4 Questions to Ask Yourself When You Hire a Tax Preparer

<p><strong>What kind of license does my preparer have?</strong> Anyone who gets paid for preparing a tax return is required to have a license. The California Tax Education Council (CTEC) provides the most basic level of certification. CPAs and some types of attorneys may also prepare taxes. An enrolled agent is the only specialist who focuses solely on taxation.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Did I read the return?</strong> Read over your return before submitting it to the IRS and double check that all the information is correct.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Do I understand my tax return?</strong> Always ask questions if you don’t understand something about your return. A knowledgeable tax preparer should be able to answer your questions in a way that you can understand. While you don’t need to grasp every detail of the tax code (that’s why you’ve hired a professional), it’s important to have a basic understanding of how your taxes work.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Has my preparer signed the return?</strong> Make sure the preparer has affixed his or her signature. If you pay someone to do your taxes, that person is legally required to sign the return.&nbsp;</p>