Excerpt from IRS Topic No 254

 

The following points will assist you when selecting a tax return preparer:

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• Be wary of tax return preparers who claim they can obtain larger refunds than others can.

• Avoid tax return preparers who base their fees on a percentage of the refund or who offer to deposit all or part of your refund into their financial accounts.

• Ensure you use a preparer with a PTIN. Paid tax return preparers must have a PTIN to prepare all or substantially all of a tax return.

• Use a reputable tax professional who enters his or her PTIN on the tax return, signs the tax return, and provides you a copy of the return (as required).

• Consider whether the individual or firm will be around for months or years after filing the return to answer questions about the preparation of the tax return.

• Never sign a blank tax form.

• Good preparers will ask to see your records and receipts. They'll also ask questions to figure things like the total income, tax deductions and credits.

• Check the preparer’s history. Taxpayers can ask the local Better Business Bureau about the preparer.

• Check the person's credentials. Only attorneys, CPAs, and enrolled agents can represent taxpayers before the IRS in all matters, including audits, collections, and appeals. Other tax return preparers who participate in the IRS Annual Filing Season Program have limited practice rights to represent taxpayers for audits of returns they prepared and signed. See Annual Filing Season Program for more information.