Ian Bryzek, CPA
Business valuation versus CPA reporting boundary
A qualified business valuation professional values the business; the CPA reports tax consequences from supported numbers.
Families sometimes ask a CPA to “just pick a value.” That blurs professional roles and weakens the file.
Keep valuation reports, engagement letters, and tax workpapers cross-referenced but authored by the right professional.
What to keep with the file
Keep valuation reports, engagement letters, and tax workpapers cross-referenced but authored by the right professional.
What to do next
Engage a qualified business valuation professional when a business value is needed; do not ask the CPA to invent one.
What to gather
- Valuation engagement letter
- Business valuation report
- Financial statements used in the valuation
- Tax workpapers that reference the report
- Note distinguishing valuation from tax preparation
Who usually handles what
- Ian can organize the tax reporting question and the supporting records.
- The executor, trustee, or account custodian supplies records and confirms who has authority to act.
A practical next step
Engage a qualified business valuation professional when a business value is needed; do not ask the CPA to invent one.
Related guides
This is general tax information, not tax or legal advice. Outcomes depend on the documents, ownership, timing, and law that apply to the particular facts.