Accountant in Nashville

June 15, 2026

Working one-on-one with an accountant in Nashville is a different relationship than walking into a seasonal tax storefront or hiring a large multi-staff firm. An individual accountant or sole practitioner takes on a manageable roster of clients and handles their work personally, which means the same person who prepares a return in April also fields a mid-year question about an estimated payment, a new side business, or an IRS letter. Nashville is Tennessee’s largest city, with a population of roughly 715,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and its mix of self-employed musicians, gig workers, contractors, and small business owners creates steady demand for accountants who work year-round rather than only during filing season.

The work an individual accountant does for a household or a small business spans more than 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 sole practitioners are QuickBooks ProAdvisors who can untangle a set of books that drifted out of balance over 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.

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 Nashville. The state 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 a federal Form 1040 and no state individual return. Small business owners are a separate matter: they may owe Tennessee franchise and excise tax or the state business tax through the Tennessee Department of Revenue, and every sale carries the 7% state sales tax plus the local option, which reaches roughly 9.75% in Davidson County. A year-round accountant helps a sole proprietor or LLC owner stay current on quarterly federal estimates and these state business obligations. 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 Nashville

1. Evan Hutcheson, CPA, LLC

Address: 1621 5th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37208
Phone: (615) 727-2295
Website: https://www.evanhcpa.com
Services: individual and business tax preparation and planning, bookkeeping, payroll, QuickBooks support, virtual CPA services, business advisory and exit planning
Description: Evan Hutcheson, CPA, LLC is a one-person CPA practice in Nashville founded by Evan Hutcheson in 2012. Hutcheson earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Middle Tennessee State University in 2007 and worked five years as a staff accountant at McCeney & Martin, CPAs before opening his own firm. As the sole member, he works directly with each client across a range of industries, with particular experience in construction and small business accounting. He is a QuickBooks ProAdvisor and a member of the American Institute of CPAs, the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Construction Financial Management Association, and the Thriveal CPA Network. The practice offers tax preparation and planning, bookkeeping, payroll, virtual CPA service, and business advisory work, positioning itself for small and medium-sized businesses and individuals who want a hands-on relationship with a single accountant year-round.

2. Kawatra CPA (Sunil Kawatra, CPA, CVA)

Address: 2200 21st Avenue South, Suite 403, Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: (615) 329-9400
Website: https://www.kawatracpa.com
Services: individual and self-employed tax preparation, quarterly estimated tax planning, bookkeeping and expense tracking, business formation and entity selection, business valuation, retirement and financial planning, advisory
Description: Kawatra CPA is the Nashville practice of Sunil Kawatra, a Certified Public Accountant who also holds the Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) designation. The firm has operated in Nashville for roughly three decades, beginning with a small group of clients and growing into a full-service accounting and consulting practice that serves individuals through medium-sized businesses. Much of the practice focuses on self-employed professionals, freelancers, gig workers, and solo business owners, with services that include individual and self-employed tax preparation, quarterly estimated tax planning, bookkeeping and expense tracking, business formation and entity selection, and broader tax and financial advisory. The valuation credential adds a capability many sole practitioners do not offer, useful for owners weighing a sale or succession. Clients work directly with Kawatra on year-round planning rather than seasonal return preparation alone.

3. Millman CPA Strategic Solutions, PC (Lisa Millman, CPA)

Address: White House, TN 37188 (by appointment; serves the Nashville metro)
Phone: (615) 672-9205
Website: https://www.lisamillmancpa.com
Services: small business and individual accounting, tax planning and preparation, bookkeeping, QuickBooks implementation, financial statement preparation, budgeting, business formation, nonprofit accounting
Description: Millman CPA Strategic Solutions, PC is the solo practice of Lisa Millman, a Certified Public Accountant who serves small businesses, individuals, and nonprofits across the Nashville metro from a base in White House, north of the city. The firm describes a personalized, one-on-one approach in which clients communicate directly with Millman on every aspect of their accounting. Services include small business and individual accounting, tax planning and preparation, bookkeeping, QuickBooks accounting-system implementation, financial statement preparation, budgeting, and help forming a new business entity. The practice emphasizes year-round work aimed at minimizing a client’s future tax burden rather than handling only a once-a-year return, and the nonprofit focus gives community organizations in the metro a small-practice option for their accounting.

Frequently Asked Questions About Accountant in Nashville

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

An individual accountant or sole practitioner 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, and bigger corporate clients. For a household, a self-employed person, or a small business that wants a direct relationship and year-round planning, a single accountant 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 Nashville 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: How do I verify that an accountant in Nashville 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: Do I need to file a Tennessee state income tax return?

For wage income, no. Tennessee has no personal income tax on wages, and the Hall income tax on interest and dividends was fully repealed effective 2021, so most Nashville individuals file only a federal return. Business owners are different: a sole proprietor, LLC, or corporation 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, which reaches about 9.75% in Davidson County. A year-round accountant helps small business owners stay current on these obligations and on federal quarterly estimates.

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

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. If you received an IRS notice, bring it. The more complete your records, the more an accountant can do on planning rather than just data entry, which is where year-round work adds the most value.

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

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.