Choosing a Tax Professional:
Taxpayers who pay someone to do their taxes should choose a preparer wisely. If you choose to use a paid tax preparer, it is important that you find a qualified tax professional. Taxpayers are ultimately responsible for everything on their return even when it’s prepared by someone else.
The most reputable preparers will request to see your records and receipts and will ask you multiple questions to determine your total income and your qualifications for expenses, deductions, and other items. By doing so, they have your best interest in mind and are trying to help you avoid penalties, interest, or additional taxes that could result from later IRS contacts.
A tax return preparer is trusted with your most personal information. They know about your marriage, your income, your children and your social security numbers – the details of your financial life.
Most tax return preparers provide outstanding service. However, each year, some taxpayers are hurt financially because they choose the wrong tax return preparer.
Anyone can be a paid tax return preparer as long as they have an IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) and they sign and enter it on all returns they prepare. However, tax return preparers have differing levels of skills, education and expertise.
Choose wisely when selecting a paid tax return preparer. For assistance see:
NATP. NATP is the largest nonprofit organization, with members in all 50 states, focusing specifically on federal tax preparation. NATP members adhere to a superior standard of professional conduct and bring excellence to the more than 12 million taxpayers they assist worldwide.