5 Best Accountants in Chicago (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Lorian Hartfield, Real Estate and Financial Expert · ✓ Data verified July 2026 · 8 min read

Tax season punishes anyone who waits until March to find an accountant. On this Chicago page, Zhou Agency alone carries 323 Google reviews, more than four times the next closest name, while the rest of the field still holds a 4.7 or better, so the real decision is not whether these accountants are competent, it is whether you need a real estate tax specialist or a generalist CPA for your family return.

Short answer: The most-reviewed accountant in Chicago is Zhou Agency (4.9 stars across 323 Google reviews), a tax advisory firm built around real estate investors, followed by Benjamin Koppel and Associates (4.9, 72 reviews) for individuals and small businesses. Fees vary by firm and complexity, so always get a written quote before engaging anyone.

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1. Zhou Agency
2. Benjamin Koppel and As…
3. Stenger Tax Advisory |…
4. APA Financial Services
5. Pasquesi Partners
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Chicago's Top Accountants, Side by Side

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	Zhou Agency	4.9 ★	323	Real estate investors & tax strategy	View ›
2	Benjamin Koppel and Associates	4.9 ★	72	Individuals & small business owners	View ›
3	Stenger Tax Advisory \| Chicago Accountant	5.0 ★	52	Perfect rating / Chicago & Naperville	View ›
4	APA Financial Services	4.7 ★	61	Auditing & business tax preparation	View ›
5	Pasquesi Partners	5.0 ★	43	Startups & small business bookkeeping	View ›

Our top picks, reviewed

#1 Overall🕑 Open 5 days/wk

Zhou Agency

4.9323 Google reviews

Zhou Agency is a Michigan Avenue tax advisory firm founded by Justine (Jun) Zhou that combines tax preparation with real estate investment strategy, tax-free retirement planning and family foundation structuring, all under one roof. The firm markets itself around helping real estate investors and small business owners build and protect wealth tax-efficiently, and its website describes 30 years in business. Reviewers frequently name specific staff members, like Jakob, Jun, Rui and Jasmine, suggesting a team-based approach rather than a single practitioner.

What people praise

By far the most-reviewed accountant on this page, with a deep track record
Reviewers specifically praise expertise in real estate tax strategy and investor planning
Named team members get individual, repeated praise for responsiveness
Handles amended returns and corrected prior-year filings from other CPA firms

Worth knowing

As a specialty real estate and tax-strategy practice, a simple W-2 return might be more firm than you need
Its webinars and educational content suggest a more involved, ongoing client relationship than a one-time filing

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.9 / 5

Review volume323 · 97th

Confidencehigh

Recency3 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown96% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The clear volume leader here and a strong fit if you have real estate holdings or want proactive tax strategy, not just annual filing. For a simple personal return, a smaller general practice might be a faster, lighter-touch option.

Website +1312-808-8899 Directions

625 N Michigan Ave Ste 1705, Chicago, IL 60611

#2🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Benjamin Koppel and Associates

4.972 Google reviews

Benjamin Koppel and Associates is a Chicago Loop accounting practice led by Ben Koppel, a CPA and CFA charterholder, offering CFO services, bookkeeping, payroll and tax preparation for individuals, partnerships and corporations. Its client base spans cannabis-industry businesses, brokers and dealers, real estate developers and auto mechanics, according to the firm's own site. Reviewers describe Ben walking clients through their returns line by line rather than assuming financial literacy.

What people praise

Reviewers highlight clear, jargon-free explanations of tax returns line by line
Handled multi-state tax situations for clients who relocated mid-year
Described as responsive and personable across multiple years of repeat use
Serves both individuals and small businesses under one practice

Worth knowing

One detailed negative review describes a communication breakdown and dissatisfaction with service
A newer name on Google relative to some competitors, with a thinner review history

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.9 / 5

Review volume72 · 91th

Confidenceearly

Recency5 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown99% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A near-perfect rating built on genuinely detailed, positive reviews about clarity and follow-through, tempered by one sharply negative account. Worth a conversation to gauge fit before committing, as with any accountant.

Website +1312-857-3867 Directions

332 S Michigan Ave Ste LL-K391, Chicago, IL 60604

#3🕑 Open 5 days/wk

Stenger Tax Advisory | Chicago Accountant

5.052 Google reviews

Stenger Tax Advisory is a Riverside Plaza CPA firm offering individual and business tax preparation, bookkeeping, payroll and international tax services, with locations in Chicago, Naperville and Houston. The firm files federal, Illinois state and Chicago city returns for individuals, self-employed clients and businesses, and reviewers repeatedly credit one advisor, Chris, by name for quick, accurate work.

What people praise

A perfect rating across every review on this page
Reviewers consistently mention quick turnaround and accurate filings
Multiple reviewers describe multi-year, repeat relationships with the same advisor
Offers a documented, simple process for collecting client paperwork

Worth knowing

Smallest review base of the top three names on this page
Multi-city operation means you may not always see the same advisor across visits

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating5 / 5

Review volume52 · 79th

Confidenceearly

Recency3 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown100% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The perfect score is real, but it rests on a review count that is still building. A strong, straightforward choice for a filer who wants speed and clear communication over deep tax strategy.

Website +1630-912-8504 Directions

150 N Riverside Plaza #1950, Chicago, IL 60606

#4🕑 Open 5 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

APA Financial Services

4.761 Google reviews

APA Financial Services is a Monroe Street firm offering tax preparation, audit representation, business formation and insurance consulting, and describes itself as trusted by more than 500 Chicago businesses over 20-plus years. Reviewers frequently name the firm's lead accountant, Alex, and describe both individual filings and business tax amendments handled under one roof.

What people praise

Long operating history and a large stated client base
Reviewers praise quick refunds and efficient filing turnaround
Handles both individual returns and business tax amendments
Offers property tax appeal services alongside standard filing

Worth knowing

One detailed negative review describes an extended, unresolved IRS correspondence issue over nearly a year
A handful of reviewers mention slower response times during disputes

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume61 · 85th

Confidenceearly

Recency4 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown92% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A well-established firm with a strong overall rating, though the one detailed complaint about IRS follow-through is worth asking about directly if your situation involves any ongoing correspondence with the IRS.

Website +1312-907-2235 Directions

17 E Monroe St Ste 178, Chicago, IL 60603

#5🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Pasquesi Partners

5.043 Google reviews

Pasquesi Partners is a River North CPA firm led by Rob Pasquesi, offering bookkeeping, fractional CFO services, payroll and tax preparation aimed at business owners and high-income individuals. The firm keeps notably long hours, opening as early as 6am most days, and reviewers repeatedly describe multi-year relationships supporting startups from their earliest stages through payroll setup.

What people praise

Reviewers describe Rob as responsive and proactive across multiple years of use
Handled emergency accounting situations for a business client within 48 hours
Helped a client transition from no employees to running full payroll
Unusually long daily opening hours starting at 6am

Worth knowing

Smallest review base on this page, though ratings are consistently strong
As a growth-stage business specialist, a simple personal return may not be the core focus

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating5 / 5

Review volume43 · 74th

Confidenceearly

Recency4 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown98% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A perfect rating built almost entirely on founder and small-business clients who came back year after year. The strongest pick here if you are launching or scaling a business rather than filing a straightforward personal return.

Website +1847-234-9000 Directions

350 N Orleans St Ste 9000N, Chicago, IL 60654

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How we score

Every number on this page is computed from public Google data on the date shown, not from opinion or payment. Rating is the firm’s live Google star average. Review volume is how many clients have rated them, ranked against other Chicago accountants. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a 4.9 from hundreds of clients carries more weight than a perfect score from a couple dozen. Recency reflects how recently clients are still leaving reviews. No firm can pay to change these numbers.

How much does an accountant cost in Chicago? (2026)

Accounting fees vary widely by the complexity of your return, whether you need ongoing bookkeeping or a one-time filing, and whether you are an individual or a business. None of the firms on this page publish flat public rate cards, so treat any figure you hear as a starting point and always get a written quote before engaging anyone.

Serving Chicago and the surrounding suburbs

The accountants above are concentrated around the Loop and Michigan Avenue, with reach into Naperville and other suburbs through multi-location firms. Searching for an accountant near me? Every listing below shows a live phone number and address so you can check how close each firm is to your home or office.

What to ask before you hire an accountant

Are you a licensed CPA in Illinois, and can I see your license number?
Do you specialize in my situation, whether that is real estate, a startup, or a simple personal return?
What is included in your fee, and is anything billed separately?
How do you handle communication if the IRS flags something on my return?
Will I work with the same person year over year, or does that vary?
Can you provide references or point to reviews from clients in a similar situation to mine?

Frequently asked questions

How did you choose these accountants?

We started from every accountant and CPA firm in Chicago with a public Google presence, then ranked by rating, review volume, consistency, and recency. See How we score above.

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from the public Google data in the scorecard. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another business’s score or position on the underlying data.

How often is this updated?

The data carries a verified date (July 2026 on this page). We refresh listings periodically so ratings and review counts stay current.

Do I need a CPA or can any accountant file my taxes?

A CPA has passed a state licensing exam and can represent you before the IRS in an audit, while a general tax preparer may not. Several firms here, including Benjamin Koppel and Associates and Pasquesi Partners, are led by licensed CPAs.

Is it too late to hire an accountant close to a filing deadline?

It is tighter, but several firms on this page describe quick turnaround times and same-week onboarding. Call ahead and ask directly about their current capacity before the deadline.

The bottom line

Zhou Agency is the standout for anyone with real estate holdings or a taste for proactive tax strategy, while Stenger Tax Advisory and Benjamin Koppel and Associates suit a more straightforward personal or small-business return. Whoever you call, get the engagement letter and fee structure in writing before tax documents change hands.

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