What Should I Consider When Choosing a Tax Preparer?
When choosing a tax preparer, it’s important to examine your options carefully. An unqualified tax preparer may overlook possible deductions, make mistakes that result in penalties, and even get you into serious legal trouble. It’s important to remember that in case of a problem, it’s the taxpayer, not the tax preparer, who’s responsible for the information on the tax return forms. When choosing a tax preparer, avoid anyone who claims she can obtain large refunds for you or who guarantees results. This is not only unlikely; it is also illegal. A tax preparer is also not allowed to charge a contingency fee or to offer to help you file papers with inflated or false deductions. Look for a tax preparer who is accredited and doesn’t have any history of complaints filed against him in the Better Business Bureau or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). Avoid firms at which secretaries or students prepare taxes. Such services are usually cheaper, but t
