12 Ways You Can Tell If Your Tax Preparer is Legal or Not
Please, choose wisely if you choose a tax professional. If you choose a paid tax professional, please, protect yourself.
1. If a paid tax professional is stating something that seems too good to be true, it likely is. A valid paid tax professional will NOT tell you "I can get you xxx$."
2. A paid tax professional, legally, can NOT file a tax return using only a pay stub, unless it is after Feb 15th and a Form 4852 is included with the return.
3. A paid tax professional must provide you with a complete copy of your tax return PRIOR to e-filing the return.
5. A paid tax professional MUST sign the tax return and provide their PTIN# on the tax return that you pay them to prepare.
6. A paid tax professional must have you sign a Form 8879 to authorize e-file of your tax return. If you have paid a tax professional to assist with your tax return and the signature area says "self-prepared," that is NOT a valid tax professional.
7. A valid tax professional will NEVER state, "So, what kind of refund do you want?"
8. A valid tax professional will NOT tell you what you want to hear or adjust numbers if you don't like the outcome on your tax return.
9. If you have a question about your tax return and have chosen a tax professional, that tax professional should be able to readily answer your questions in a way that you understand. A valid tax professional has a vast amount of education that they complete, on a yearly basis. If a tax professional states that they have IRS Credentials, you can check those credentials at the IRS website in the "RPO Directory and Authorized E-File Directory." https://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf. Please not that all tax professionals are not credential some are classified as preparers who hold current PTIN active status with the IRS, which makes them legal.
10. A valid tax pro will NOT allow you to deposit your refund into their bank account or sign a refund check for you. They also can NOT negotiate your tax preparation fees into their personal bank accounts or to their prepaid card. They can use a bank provider that allows you to pay for tax preparation from your refund, but your refund goes through a bank provider, NOT the tax professionals account. While there are many legitimate tax professionals, there are plenty that are not.
11.If you have paid a tax professional to assist with your tax return and something is fraudulent on that tax return, YOU, the taxpayer are ultimately responsible for what is on that return.
Be very aware of those out there that say they are a tax professional and are nothing but "rogue & shady" and only out to charge you for something that will be incorrect or fraudulent. It is not uncommon for a taxpayer to receive an IRS or State tax notice even when everything on a tax return is accurate. If you choose a tax professional, make sure it is someone who will help you address any future IRS or State tax notice. There is a big difference between an error on a tax return and something that is downright, fraudulent. Taxes are not always easy to understand so it is common to reach out to a tax professional if you don't feel comfortable preparing a return on your own. That's fine, as long as you can verify that person is a true tax professional. May your 2017 tax returns be accurate, legal and stress-free. God Bless.
