Accounting Firm in Knoxville
On this page
June 14, 2026
An accounting firm in Knoxville offers businesses and individuals a local partner for tax, audit, and advisory work in a market anchored by the University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge research and contracting, healthcare, manufacturing, and a strong base of family-owned businesses. A local firm provides year-round access to professionals who understand East Tennessee’s economy and can work face to face on planning, compliance, and assurance needs. Knoxville is among Tennessee’s largest cities, with a population of roughly 195,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and the surrounding East Tennessee region supports a deep field of established CPA practices, several of which have operated locally for more than fifty years.
Not all accounting work in Tennessee requires a CPA. Non-CPAs can legally handle general bookkeeping, payroll, and basic tax preparation. The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) title and attest services, including financial statement audits and reviews, are restricted to individuals and firms licensed by the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy. The board operates under the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance and regulates both individual CPAs and registered accounting firms. Consumers can verify a CPA or firm license through the board’s public lookup at verify.tn.gov before engaging a provider.
The distinction between a CPA firm and a general accounting service matters most when the work involves outside parties such as banks, investors, regulators, or the IRS. A lender financing a commercial project, a nonprofit overseeing federal grant funds, or a government contractor subject to compliance audits will typically need statements that carry a licensed CPA’s audit, review, or compilation report. Many Knoxville firms also belong to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Tennessee Society of CPAs (TSCPA), and some participate in AICPA audit quality centers for specialized areas like employee benefit plans and governmental audits. These memberships indicate engagement with current professional standards.
Service offerings among Knoxville firms generally include tax planning and compliance, audit and assurance, advisory and consulting, outsourced accounting and bookkeeping, and payroll. Larger firms add specialized practices such as business valuation, litigation support, estate and trust planning, and industry-focused consulting for sectors like construction, auto dealerships, government contractors, and financial institutions. Tennessee imposes no state income tax on wages, which shapes planning for individuals and businesses, although federal obligations, the state’s franchise and excise taxes on businesses, and the 7% state sales tax plus local option still apply. 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 Accounting Firm Providers in Knoxville
1. Pugh CPAs
Address: 315 N Cedar Bluff Road, Suite 200, Knoxville, TN 37923
Phone: (865) 769-0660
Website: https://www.pughcpas.com
Services: tax planning and compliance, audit and assurance, accounting, business valuation and litigation support, estate, trust, and gift planning, small business services, consulting, IT consulting, wealth management
Description: Pugh CPAs began in Knoxville in 1969 and has grown into a regional firm with global connections, marking more than 55 years of service to East Tennessee. The firm provides tax planning and compliance, audit and assurance, accounting, business valuation and litigation support, estate and trust planning, small business services, consulting, and wealth management. It is a member of the AICPA Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center and the AICPA Governmental Audit Quality Center, reflecting specialized capability in those areas. Industries served include auto dealerships, construction, employee benefit plans, financial institutions, government contractors and entities, real estate, wholesale and retail, and nonprofit organizations.
2. Van Elkins & Associates, CPAs
Address: 800 S. Gay Street, Suite 1919, Knoxville, TN 37929
Phone: (865) 523-8700
Website: https://www.vanelkins.com
Services: tax services and tax resolution, accounting and bookkeeping, auditing and review services, payroll services, business consulting, individual financial consulting, business valuation and appraisal, expert testimony and litigation support
Description: Van Elkins & Associates, CPAs has worked with business owners, professionals, and individual clients throughout Knoxville and East Tennessee since 1973, operating from a downtown office in the Gay Street corridor. The firm provides tax services and tax resolution, accounting and bookkeeping, auditing and review services, payroll, business consulting, individual financial consulting, and business valuation and appraisal. It also offers expert testimony and litigation support, drawing on decades of experience across a variety of industries. The firm serves clients in the Knoxville area, the broader Innovation Valley region, and nationally.
3. Lawhorn CPA Group, PLLC
Address: 6312 Kingston Pike, Suite 100, Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: (865) 212-4867
Website: https://www.lawhorncpa.com
Services: individual and business accounting and tax services, tax planning and consulting, IRS representation, bookkeeping and virtual financial office, payroll, retirement planning, estate and trust planning, financial advisory, business consulting
Description: Lawhorn CPA Group, PLLC was founded in 1979 by Jeffery H. Lawhorn, CPA, and operates as a full-service tax and accounting practice serving individuals, small businesses, and nonprofits across East Tennessee. The firm provides individual and business tax services, tax planning and consulting, IRS representation, bookkeeping and virtual financial office support, payroll, retirement planning, and estate and trust planning, along with financial advisory and business consulting. It emphasizes modern accounting software solutions and cloud integration, and is a Xero Certified Advisor, positioning itself for clients seeking technology-enabled back-office support.
Frequently Asked Questions About Accounting Firm in Knoxville
Q: Do I need a CPA, or can a regular accountant handle my taxes in Knoxville?
It depends on the work. General bookkeeping, payroll, and basic tax return preparation can be handled by a non-CPA accountant. The CPA title and attest services such as audits, reviews, and compilations of financial statements are legally restricted to individuals and firms licensed by the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy. If a lender, investor, grantor, or regulator requires audited or reviewed financial statements, you will need a licensed CPA firm.
Q: How do I verify that an accounting firm in Knoxville is a licensed CPA firm?
You can verify both individual CPAs and registered accounting firms through the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy, which operates under the Department of Commerce and Insurance. The board provides a public license lookup at verify.tn.gov, and you can also reach the board by phone at 888-453-6150. Confirming the license verifies that the firm is authorized to use the CPA designation and provide attest services in Tennessee.
Q: What is the difference between an audit, a review, and a compilation?
These are three levels of assurance a CPA firm can provide on financial statements. An audit offers the highest level of assurance and involves testing and verification to express an opinion. A review provides limited assurance through inquiry and analytical procedures. A compilation presents management’s financial information in statement form without providing assurance. All three, when issued under a CPA report, must come from a licensed CPA firm.
Q: Does Tennessee charge state income tax on individuals?
Tennessee does not levy a state income tax on wages and salaries. This affects how individuals and businesses approach tax planning, though federal income tax obligations remain, and businesses must still address Tennessee’s franchise and excise taxes and the 7% state sales tax plus the applicable local option rate. A CPA firm can help structure compliance with both federal and state requirements.
Q: What should I look for when choosing an accounting firm in Knoxville?
Consider whether the firm holds an active license with the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy, whether it offers the services you need (tax, audit, advisory, bookkeeping, or payroll), and whether it has experience in your industry, such as government contracting, construction, or auto dealerships. Membership in the AICPA, the Tennessee Society of CPAs, or AICPA audit quality centers indicates engagement with current standards. For audit or assurance work, confirm the firm is a registered CPA firm rather than a bookkeeping-only service.
Q: How do I file a complaint about an accounting firm in Knoxville?
Complaints about a CPA’s professional conduct or licensing should be directed to the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy. For disputes involving deceptive business practices, 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 correspondence helps support any complaint you file.