Don't Fall Victim To Tax Scams
Beware of Tax Scams! Don't fall victim to tax scams. These schemes take several shapes, ranging from promises of large tax refunds to illegal ways of "untaxing" yourself.The IRS suggests that you remember three important guidelines:
• You are responsible and liable for the content of your tax return.
• Anyone who promises you a bigger refund without knowing your tax situation could be misleading you, and..
• Never sign a tax return without looking it over to make sure it is accurate.
The above advice is sound. Let me just add something the I.R.S. does not address above: When seeking professional advice, make sure the person you are seeking is truly a professional. One way to tell if they are a professional is if they have a current professional license. CPA's are licensed by the state they reside in. So you can usually go to (the State's website where he or she practices) the website and do a search for that person's name. If their name isn't listed make sure you find out why. Call the department of professional regulation and ask about the individual. You certainly don't want to take/trust advice given by someone who purports to be a licensed professional and is NOT! That in and of itself should make you run!
The reason dealing with a professional CPA is so important is that as a licensed professional CPA, that person has a great deal of over site. They have a license to lose. They are required to have, and maintain, a minimum of 80 credit hours of Continuing Professional Education. They also participate in a State guided "peer review" in which outside, independent CPA firms actually examine records and documents of the target firm and issue a report. The firm must correct any errors of operation, and conform to all professional guidelines of the State Society. This results of this independent peer review information is public knowledge.
There are other people who claim to hold some sort of license they are lying. You look on their wall and you see all kinds of certificates. The problem is these certificates are often issued by some meaningless society that requires nothing more than an annual fee to belong. The member has proven nothing as to qualification to belong. DON'T BE FOOLED. If the license is NOT issued by the State you live in it is NOT a professional license. ONLY the State Dept of Professional Regulation issues professional licenses. The Federal Government DOES NOT issue licenses. I have seen many an advertisement by E.A.'s (enrolled agents) claiming to be "licensed" by the I.R.S. this simply isn't true. Enrolled agents are tax preparers who took a 4hr test given by the I.R.S. and passed. They are ENROLLED( signed up) to practice with the I.R.S. not "licensed". These individuals are a step above the untested but simply don't have the training and license exposure that a C.PA. has. They are not subject to any peer review and are not licensed by your STATE dept. of professional regulation. Again if it were me, I would want someone who is truly licensed, not someone who pretends to have a professional license work on my income tax return. Beware, there are many out there to deceive you. Choose a Licensed Certified Public Accountant and you will be assured a high level of competent service.
Related Tags: tax, income tax, tax preparation, irs, tax tips, tax forms, cpa, tax filing, tax scams, tax laws, tax advice
David S. Bland is a licensed CPA practicing in Sarasota, Florida. David has recently released a series of plain terms, easy to understand programs geared toward educating taxpayers and preparers on the little know "LEGAL" deductions that are available to all taxpayers, including businesses. These courses even walk the taxpayer through the steps for filling out their own return correctly. For more information on these very special educational course visit: Personal Income Tax Seminar / Small Business Tax Seminar / Musician's Tax Seminar
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