How much do you know about your tax preparer?
Are they a degreed professional who has received accounting education in an accredited higher education institute? So he/she is capable of understanding the numbers and can provide you with solution to maximize your benefits? Do they have the necessary 150 accredited college hours that CPA’s are to attain?
Has current, accurate, and sufficient knowledge obtained by completing no-less than 120 credit hours of Continued Professional Education of tax, accounting, and related knowledge within the past three years? So he/she can apply the current knowledge to your situation to minimize your tax liability?
Is a person of high-integrity and moral character who’s background was properly investigated and his actions are continuously monitored. A person that was never convicted of felony, nor is under indictment for a misconduct?
Possesses “Professional” experience obtained from working under professional accountant supervision? Or, he/she just knows how to enter numbers into a computer program after being trained by a program operator?
Can be held responsible for committing errors? You the taxpayer, are ultimately responsible for the return, and unless your return was prepared and signed by a “licensed professional,” it is unlikely that you will have recourse against the “Tax shop” or the unlicensed preparer for professional liability.
Personally knows you and will be there to help you year-round? Or whether he/she is a temp of a “mass tax-preparation” shop where you are treated as “one of the crowd” ?
Dealing with a CPA will eliminate all of your worries and provide positive answers to all of these questions. To be licensed as a CPA, an individual must attain a higher-level of education, earn a degree, and meet certain qualification requirements, pass a rigorous examination, and gain certain amount of experience working for a CPA or a CPA firm.
Points to keep in Mind when choosing a tax preparer
A CPA must be a trusted advisor to individuals and businesses, an individual of high-integrity who has to submit to a background investigation and continuous monitoring of actions in order to maintain the CPA license issued by the State. The CPA is always required to meet the high professional standards adhere to a code of ethics, maintain responsibility for the work produced, and provide the highest standards of customer service.