An accounting answering service for CPA firms and bookkeepers
Tax season is when you can least afford to stop and answer the phone. Ringzel's AI receptionist answers the calls your team can't, in your firm's name, and takes down what each caller needs.
Build it free in two minutes. Talk to it straight away.
Tax season is when calls get missed
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says longer hours are typical for accountants at certain times of the year, such as quarterly audits or tax season, across about 1,595,200 accountant and auditor jobs in 2025 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, checked 9 November 2026).
Those are the weeks when new clients call, existing clients ask where their return is, and someone panics about a letter from the IRS. Your receptionist answers each one so nothing gets lost.
For pricing and growth, see our guides to how to price accounting services and marketing for accountants.
What our accounting answering service does on the call
It answers in your firm's name and tells the caller it's automated.
It sorts the call. Existing client or new? Tax prep, bookkeeping, payroll, an IRS or state notice, or something else? You decide which questions it asks.
It captures new business properly: individual or business, the type of business, what they need help with and the best time to call back.
It sticks to the facts you give it: office hours, the services you offer, how to drop off documents and how to become a client.
It never gives tax, financial or accounting advice. It won't say what someone can deduct, how much they'll owe or what to do about a notice. If a caller asks, it explains that an accountant will need to speak to them.
It doesn't bluff. If it can't help, it says so, takes a message and marks it for your team.
Every call written up for your team
After each call, you get the recording, the transcript, a summary and a check report. That's on every plan.
The summary shows whether it's a new or existing client, what they need and how soon, so you can decide who takes it.
The check report confirms your questions were covered and anything urgent was flagged as you set.
You can check calls on the go in the Ringzel Android app, which is live on Google Play. The iPhone app is coming soon.
Example call scenario
Example call scenario. This is an illustration, not a recording of a real call.
It's early April. A self-employed contractor calls your firm at 5:50 p.m. He hasn't filed and he just got a notice from the IRS about last year.
Your receptionist answers in your firm's name, says it's automated and asks your new-client questions: his name and number, that he's self-employed, what he needs help with and when he's free to talk. When he asks whether he'll owe penalties, it explains that it can't give tax advice and that an accountant will call him back.
Next morning, your team has the summary, recording and check report, and can decide who takes it before anyone picks up the phone.
Inquiries from your website, captured
On Professional and Premium, a bespoke AI chat on your website answers visitors for you.
A small business owner asks at 8 p.m. whether you handle monthly bookkeeping and payroll for a restaurant. The chat answers from your firm's information, asks about the business and captures the inquiry, without giving any advice.
Consultations, transfers and routing to the right accountant
On the Professional and Premium plans, your receptionist can do more than take the details.
Book consultations into your calendar, using the slots you choose.
Transfer calls to an accountant or the office when a client needs to speak to someone now.
Route calls by service, so tax, bookkeeping and payroll questions reach the right person.
On Basic, your receptionist takes the details and passes them to your team.
Hear it answer for your firm
Type in your firm's name and Ringzel builds a receptionist from your website and Google listing. It takes about two minutes. Then talk to it in your browser: ask about tax prep, mention an IRS letter, ask for tax advice and hear how it declines.
No phone needed. No card.
Pricing for accounting firms
Plans start at $99 a month, with unlimited calls on every plan. Professional, at $179 a month, adds consultation booking, call transfers and routing. Premium, at $299 a month, adds integrations and reputation management. Every plan includes the recording, transcript, summary and check report for every call, and a 14-day free trial with no card to start. Paying yearly costs $990, $1,790 or $2,990.
Questions accountants ask
What is an accounting answering service?
It answers your firm's calls when your team can't. Ringzel's AI receptionist sorts new and existing clients, takes the details and sends your team a summary after every call.
Does it give tax advice?
No. It never gives tax, financial or accounting advice. If a caller asks, it explains that an accountant will need to speak to them.
Can it handle the rush in tax season?
Yes. Calls are unlimited on every plan, and each one is answered, logged and summarized.
Can it tell a client where their return is?
Not unless your team has given it that information. It takes a message and flags it for the right person.
Can it book consultations with new clients?
Yes, on the Professional and Premium plans, using the slots you choose.
Can I keep my existing number?
Yes. You keep your number and forward the calls you can't take, whether your team is busy or the office is closed.
How much does it cost?
From $99 a month with unlimited calls. Professional, which adds consultation booking, transfers and routing, is $179 a month. Every plan has a 14-day free trial with no card to start.
Keep new clients coming in during your busiest weeks
Build your receptionist in about two minutes and hear how it handles a new client call. When you're ready, start your 14-day free trial.
No website or Google listing? Tell us about your business
Build it free in two minutes. Talk to it straight away.