Military and relocating households
If your household is connected to NAS Jacksonville, Naval Station Mayport or another installation, your taxes can involve a home-of-record state, moves mid-year, and military-specific rules. Start with the IRS's military tax resources (opens in new tab), and ask any CPA you interview how often they prepare military returns. The same goes for anyone who moved to Florida recently: Florida has no individual income tax, but the state you left may still expect a return. See Do I need a CPA in Florida?
Business owners
A Jacksonville business typically deals with sales and use tax (a 6% state rate plus a county surtax; use the current DR-15DSS table (opens in new tab) for Duval, St. Johns, Clay or Nassau), reemployment tax for employees (DOR (opens in new tab)), and, for corporations, Florida corporate income tax on Form F-1120, due May 1 for a calendar year (DOR (opens in new tab)). Behind on a year or two? Read Back Taxes in Florida before you call anyone.
CPA, enrolled agent or preparer
CPAs, enrolled agents and attorneys can represent you before the IRS without limits; most other paid preparers can't (IRS (opens in new tab)). If you mostly need a return filed, an enrolled agent may be enough. If you also need bookkeeping, financial statements or business advice, look for a CPA. More in CPA vs. Tax Preparer vs. Enrolled Agent.
Beyond the city limits
First Coast CPAs often list Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Augustine, Orange Park or Fernandina Beach. County pages: Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Nassau.
Check the license
Search the name or license number on the DBPR license search (opens in new tab) and look for Current, Active, then open the full record for complaints. Step by step: Florida CPA license lookup. Enrolled agents are in the IRS preparer directory (opens in new tab).
This guide is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice, and it doesn't recommend any particular CPA or firm. Confirm any license on the DBPR register before you hire.
Common questions
- How do I find a CPA in Jacksonville, FL?
- Shortlist two or three CPAs or firms from this directory's Jacksonville pages, ask each who will do and sign the work, how they price it, and whether they handle returns like yours, then confirm the license on the Florida DBPR search.
- Should military families in Jacksonville use a CPA?
- It can help when a household has a home-of-record state, a mid-year move or income in more than one state. Ask how often the CPA prepares military returns, and see the IRS military tax resources page first.
- Do I need a CPA if I just moved to Jacksonville?
- Possibly. Florida has no individual income tax, but the state you left may still expect a return for the year you moved, and some states look closely at whether you really changed residence.
- How do I check a Jacksonville CPA's license?
- Search the name or license number on the Florida DBPR license search and look for Current, Active status. It is free and takes about a minute.