Wednesday, January 7, 2015

HOW TO FIND A QUALIFIED TAX PROFESSIONAL


The Internal Revenue Service recently reported that “(m)ore than half of taxpayers hire a professional when it’s time to file a tax return”.  Statistics suggest that the number is at least 60%. 

Why?  Because over the years the idiots in Congress have turned the US Tax Code into a convoluted and complicated mucking fess.

Albert Einstein once told his tax preparer – “The hardest thing in the world to understand is income taxes”.  Even more so today.

If you are not happy with your current tax preparer, have moved to a new area, or have decided that “self-preparation”, whether or not using a “box” (tax preparation software), is not your best choice (and in many cases it isn’t – especially the “box” option) the place to begin your search for a tax professional is my website FIND A TAX PROFESSIONAL.

Before going on, a word of advice to those who decide to use a “box” – No tax preparation software is a substitute for knowledge of the Tax Code, and no tax preparation software is a substitute for the services of a trained tax professional!  Garbage in – garbage out.

FIND A TAX PROFESSIONAL has detailed articles on such topics as the various initials associated with tax preparation, questions to ask a potential preparer, the fees charged by paid preparers, what information to give your tax professional at tax time, and when you should contact your tax preparer during the year, and debunking tax preparation myths, and links to online and print tax preparation and planning resources.

Its main feature is a selection of databases of tax professionals from sources like the National Association of Tax Professionals, the National Association of Enrolled Agents, and the Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation.  

So before you begin your search for a tax professional to prepare your 2014 returns check out FIND A TAX PROESSIONAL.

TTFN

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Although your advice is informative, I found your guide to finding a qualified tax professional a little misguided. While you can't depend on a CPA knowing tax law if they are not experienced with taxes, including professionals that have only joined one of those organizations is more commercial than accurate.
For example, Enrolled Agents are qualified by the IRS and testing and educational requirements insure their competence. They don't need to pay NATP or NAEA a fee to qualify their qualification.

Robert D Flach said...

DB-

I stand by my statement –

“I strongly believe that tax preparers who belong to membership organizations like the National Association of Tax Professionals, the National Society of Tax Professionals, and the National Society of Accountants (‘the other NSA’) are more serious and conscientious, and ultimately more competent and current in 1040 preparation, than those who do not.”

While an Enrolled Agent doesn’t “need to pay NATP or NAEA a fee to qualify their qualification”, joining such an organization is an indication of their commitment to excellence in their practice.

RDF