The Best Tax Help: Who Can Decide?


Tax season has officially arrived! With that in mind, there have been moves to allow the IRS to license Professional Tax Preparers. In December 2015, the Tax Preparer Competency Act was introduced to the US House of Representatives. The bill, as it was written, would require Tax Professionals to (1) pass a competency exam, (2) attend continual education classes every year, and (3) pass a background check. Those who meet these standards would be listed in a public database. This bill is the most recent attempt to reach this goal.

          A few years ago, the IRS tried to do this on their own and were challenged in court. The result of that activity was the Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) and the voluntary system now in place. The basic motive for trying to create these standards is to protect Taxpayers, who are sharing their most sensitive personal information in this process. It would seem to make sense that those who enforce the tax code, should determine who can help others to file their Tax Returns. What do you think?

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