| It is understandable if filling out the Schedule A for your | | | | a good choice. Others can't represent your interests in |
| 1040 is not your idea about having a good time. There | | | | front of the IRS. Most tax preparers are only open |
| are professionals who can prepare your tax return, so | | | | between February and April, so it is a good sign if your |
| you don't have to worry about it. However, you should | | | | specialist can be reached even when it isn't tax |
| choose your tax preparer carefully: statistics show | | | | season. |
| that almost 30 percent of people who have such a | | | | You should also meet the person who will be |
| specialist complained about their services. It is not | | | | responsible for your return. Large firms usually |
| unusual to pay penalties or fines because the mistake | | | | delegate the work to someone who has less |
| of somebody else. | | | | experience. If this is the procedure at the firm you |
| Many companies complain about tax preparers who | | | | choose, you should ask whether is there an expert |
| don't reply to e-mails and never answer the phone, or | | | | who reviews the return before they send it to you to |
| who don't provide a copy of the tax return. There are | | | | sign it. It is always good to know the person who is |
| also many complaints about the fees: there are cases | | | | responsible for your tax return. |
| when the tax specialist doesn't say how much the tax | | | | A good specialist will always ask for receipts for |
| preparation bill will be. | | | | deductions and will have a lot of questions to |
| On the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website you can | | | | determine whether you're eligible for certain deductions. |
| search for Reliability Reports for each tax preparation | | | | A tax preparer who doesn't ask any questions and |
| firm. You will only have to provide your zip code, and | | | | does not need any receipts are not reputable. |
| the search engine will return a list of tax-prep firms in | | | | It is also a good sign if the tax preparer can give you a |
| your area, along with their reliability reports. It is very | | | | rough estimate on the fee he will charge you. Fees |
| important to have a reliable tax specialist, because you | | | | vary upon the complexity of your tax return: a simple |
| will be held responsible for his mistake. | | | | tax return generates the lowest fee, but if the return is |
| The first thing you should ask is their credentials. CPAs | | | | more complicated, the fees will be also higher. |
| who are specialized in tax planning and preparation are | | | | |