030 555 721 370
anfrage@guhr-steuerberatung.de
Auerstr. 14, 10249 Berlin
Switching tax advisor
Switch advisors – with no effort on your side.
Poor responsiveness, missing advice, fees that don't match the value or simply no sparring? Switching is far easier than most people think. We handle the communication with your previous advisor, request all documents and run the digital onboarding for you.
When a switch makes sense
Seven signals that argue for a change.
People rarely switch tax advisors for a single reason. Usually small issues accumulate until the overall picture no longer fits.
- 01
Poor responsiveness
Callbacks take days, emails go unanswered, meetings are weeks out.
- 02
Reacting instead of advising
You get assessments explained – but no strategy to lower taxes long-term.
- 03
No sparring at eye level
You make entrepreneurial decisions – investment, legal form, expansion – and your advisor just administers instead of thinking ahead with you.
- 04
No digitisation
Paper folders instead of DATEV Unternehmen Online, fax numbers instead of app upload.
- 05
No industry know-how
Holdings, crypto, e-commerce or international structures – your advisor waves it off or gives generic advice.
- 06
Errors in tax notices
Multiple corrections per year, missed deadlines or forgotten appeals.
- 07
Succession in the firm
Your trusted contact is gone – you don't know the new team and have to explain everything from scratch.
The process
Three steps to GUHR.
We make switching a routine matter. You do exactly two things: have one conversation and sign one power of attorney. We handle the rest.
- Step 01
Initial call & offer
30–60 minutes, in person or by video. We understand your situation, clarify expectations and send a written, indicative offer within 48 hours – free of charge.
- 30–60 minutes
- On site, phone or video
- Written offer within 48 h
- Step 02
Power of attorney & handover
You sign the power of attorney for GUHR and the tax office once. From that moment we take over all communication with your previous advisor and request every relevant document.
- Pre-filled power of attorney forms
- We inform the previous advisor
- Document request & file transfer
- Update master data at the tax office
- Step 03
Onboarding & start
We set up DATEV Unternehmen Online, migrate prior-year data and master data and plan the first 60 days with you. You have a dedicated contact from day one.
- DATEV Unternehmen Online & app upload
- Migration of bookkeeping & master data
- Kick-off with your dedicated advisor
- 12-month strategy roadmap
The switch in detail
Six stages, zero stress.
Realistically it's 2–4 weeks from the initial call to the live engagement. Here is what happens when – and what we take off your plate.
- 01
Day 1 · Initial call
30–60 minutes: you describe situation and expectations, we check fit and setup.
- 02
Day 2–3 · Offer
You receive a written, indicative offer including fee model and scope of services.
- 03
Day 4–7 · Mandate & power of attorney
Sign the mandate agreement and powers of attorney – we prepare every form for you.
- 04
Day 7–14 · Handover
We contact your previous advisor, request documents and notify the tax office of the switch.
- 05
Day 14–21 · Data migration
DATEV data, document archives and master data are migrated, app upload is set up.
- 06
Day 21–30 · Kick-off
Onboarding meeting with your dedicated advisor, first strategy points prioritised – the engagement is live.
What GUHR handles
Full-service switch handling.
We want you to focus on your business – not on paperwork. These tasks are included free of charge as part of the onboarding.
- Pre-filled power of attorney for GUHR & tax office
- All communication with your previous advisor
- Requesting & collecting all documents
- Updating tax master data with the tax office
- Migration of DATEV data & prior-year files
- Setup of DATEV Unternehmen Online & app upload
- Onboarding sessions with your dedicated advisor
- Roadmap for the first 12 months
What stays with you:
- Sign the power of attorney and mandate agreement once
- Provide access to your company email address
- Answer short questions during onboarding
Typical objections & questions
What clients think about before switching.
Can I switch tax advisors at any time?
Yes. A tax advisory contract is generally terminable at any time, often on short notice. Switching mid-year is also straightforward – we take over the ongoing engagement seamlessly.
Isn't switching a hassle?
Not for you. You have one initial call and sign the power of attorney and mandate agreement once. We handle everything else – communication, document collection, data migration, tax office.
What does switching to GUHR cost?
The switch itself is free of charge. There are no extra onboarding fees. Fees only start once the ongoing engagement begins.
What happens with the current year?
We step in exactly where your previous advisor stops. For a mid-year switch we agree upfront who handles bookkeeping, payroll and VAT returns for which period – no gap, no duplicate invoice.
Do I have to terminate my previous advisor myself?
As the contract party, you must terminate the engagement yourself. We provide a template and, from the moment we receive your power of attorney, take over all technical communication, document requests and the handover.
Will my previous advisor be upset?
Usually not. Among tax advisors, switching is a normal process. We communicate factually, professionally and respectfully – so you can rely on collegial conduct going forward.
Will I get all my documents?
Yes. You have a statutory right to receive every document you provided to your advisor. DATEV data and prior-year files must also be handed over. We take care of the formal request.
What if my previous advisor withholds documents?
It rarely happens. If it does, we know the legal levers – from a formal release demand to retention rights on open fees. In most cases the matter is resolved within a few days.
How long does the full switch take?
Realistically 2–4 weeks, depending on the response time of your previous advisor and the complexity of your setup. The first productive steps (e.g. uploading documents to DATEV Online) are often possible after 7 days.
I have already prepaid – do I lose that money?
No. Prepayments for services not yet delivered have to be refunded. We review your previous advisor's invoicing and support you with the correct final settlement.
Next step
Start the switch.
A 30-minute initial call is enough for us to understand your situation and send you a written offer. We handle the rest of the switch.