Tax Preparation Service in Memphis

June 14, 2026

Unlike national online filing platforms that hand a taxpayer a questionnaire and a software wizard, a Memphis tax preparation service pairs filers with a person who reviews their documents, asks follow-up questions, and signs the return as a paid preparer. Memphis is Tennessee’s second largest city, with a population of roughly 619,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and as a regional center for logistics, healthcare, and distribution it generates a steady mix of wage earners, self-employed workers, and small business owners. A local preparer who works year-round can field a mid-year question about estimated payments or an IRS notice in a way that a seasonal storefront or a chat window cannot.

One feature of filing in Tennessee shapes how local preparers work. Tennessee has no state personal income tax on wages; the Hall income tax on interest and dividends was fully repealed effective 2021. As a result, most Memphis individuals do not file a state return for wage income, and tax preparation here centers on the federal Form 1040 plus, for business owners, federal business returns and Tennessee business taxes such as the franchise and excise tax and the business tax administered by the Tennessee Department of Revenue. That federal focus makes a preparer’s familiarity with self-employment, small business, and multistate issues especially relevant in a city that sits at the corner of Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi.

Tennessee does not license individual tax preparers. Anyone who prepares federal returns for compensation must hold an IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) and renew it each year. Beyond that baseline, credentialed preparers carry designations that signal additional training and authority. Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) are licensed by the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy and can represent clients before the IRS. Enrolled Agents (EAs) are licensed directly by the IRS and hold unlimited rights to represent taxpayers in audits, collections, and appeals. Attorneys may also prepare returns and represent clients. For non-credentialed preparers, the IRS Annual Filing Season Program is a voluntary credential that requires continuing education and grants limited representation rights. Consumers can confirm a preparer’s standing through the IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers.

Choosing a preparer in Memphis comes down to matching credentials and scope to the return. A wage earner with a straightforward return may need only a competent PTIN holder, while a self-employed contractor, a worker who crosses state lines into Arkansas or Mississippi, or an LLC owner generally benefits from a CPA or EA who can handle business filings, advise on entity structure, and represent the client if questions arise. Before engaging anyone, taxpayers can verify a PTIN and any CPA or EA credential through the IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers, confirm a CPA license with the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy, and ask whether the preparer works year-round. Consumer complaints about deceptive practices fall under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), enforced by the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs. A preparer should always provide a copy of the completed return and sign it; a refusal to sign is a warning sign the IRS specifically flags.

Top Tax Preparation Service Providers in Memphis

1. Rowland & Carter, CPAs, PLLC

Address: 7953 Stage Hills Boulevard, Suite 110, Memphis, TN 38133
Phone: (901) 432-3000
Website: https://www.rowlandandcarter.com
Services: individual and business tax preparation, tax planning, estate and trust taxation, IRS representation, audit representation and tax relief, small business accounting and bookkeeping, payroll, audits and reviews and compilations, business valuation, new business formation, nonprofit accounting
Description: Rowland & Carter, CPAs, PLLC is a Memphis-area CPA firm founded in 1981 and based on Stage Hills Boulevard in the northeast part of the city. The practice is led by a group of partners that includes managing partner Benny Carter, CPA, along with partners Julian Malone, CPA, R. Keith Belote, CPA, and Patrick Blair, CPA, supported by a staff of roughly twenty. The firm carries a broad tax and accounting practice that runs from individual and business return preparation through estate and trust taxation, IRS representation, business valuation, and audits, reviews, and compilations. It maintains industry specializations in construction, dental practices, healthcare, hospitality, law firms, manufacturing, and real estate, and it operates year-round rather than only during filing season.

2. McCune & Bell CPA’s PLLC

Address: 5050 Poplar Avenue, Suite 2030, Memphis, TN 38157
Phone: (901) 755-1351
Website: https://www.jmccunecpa.com
Services: individual and business tax preparation, tax planning, state and local tax (SALT), IRS representation and tax problem resolution, outsourced accounting and bookkeeping, QuickBooks accounting, outsourced CFO services, auditing and assurance, incorporation services
Description: McCune & Bell CPA’s PLLC is a full-service Memphis CPA firm established in 2001 and located in the Clark Tower area on Poplar Avenue. The firm is led by president Jeffrey S. McCune, CPA, who has provided tax advice and IRS filing services for more than thirty years. It describes its approach as combining big-firm capability with small-firm personality, and it works with clients year-round, watching for changes in tax regulations and building strategies to limit tax liability for both individuals and small businesses. Services span tax preparation and planning, state and local tax, IRS representation, monthly accounting and bookkeeping, and CFO-level advisory. The firm is a member of the AICPA and is accredited by the Better Business Bureau.

3. Larry Banks C.P.A.

Address: 6074 Apple Tree Drive, Suite 8, Memphis, TN 38115
Phone: (901) 363-6686
Website: https://www.larrybankscpa.com
Services: individual and business tax preparation, tax planning, comprehensive tax relief and IRS representation, small business accounting and bookkeeping, payroll, part-time CFO services, audits and compilations, new business formation, personal financial and estate planning, nonprofit services
Description: Larry Banks C.P.A. is a full-service tax, accounting, and business consulting firm in southeast Memphis led by Larry Banks, a Tennessee-licensed CPA and University of Memphis graduate who works as an IRS-registered tax preparer with years of experience and long-standing client relationships. The practice handles individual and business tax preparation and planning alongside a deep tax-relief practice that covers IRS representation, back taxes, liens, levies, wage garnishment, offers in compromise, and innocent spouse relief. It also provides small business accounting, payroll, part-time CFO services, and new business formation, with industry experience in construction, dental and healthcare practices, hospitality, law firms, manufacturing, and real estate. The firm operates year-round, offers free initial consultations, and is BBB accredited with an A+ rating.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tax Preparation Service in Memphis

Q: Does a tax preparer in Memphis need a Tennessee license?

Tennessee does not license individual tax preparers. Anyone who prepares federal returns for compensation must hold a current IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). Beyond that, CPAs are licensed by the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy and Enrolled Agents are licensed by the IRS, but those are credentials that preparers choose to earn, not a state preparer license that everyone must hold.

Q: Do I have to file a Tennessee state income tax return?

For wage income, no. Tennessee has no state personal income tax on wages, and the Hall income tax on interest and dividends was fully repealed effective 2021. Most Memphis filers therefore prepare a federal return and no state individual return. Business owners are a different case: they may owe Tennessee franchise and excise tax or business tax through the Tennessee Department of Revenue, which is one reason many local preparers focus on small business filings.

Q: I live in Memphis but work in Arkansas or Mississippi. Can a local preparer handle that?

Yes, and it is a common situation in the Memphis metro. Although Tennessee has no wage income tax, Arkansas and Mississippi do tax wages earned there, so a worker who crosses the state line generally files a nonresident return in the state where the income was earned. A CPA or Enrolled Agent experienced in multistate returns can prepare the out-of-state filing and make sure income is reported correctly, so it is worth asking a preparer about multistate experience before engaging them.

Q: What is the difference between a CPA and an Enrolled Agent?

Both can prepare returns and represent taxpayers before the IRS with unlimited representation rights. A CPA is licensed by the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy and is trained broadly in accounting, auditing, and tax. An Enrolled Agent is licensed directly by the IRS, with a focus specifically on taxation. For a complex business or audit situation, either credential indicates a preparer who can handle the matter and represent you if the IRS has questions.

Q: How do I check whether a Memphis tax preparer is legitimate?

Use the IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers to confirm that a preparer holds a current PTIN and to see any CPA, EA, or Annual Filing Season Program credential. You can verify a CPA license separately through the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy. Ask whether the preparer works year-round, confirm the fee structure in advance, and make sure the preparer will sign your return; a preparer who refuses to sign is a warning sign the IRS specifically cautions against.

Q: How do I file a complaint about a tax preparer in Memphis?

Complaints about deceptive or unfair business practices can be filed with the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, which enforces the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104). Problems specific to a preparer’s conduct on a federal return, such as a refusal to sign or suspected fraud, can be reported to the IRS using Form 14157. Keeping your engagement paperwork, a copy of the filed return, and records of payments makes any complaint easier to support.