In many situations, you no longer need to sit across a desk from your tax professional. Modern tax practice can be delivered securely across distance.
The old geographic constraint has changed
Paper documents, wet signatures, and in-person meetings once made proximity an important practical consideration. Secure portals, electronic signatures, electronic filing, telephone, and video meetings have changed that.
The better question is expertise
If the professional in your town rarely handles your tax issue and a professional in another state handles it every week, geography may be a poor reason to choose the local option.
State knowledge still matters
Remote does not mean location is irrelevant. A professional must understand the states and jurisdictions that affect your return. Ask about experience with your resident state, business states, and multistate issues.
Security matters more than distance
The quality of a remote relationship depends on secure technology, clear communication, defined workflow, and responsiveness—not on whether two people share the same ZIP code.
Choose expertise, not proximity.