Areas served: Lexington, VA and surrounding Rockbridge County
Lexington's accounting and tax service landscape includes a mix of independent CPAs, small firms, and regional practitioners serving individuals, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations. The city's business community—anchored by Virginia Military Institute, Washington and Lee University, and tourism-related enterprises—creates demand for specialized services including nonprofit accounting, payroll administration, and business advisory. Local firms typically offer tax preparation, bookkeeping, financial statement preparation, and consultation services, with many practitioners maintaining relationships with clients across multiple tax years.
H&R Block in Lexington, Virginia provides year-round tax preparation and filing services for individuals, families, and small businesses. This location offers both in-office appointments with certified tax professionals and virtual tax prep options, specializing in maximizing refunds, handling complex tax situations including self-employment and rental income, and providing audit support. Serving Lexington and the Rockbridge County community since 1955, H&R Block combines local expertise with the backing of America's largest tax preparation network.
“I took my tax documents to H&R Block for the first time on Feb. 25, 2025 (2024 taxes). I thought they'd done a good job but then received notification from state and federal agencies that my taxes could not be processed due to an invalid bank account number & I had now incurred penalty fees. I had had a small balance to pay and had given H&R Block agent Victoria Hodges my phone, where I'd pulled up my account information for withdrawal. She entered the account number (incorrectly from my phone screen). When I returned with this information, Victoria was hostile and defensive, first blaming me for entering the account number incorrectly (but she had entered it). I showed her the "Peace of Mind Terms and Conditions" ("100% Accuracy Guarantee"). Eventually she shrugged and said she'd see if the company would do anything. Later she sent an email saying the company would send me $50 and said "I am sorry this has been a struggle for you." Not "I'm sorry I messed up." I had also had a question about missing paperwork from a previous year. I'd spoken to the IRS & they sent me a form but I didn't understand it. Victoria said that Sarah Myers would have to look into this & that we should communicate in March about setting for a time to meet after tax day. See picture of Victoria's note. I went in today for the scheduled meeting with Sarah and was floored by her immediate and full-on hostility. "I don't know what this is," she said about the forms that Victoria told me to return to discuss. I tried to explain the situation and Sarah cut in angrily: "Have you ever even been here before? I didn't file this for you. I've never even met you." I noted that her colleague had told me to talk with her because I didn't understand the form, and Sarah shoved it across the desk to me, banging on it and saying, "Name, address. Fill it out." I gathered the papers and headed for the door. She followed saying that she hadn't agreed to meet with me. I said her colleague had told me to reach out in March -- she interrupted, "It's April" -- I was going to say, "to make an appointment after Tax Day in April." Sarah said she'd left me a voice message yesterday saying not to come: "Don't you check your messages?" The only messages I received had been flagged as spam, nothing identified as H&R Block. As I walked to the door, Sarah followed me yelling about how she didn't even know me, had never even met me. I said, "You could say it nicely." She smirked, "Have a nice day." Needless to say, I would NEVER return to H&R Block. I did nothing to deserve this deeply unprofessional aggressive attack.”
— Alison Bell, Google Review · 4.6 ★ avg from 81 H&R Block reviewsNewcomb's Accounting & Tax Services is a locally-owned firm in Lexington, VA with over 15 years of experience providing comprehensive tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services for individuals, small businesses, and corporations. Their team delivers professional, accurate accounting solutions tailored to clients in Rockbridge County and surrounding areas.
Imler & Imler, CPAs, PLC is a locally-owned CPA firm run by Craig and Tracy Imler, offering comprehensive tax preparation, accounting, and business advisory services. They specialize in serving individuals, small businesses, nonprofits, and trusts across the Lexington, Staunton, and Roanoke areas with personalized tax planning, payroll management, and strategic financial guidance.
Raetz & Hawkins, P.C. is a CPA firm in Lexington, VA offering accounting, auditing, tax compliance, planning, and management consulting services. They serve individuals, businesses, and families with comprehensive financial guidance tailored to personal and business needs.
Greg C. Raetz is a CPA and co-founder of Raetz and Hawkins, P.C., specializing in tax return preparation for individuals, estates, and trusts, along with comprehensive tax planning services. With over 40 years of public accounting experience—including prior work at Price Waterhouse on consolidated corporate tax returns—Greg brings deep expertise to complex tax situations. He is deeply rooted in the Lexington community and has served on boards of Virginia-based publicly-traded corporations.
Cornett Tax Inc is a local accounting firm based in Lexington, VA, providing tax preparation and accounting services to individuals and businesses in the community. With a physical office on East Washington Street, they offer personalized service to clients seeking reliable tax and financial guidance in the Rockbridge County area.
Swisher & Johnson, CPAs, PLC is a full-service CPA firm in Lexington, VA offering tax preparation, business accounting, estate planning, and financial planning services. Founded on principles of affordability, expertise, and personalized client relationships, they serve business owners, executives, and independent professionals with a commitment to being 'large enough to meet all your needs, small enough to know your name.'
Tax Clinic in Lexington, VA appears to be affiliated with or provides access to IRS services and resources. Based on the website content, this location likely offers assistance with federal tax filing, tax records, payments, and general tax information for individuals and businesses.
Lexington Tax Advisors is a local accounting firm based in downtown Lexington, VA, offering tax preparation and advisory services to individuals and businesses in the Shenandoah Valley. Located at 14 E Nelson Street, they provide personalized tax planning and compliance solutions tailored to their clients' financial situations.
H&R Block ranks #1 in Lexington with a Lantern Score of 79/100, backed by 4.6 stars from 81 reviews. They offer year-round tax preparation and filing services for individuals, families, and small businesses, with both in-office appointments and certified tax professionals available. H&R Block is particularly well-suited for complex tax situations, multi-state filings, audit support, and taxpayers who want to maximize their refund with expert guidance.
H&R Block is the only listing in our data confirmed to offer weekend hours. They're open Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM and Sundays from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, making them an excellent option for working professionals who need tax services outside traditional business hours. Other local firms may offer weekend appointments by request, so it's worth calling ahead if weekend availability is essential to your schedule.
Newcomb's Accounting & Tax Services holds a perfect 5-star rating from 8 reviews and ranks #2 with a Lantern Score of 44/100. Other highly-rated firms include Raetz & Hawkins (5 stars, 1 review) and Raetz Greg C CPA (5 stars, 1 review), both specializing in tax planning for high-net-worth individuals and estates. Imler & Imler, CPAs, PLC has 4.3 stars from 4 reviews and focuses on small businesses, nonprofits, and complex tax situations.
Several firms explicitly focus on small business needs. Newcomb's Accounting & Tax Services (#2, 5 stars) offers comprehensive tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services with over 15 years of local experience. Imler & Imler, CPAs, PLC (#3, 4.3 stars) provides business advisory services alongside tax preparation. Swisher & Johnson, CPAs, PLC (#7) is a full-service firm offering business accounting, with particular expertise in construction and healthcare industries.
Yes, Raetz Greg C CPA (#5, ranked 34/100) specializes in tax return preparation for estates and trusts, making him particularly suited for high-net-worth individuals and estate beneficiaries requiring sophisticated tax planning. Imler & Imler, CPAs, PLC (#3) also serves estate administrators among their target clientele, and Swisher & Johnson, CPAs, PLC (#7) offers estate planning services as part of their comprehensive CPA offerings.
Lexington's 9 accounting firms range from Lantern Scores of 18 to 79 out of 100, with customer ratings spanning 3.7 to 5.0 stars. H&R Block leads with the highest score and volume of reviews (81), while several boutique local CPA firms like Newcomb's and Raetz & Hawkins earn perfect 5-star ratings with smaller review counts. This range suggests you can find both nationally-recognized tax preparation services and personalized local CPA firms depending on your needs and preferences.
Start by identifying your specific needs: simple individual tax returns, complex business accounting, estate planning, or audit representation. Look for credentials like CPA designation for more complex work, and check if the firm has experience in your industry or tax situation. Consider practical factors like weekend availability, year-round access (not just tax season), and whether they offer services beyond basic preparation like tax planning, bookkeeping, or IRS representation. Review volume and ratings can indicate reliability, but a newer firm with fewer reviews isn't necessarily lower quality—they may simply be less established in the market.
H&R Block offers the advantages of a national brand: extensive weekend hours, standardized processes, year-round availability, and support for walk-ins and complex situations like audits. Their 81 reviews provide substantial feedback on service quality. Local CPAs like Newcomb's, Imler & Imler, or Raetz & Hawkins typically offer more personalized relationships, deeper familiarity with Virginia-specific tax issues, and often handle ongoing business advisory services beyond tax season. Local firms may be better for long-term business relationships, while H&R Block excels at accessible, reliable tax preparation for individuals and families who value convenience and proven processes.
Consider a CPA when you're dealing with business ownership, rental properties, significant investment income, estate and trust administration, or multi-state tax obligations. CPAs have more rigorous education and licensing requirements, enabling them to provide audit representation, financial statement preparation, and strategic tax planning that goes beyond simple return preparation. If you're self-employed, run a corporation, or have complex deductions, a CPA can often save you more in taxes than their fee costs. For straightforward W-2 income with standard deductions, a qualified tax preparer may be sufficient and more economical.
Most full-service firms in Lexington offer bookkeeping, payroll processing, quarterly estimated tax calculations, and business entity formation advice. Several firms provide audit representation if you're selected for IRS examination. Higher-end services include tax planning (strategizing to minimize future tax liability), estate planning coordination, business valuation, and management consulting. Firms like Swisher & Johnson explicitly mention financial planning services, while specialists like Raetz Greg C CPA focus on sophisticated planning for high-net-worth clients. Year-round access varies—H&R Block specifically advertises this, while seasonal preparers may have limited availability outside tax season.
During peak tax season (late January through April 15), book at least 2-3 weeks in advance, especially for local CPA firms with smaller staff. Popular preparers can fill up by early March. If you have a complex return requiring multiple meetings or document gathering, start the process in February. H&R Block's higher capacity and walk-in availability provide more flexibility, though appointments are still recommended during peak times. For year-round services like quarterly business filings or tax planning, you'll generally find more availability and flexibility outside the January-April rush.
Bring photo ID, Social Security cards for all family members, and all income documents (W-2s, 1099s, K-1s). If you're self-employed, bring detailed records of income and expenses, preferably organized by category. Homeowners should bring mortgage interest statements (1098) and property tax records. If you have investments, bring brokerage statements showing gains, losses, and dividends. For deductions, gather receipts for charitable donations, medical expenses, and business expenses. If you worked with an accountant previously, bring last year's return. First-time clients should mention any major life changes: marriage, home purchase, business start, inheritance, or retirement account distributions.
Tax Clinic (#8) appears to be affiliated with IRS resources and likely offers free or low-cost preparation assistance for qualifying individuals—typically those with lower incomes or simple tax situations. H&R Block offers transparent pricing and often has promotions for straightforward returns. Several local firms like Cornett Tax Inc and Lexington Tax Advisors serve individual filers and may have competitive rates for simple W-2 returns. For truly basic situations, IRS Free File (available online) may be sufficient if you're comfortable with DIY software. Don't assume local CPAs are always expensive—many offer tiered pricing based on return complexity, and a $150-250 preparation fee can be worthwhile if it catches deductions you'd miss filing yourself.
Yes, several firms explicitly offer this service. H&R Block specifically mentions serving people who've received IRS notices or face audits, and their national infrastructure provides robust audit defense support. CPA firms like Raetz & Hawkins and Raetz Greg C CPA have the credentials to represent you before the IRS in examinations and appeals. For serious issues like large back tax debts, wage garnishments, or criminal tax matters, you may need a firm that specializes in tax resolution or an enrolled agent. Don't ignore IRS correspondence—even if you owe money you can't immediately pay, most firms can help you establish payment plans or negotiate settlements, and addressing issues promptly prevents penalties from compounding.
Swisher & Johnson, CPAs, PLC explicitly mentions expertise in construction and healthcare industries, which have unique accounting challenges like job costing, progress billing, and specialized compliance requirements. Several firms emphasize small business and self-employed professionals across sectors. Raetz Greg C CPA specializes in high-net-worth individuals and estate/trust administration. Imler & Imler serves nonprofit organizations alongside businesses and individuals. H&R Block's broad positioning serves landlords with rental properties and those with multi-state income. If you work in a niche industry with specific tax considerations (agriculture, consulting, real estate development), ask prospective firms directly about their experience in your sector before committing.