Each year I have people come into the office and say “So-and-So” can do my tax return cheaper. Many times I think of reminding them of the old saying, “You get what you pay for.” This saying is particularly true with tax preparation. By law a paid preparer is required to sign each tax return he or she prepares. Ghost preparers who charge maybe $25 or $50 to prepare a return will refuse to sign a return. That is an immediate red flag revealing a paid preparer who is only looking to make a fast buck.  These preparers are also unlikely to keep your tax data safe and secure as required by the Internal Revenue Service.  I recommend avoiding these unethical “ghost” tax return preparers.

Other warning signs of a “ghost” tax preparer include:

  • Requiring payment in cash and not providing a receipt
  • Inventing income to qualify their clients for the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit
  • Claiming fake deductions to increase the size of the refund
  • Printing the tax return and telling the taxpayer to sign and mail the return to the IRS
  • Refusing to digitally sign e-filed tax returns
  • Having “self-prepared” entered in the paid preparers field
  • Directing refunds into their bank account and not the taxpayer’s account

Paid preparers and those assisting with federal tax returns must have a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). A paid preparer must sign and include their PTIN on the returns they prepare.

I encourage taxpayers to review their tax return carefully before signing. No matter who prepares your tax return, taxpayers are ultimately responsible for accurately reporting their income and deductions.


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