There is an odd fact most people don’t know about tax professionals. Unlike doctors, attorneys, or other professionals, there is no requirement for someone to have a certain level of education, training, or a license to prepare tax returns. In fact, unless a court bars someone from preparing tax returns, recent developments mean the IRS can’t prevent someone from preparing tax returns for the public, even if they have been disciplined or fined by the IRS in the past.
How do you choose a reputable tax professional? The Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants, MNCPA, has a great resource on the benefits of using a CPA and questions to ask when interviewing potential tax professionals.
