Information courtesy of IRS.gov

Many people pay to have their income taxes prepared by someone. Be careful when you choose a preparer to do your taxes- you are legally responsible for all the information on the tax return even if someone else prepares it. The IRS offers the following tips to help you choose a tax preparer:

  1. Check the preparer’s qualifications. and history.  All paid tax preparers are required to have a Preparer Tax Identification Number or PTIN.
  2. Ask about service fees. Avoid preparers who base their fee on a percentage of your refund or those who say they can get larger refunds than others can. Always make sure any refund due is sent to you or deposited into your bank account. You should not have your refund deposited into a preparer’s bank account.
  3. Ask to e-file your return.  Make sure your preparer offers IRS e-file. Any paid preparer who prepares and files more than 10 returns generally must e-file their clients’ returns.
  4. Make sure the preparer is available. You need to ensure that you can contact the tax preparer after you file your return. That’s true even after the April 15 due date. You may need to contact the preparer if questions come up about your tax return at a later time.
  5. Provide tax records. A good preparer will ask to see your records and receipts. They ask you questions to report your total income and the tax benefits you’re entitled to claim. These may include tax deductions, tax credits and other items. Do not use a preparer who is willing to e-file your return using your last pay stub instead of your Form W-2. This is against IRS e-file rules.
  6. Never sign a blank tax return. Do not use a tax preparer who asks you to sign a blank tax form.
  7. Review your return before signing. Before you sign your tax return, review it thoroughly. Ask questions if something is not clear to you. Make sure you’re comfortable with the information on the return before you sign it.

We prepare hundreds of tax returns each year and we are available year round to answer questions. Give us a call today to discuss our services!