the principal directly rather than a rotating team of associates.

Credentials matter when choosing an individual accountant, and not everyone who prepares taxes is a Certified Public Accountant. A CPA in Tennessee is licensed by the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy, which operates under the Department of Commerce and Insurance and requires a bachelor’s degree plus 150 semester hours, passing the Uniform CPA Examination, qualifying experience, and ongoing continuing education. Anyone who prepares federal returns for compensation must hold an IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN), but a PTIN alone is not a CPA license. Enrolled Agents (EAs) are credentialed directly by the IRS and, like CPAs, hold unlimited rights to represent taxpayers in audits, collections, and appeals. Consumers can verify a CPA license through the State Board’s public lookup at verify.tn.gov and confirm a preparer’s PTIN and any CPA or EA credential through the IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers.

Tennessee’s tax structure shapes how an individual accountant works in Chattanooga, and the city’s position on the Georgia state line adds a wrinkle. Tennessee has no personal income tax on wages, and the Hall income tax on interest and dividends was fully repealed effective 2021, so most individuals file only a federal Form 1040. A Chattanooga resident who commutes across the line into Georgia, however, generally files a Georgia nonresident return on that income, which is one reason a year-round accountant is useful in this metro. Small business owners may owe Tennessee franchise and excise tax or the state business tax through the Tennessee Department of Revenue, and every taxable sale carries the 7% state sales tax plus the local option. Consumers who encounter deceptive practices can contact the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, which administers the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), while complaints about a CPA’s professional conduct go to the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy.

Top Accountant Providers in Chattanooga

1. Callison CPA (Stephanie N. Callison, CPA)

Address: 2030 Hamilton Place Boulevard, Suite 250, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone: (423) 287-5665
Website: https://www.callisoncpa.com
Services: individual and business tax preparation and planning, bookkeeping, payroll processing, financial statement reviews and compilations, estate and trust tax, IRS tax notice assistance
Description: Callison CPA is a boutique Chattanooga practice founded by Stephanie N. Callison, a Certified Public Accountant, operating from an office at the CBL Center on Hamilton Place Boulevard near Hamilton Place Mall. The firm describes its model as offering the expertise of a large regional CPA firm with the personal attention of a boutique practice, with services scaled to individuals, small businesses, and corporations. Its work covers individual and business tax preparation and planning, QuickBooks-based bookkeeping, in-house payroll, financial statement reviews and compilations, estate and trust tax, and IRS tax notice assistance. Callison’s direct involvement and the firm’s small scale make it a practical option for individuals and small business owners who want year-round attention rather than a single seasonal filing.

2. Miller & McPhail, CPAs, PLLC

Address: 409 Harper Street, Suite 101, Chattanooga, TN 37405
Phone: (423) 756-7002
Website: https://www.millerandmcphailcpa.com
Services: individual and small business tax preparation and planning, accounting and financial management, bookkeeping, payroll, IRS resolution, risk and cash management
Description: Miller & McPhail, CPAs, PLLC is a small full-service CPA practice serving the Chattanooga area and adjacent North Georgia, with more than three decades of operation. The firm emphasizes relationship-based service for both individuals and small businesses, handling tax preparation and planning, accounting and financial management, bookkeeping, payroll, IRS resolution, and risk and cash management. Operating from an office on Harper Street in the North Shore area, the practice keeps a local focus and works with clients year-round rather than only during filing season. Its scale suits households and small businesses that want a direct, ongoing relationship with the accountants handling their books and returns.

3. Rooks CPA, PLLC (Larry C. Rooks, CPA)

Address: 1025 Executive Drive, Suite 104, Hixson, TN 37343 (serves the Chattanooga metro)
Phone: (423) 855-1040
Website: https://www.rookscpas.com
Services: individual and business tax preparation, tax planning and consulting, bookkeeping, business valuation, IRS and state tax resolution, financial planning
Description: Rooks CPA, PLLC is a small CPA and business advisory practice led by principal Larry C. Rooks, a Certified Public Accountant, serving the Chattanooga metro from an office on Executive Drive in Hixson, north of the city. The firm was established in 2006 and works with both individuals and small businesses, offering individual and business tax preparation, tax planning and consulting, bookkeeping, business valuation, IRS and state tax resolution, and financial planning. The practice emphasizes personalized, tailored service and local client relationships, and the business valuation capability adds a service useful to owners weighing a sale or succession that many small practices do not provide. Clients work directly with the firm on year-round planning rather than only at filing time.

Frequently Asked Questions About Accountant in Chattanooga

Q: What is the difference between working with an individual accountant and a large accounting firm in Chattanooga?

An individual accountant or small CPA practice keeps a smaller client roster and handles the work personally, so the same person prepares your return, keeps your books, and answers your questions throughout the year. A large multi-staff firm assigns work across teams and is often geared toward audits, assurance engagements, mergers and acquisitions, and bigger institutional clients in sectors like manufacturing and insurance. For a household, a self-employed person, or a small business that wants a direct relationship and year-round planning, a single accountant or small practice frequently fits better; for audited financial statements required by a lender or regulator, a larger registered CPA firm may be necessary.

Q: Does my accountant in Chattanooga have to be a CPA?

No. General bookkeeping, payroll, and basic tax return preparation can be performed by a non-CPA. The CPA title is reserved for individuals licensed by the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy, which requires a bachelor’s degree plus 150 semester hours, passing the Uniform CPA Examination, experience, and continuing education. A CPA can represent you before the IRS and, with a registered firm, provide attest services such as audits and reviews. Anyone who prepares federal returns for pay must at minimum hold an IRS PTIN, and Enrolled Agents, licensed by the IRS, also have full IRS representation rights.

Q: I live in Chattanooga but work in Georgia. Can an individual accountant handle that?

Yes, and it is a common situation in the Chattanooga metro. Although Tennessee has no wage income tax, Georgia taxes wages earned there, so a Chattanooga resident who commutes across the state line generally files a Georgia nonresident return on that income. A CPA or Enrolled Agent experienced in multistate returns can prepare the Georgia filing and make sure income is reported correctly, so it is worth confirming multistate experience before engaging an accountant.

Q: How do I verify that an accountant in Chattanooga is a licensed CPA?

You can verify an individual CPA license through the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy’s public lookup at verify.tn.gov, and you can reach the board by phone at 888-453-6150. To confirm that a paid preparer holds a current PTIN and to see any CPA or EA credential, use the IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers. Checking both confirms the person is authorized to use the CPA designation and to represent you before the IRS.

Q: What should I bring to a first meeting with an individual accountant in Chattanooga?

Bring photo identification, Social Security numbers for everyone on the return, last year’s tax return, and all income documents such as W-2s and 1099s. Self-employed clients and small business owners should bring profit-and-loss records, expense logs, and access to their bookkeeping file, whether that is QuickBooks or a spreadsheet. Anyone who works across the Georgia line should bring records of out-of-state income, and anyone who received an IRS notice should bring it. The more complete your records, the more an accountant can focus on planning rather than data entry.

Q: How do I file a complaint about an accountant in Chattanooga?

Complaints about a CPA’s professional conduct or licensing go to the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy. Problems specific to a preparer’s work on a federal return, such as a refusal to sign the return or suspected fraud, can be reported to the IRS using Form 14157. For deceptive or unfair business practices generally, the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs administers the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104) and accepts consumer complaints. Keeping your engagement letter, invoices, and a copy of the filed return makes any complaint easier to support.