An accountant’s mistake can cost a company additional taxes, interest and fines. Yet in Estonia, responsibility for organising a company’s accounting rests with its management board. How can you tell whether you can trust a professional before signing a contract? Start with a 10-minute check: we will show you where to look for information about an accountant, what questions to ask and what to look for in the contract.
In “The ideal accountant in Estonia”, we discussed what makes a good professional. Here is a practical checklist: two registers, six questions and five contract provisions worth checking before you start working together.
Check the accountant in public registers
Does the accountant have a professional certificate?
A licence is not required for ordinary accounting work in Estonia, but there is a voluntary professional certificate (kutsetunnistus). The Association of Estonian Accountants (Eesti Raamatupidajate Kogu, ERK) awards it after an examination at one of three levels:
| Level | Estonian title | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Raamatupidaja | Accountant |
| 6 | Vanemraamatupidaja | Senior accountant |
| 7 | Juhtivraamatupidaja | Leading accountant |
Open the register of professions at kutseregister.ee and enter the accountant’s first name and surname. The register will show whether they hold a certificate and at what level. We will explain how the levels differ in practice in “How accountants differ: roles and qualification levels”.
If there is no certificate, that is not a reason to reject the candidate straight away. An experienced accountant may work without one. In that case, ask what companies they have worked with and what tasks they have handled independently.
Check the accounting firm
Open the commercial register at ariregister.rik.ee and enter the firm’s registration code. Look at two things: when it was registered and how many employees it has.
The firm’s age. A firm that has been operating for 10–20 years has been through several tax reforms and more than one inspection of its clients. Its experience is reflected in the date in the register.
Number of employees. If the firm consists of one person, your accounting will stop when they are on holiday or ill. Yet the TSD return must be filed by the 10th, even if the accountant is on sick leave. At a firm with a team, a colleague will take over the work.
Six questions to help you check an accountant
Registers let you check an accountant’s qualifications and find out how long their firm has been operating. But only a conversation will reveal how well they organise their work and deal with problems. Ask these six questions at a meeting or by email.
1. Who files the returns, and by what deadlines?
A good accountant will immediately give you the dates. The TSD return for taxes on payments to employees is filed by the 10th of the month following the month of payment. The VAT return (KMD) is filed by the 20th of the month following the tax period.
Example: you paid the salary for October on 3 November. That means the TSD must be filed by 10 December, not 10 November, because the deadline is calculated from the payment date. An experienced accountant will not get this wrong.
Be wary if the answer is “as usual”, “at the beginning of the month” or “don’t worry”.
2. What software do you use for accounting?
A good accountant will immediately name the software, such as Merit, SmartAccounts or Directo.
Be wary if the accounts are kept in Excel: it is easier to make mistakes and harder to hand the work over to another accountant.
3. Will I have my own access to e-MTA and the accounting software?
A good answer: yes. In e-MTA, the tax authority’s online service, primary access stays with you as a management board member. You grant the accountant access rights in e-MTA yourself and can revoke them at any time. You should also have your own access to the accounting software so that you can independently check documents and the state of your accounts.
Be wary if the accountant says, “I have everything; you don’t need it.” If you part ways, you then risk losing access to your own company’s data.
4. What happens if I bring the documents late?
A good answer: the accountant explains in advance the date by which they expect the documents and what will happen if you send them later. For example, whether they will have time to include them in the current reporting period, whether they will warn you if a return may be late, and who will be responsible if it is submitted after the deadline.
Be wary if the accountant says, “We’ll work something out.” That means there is no procedure, and if a return is late, you will have to deal with the tax authority yourself.
We have collected the documents you usually need to send to your accountant each month in “Documents for an accountant in Estonia”.
5. The accountant is ill or on holiday. What happens to my accounts?
A good answer: the accountant will explain who will cover for them during their absence and how the handover will be organised. At a reliable accounting firm, work does not stop because one employee is absent.
Be wary if the answer is, “I don’t get ill.” When all the accounting depends on one person, their absence can become a problem, especially during the annual reporting period, for example in June.
6. Who is responsible for the accountant’s mistakes?
A good answer: the accountant will explain in which circumstances they are responsible for mistakes and how the resulting losses are compensated. These terms should be set out in the contract. Professional liability insurance is an additional advantage.
Be wary if the accountant says, “I don’t make mistakes” or “We never have situations like that.”
The contract: five provisions worth checking
Even if the accountant has answered all your questions convincingly, it is important to put the arrangements in writing. Ask for the contract in advance, before signing, and find these five provisions:
Scope of services. Make sure the contract states what is included in the price: bookkeeping, preparation of KMD and TSD returns, and the annual report. If a service is not included, you may be charged separately for it.
Liability for mistakes. Check in which circumstances the accountant compensates losses, including fines and interest arising through their fault.
Cover for the accountant. Find out who will continue keeping the accounts if your accountant becomes ill or goes on holiday.
Access to the accounts. You should have access to accounting documents and reports at any time, without having to request them from the accountant each time.
Terminating the contract. Check how many days’ notice you must give to end the working relationship, how documents are handed over and in what format you will receive your accounting data.
Five red flags
If you notice even one of these when checking an accountant, it is worth considering other candidates:
No written contract. Without a contract, it is difficult to prove what services, deadlines and responsibilities you agreed on.
Does not ask for documents to establish your identity. Under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, an accounting firm must establish the client’s identity before starting work and keep copies of documents for five years. If the accountant does not even ask about your documents, that is a reason to be wary.
Does not show you the report before submitting it. The company’s management is responsible for its reporting, so it is important to be able to review documents before they are sent.
Promises tax savings without explaining how. A reliable accountant will explain which legal options are available to your particular company and what conditions must be met.
Disappears during the reporting period. If the accountant does not respond to messages for weeks, especially before tax return and annual report deadlines, there is a risk of missing important deadlines.
Ask us these questions too
You can use this checklist to check an accountant at any firm, including Finance PRO: ask us the same six questions and request a draft contract.
Don’t want to work it out yourself? We will take care of it.
Accounting services and consultations: info@fpro.ee or +372 5366 6674, or submit an enquiry on our accounting services in Estonia page. The initial assessment of your situation is free.
Read also
- The ideal accountant in Estonia: how to choose someone you can trust with your accounts
- Documents for an accountant in Estonia
- How accountants differ: roles and qualification levels
The information and deadlines are current as of 16 October 2026. This article is for information only and does not replace a consultation. If your situation is different, email us at info@fpro.ee.
International Accounting & Tax Expert
Order a paid consultation
By clicking the button, you agree to the Privacy Policy.
Your personal data will not be disclosed to third parties
