Short answer: To find a CPA in Denver, decide what you need most, such as yearly tax returns, year-round tax planning, bookkeeping and payroll, or help with an IRS notice. Then short-list two or three firms that serve clients like you, confirm each CPA’s license with the Colorado State Board of Accountancy, and ask how they handle Denver’s own city taxes, what the fee covers and who will do your work.
Denver’s accounting firms range from solo CPAs to boutique firms that act as a part-time finance department. The wrong fit can mean missed deductions, late city filings or paying for services you do not need.
This guide explains what a Denver CPA can do for you, how to check a license, the local tax issues worth asking about, and which firms listed on the Top Service Providers Denver page you can compare.
What does a CPA do that a tax preparer does not?
A certified public accountant (CPA) has passed the Uniform CPA Exam, met education and experience rules, and holds a state license that requires ongoing education. In Colorado, CPAs are licensed by the State Board of Accountancy within the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA).
Many people can prepare a tax return, but only CPAs, enrolled agents and attorneys have unlimited rights to represent you before the IRS on audits, collections and appeals. The IRS explains these differences in its guide to choosing a tax professional.
A Denver CPA can typically help with:
- Tax preparation: individual, partnership, S corporation, C corporation and trust returns.
- Tax planning: estimated payments, entity choice, retirement contributions, and timing income and expenses.
- Accounting and bookkeeping: monthly books, payroll, bank reconciliations and financial statements.
- IRS and state problems: notices, audits, payment plans and unfiled prior-year returns.
How do you check a Colorado CPA license?
Use the state’s free DORA license lookup. Search the CPA’s name and confirm the license is active, the name matches and there is no public discipline. The Colorado State Board of Accountancy page explains the licensing rules.
If a firm’s preparer is not a CPA, ask whether a licensed CPA reviews and signs the work, and whether that person will speak with you directly.
Which Denver tax issues should you ask a CPA about?
Denver is a home-rule city that runs its own tax system, which surprises many new business owners. A local CPA should be comfortable with:
- Denver sales and use tax: Denver issues its own sales tax license and administers its own sales and use tax, separate from the state. The City and County of Denver’s business tax information page covers licensing and filing.
- Occupational Privilege Tax (OPT): for 2026, Denver withholds $5.75 a month from each employee who earns at least $500 a month for work in Denver, and the employer pays $4.00 a month per taxable employee, plus $4.00 for each owner, partner or manager.
- Colorado income tax: state returns for individuals and businesses, plus pass-through entity questions for partnerships and S corporations.
What should you ask before hiring a Denver CPA?
- Who will do my work? The partner you meet, a staff accountant or an outside preparer?
- Do you work with clients like me? Ask about your industry, entity type and income level.
- How do you charge? Flat fee per return, hourly, or a monthly subscription for planning and bookkeeping.
- Is planning included? Some firms only file returns; others meet with you during the year.
- How do you handle IRS notices? Confirm whether representation is included or billed separately.
- Will I get an engagement letter? It should spell out services, fees, deadlines and what you must provide.
Our checklist of questions to ask before hiring a CPA for your small business goes deeper on fees and scope.
Which Denver CPA firms can you compare?
The Top Accountants & CPAs category lists several firms serving Denver and the metro area. Read the profiles, visit their websites and ask each the same questions.
- Hansen CPA: a boutique firm on South Pearl Street founded by Josh T. Hansen, CPA, MBA. It focuses on tax and outsourced accounting for small and mid-sized businesses, especially pass-through entities in real estate, construction and manufacturing. See the Hansen CPA website.
- Lanphier LLP: an independent firm on South Colorado Boulevard led by managing partner Brittany S. Lanphier, CPA. It handles tax, bookkeeping, forensic accounting and IRS audits and appeals, with a specialty in international tax for expats and new U.S. residents. Visit the Lanphier LLP website.
- SETA CPA: the trade name of Southeast Tax Advisors, on South Ulster Street, led by Managing Member Max Pollack, CPA. It offers year-round tax planning subscriptions, tax compliance and fractional CFO support for business owners. See the SETA CPA website.
- Eli Salame & Associates CPA PC: a Denver Tech Center firm in Greenwood Village, led by Elias Salame, CPA, MBA, serving small businesses, medical practices and other professionals since 2007. Visit the Eli Salame & Associates website.
- Sand Creek Company: the practice of Matthew Blackburn, CPA, in Northeast Denver’s Central Park neighborhood, founded in 2013, covering tax planning, payroll, sales and use tax, rental property, and estates and trusts. See the Sand Creek Company website.
- Accounting and Tax Solutions Inc.: a southeast Denver firm on East Girard Avenue serving small businesses since 1986, led by founder Rajesh Jain, CPA. It offers bookkeeping, payroll, budgets, tax preparation and help choosing a business entity. Visit the Accounting and Tax Solutions website.
- Matthew P. Schlanger, CPA: a small business accounting and tax firm on Southpark Lane in Littleton, led by Colorado CPA Matthew Schlanger. Services include tax planning, bookkeeping, payroll, fractional CFO work and cryptocurrency taxes. See the Matthew P. Schlanger, CPA website.
- Fidelis CPAs: a CPA-led firm in Westminster led by Kenneth Thrower, CPA, offering tax preparation, bookkeeping, payroll, business formation and multi-state sales tax support. Visit the Fidelis CPAs website.
- JR Haeck CPA: a solo practice in Lakewood founded in 1993 by John R. Haeck, CPA, focused on tax planning, income tax returns and nonprofit organization services. See the JR Haeck CPA website.
A listing is a starting point, not an endorsement. Confirm licenses, services and fees directly with each firm.
How much does a CPA cost in Denver?
Fees depend on complexity more than location. A simple individual return costs far less than a business return with payroll, multiple owners or rental properties, and year-round planning or bookkeeping is usually billed monthly. Ask each firm to quote the same scope in writing and to list what costs extra.
For a comparison with another large market, see our guide on how to find a CPA in Houston.
Outcome: a Denver CPA you can rely on all year
The right CPA is licensed, experienced with clients like you, clear about fees and comfortable with Denver’s city taxes as well as state and federal rules. Check the license, interview two or three firms with the same questions, and sign an engagement letter before tax season gets busy.
FAQs
How do I find a good CPA in Denver?
Decide what you need, short-list two or three firms that serve similar clients, verify each CPA’s license through Colorado’s DORA lookup, and compare fees, services and who will do the work before signing an engagement letter.
How can I verify a CPA license in Colorado?
Use the free DORA license lookup on the Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations website. Check that the license is active, the name matches, and there is no public discipline.
Does a Denver business need a CPA for city taxes?
It is not required, but Denver runs its own sales and use tax and the Occupational Privilege Tax, so a CPA who knows Denver’s rules can help you avoid missed filings and penalties.
