If you are looking to employ the services of a tax preparer for whatever personal tax preparation services that are you in need of, then it is important to learn first hand which tax preparer to get. As can be expected, there will be a lot of candidates that you can encounter as you move forward onto your search. Due to the fact that no two tax preparers are exactly the same, you need to ensure that you are aware of the qualities of a good tax preparer. Please read on to the next few parts of this article in order for you to know how to properly choose a tax preparer for your needs.
How to Choose the Right Tax Preparer
1. The Candidate’s Qualifications
The new regulation is that tax return preparers that are rendering their services have to have a tax identification number as a preparer. Hence, this must be one of the elements that you need to check out when you are trying to find the right tax preparer to hire. In addition to that, it matters to find out if the tax return preparer is also associated with reputed organizations in the industry as this to some extent signifies his or her interest in the field, even his or her expertise in the area. Trying to learn if the candidate is engaging in additional training or on-going education is also a key to determine if the person is a good candidate for the tax preparation job that you have at hand. Of course, you must not forget to also learn about the educational background of the tax preparer.
2. The Candidate’s History
Researching for the sake of finding out if the tax preparer has a good reputation or history in the industry is a step that helps you accomplish your goal of finding the right tax return preparer to hire. In light of that, you should engage into steps like checking with the Better Business Bureau the history of the candidate. The official website of the Better Business Bureau provides you with information like complaints filed against the professional or service provider and rating which is based on some solid factors. In addition to that, you should check the licensing of the tax preparer or any accomplishments that are related to business, tax preparation or the field of accountancy. Meanwhile, you could also ask a number of character references whom you can communicate to for further information about the candidate.
3. The Candidate’s Service Fees
The amount of the tax preparer’s fees is a thing to be discussed in the realm of finding the best and the right candidate. Advisably, you should not push through on working with a tax preparer who insist that his or her fees shall be based on the amount of your refund. In other words, the candidate is asking a certain percentage of your tax refund. Rather, go and pick a tax preparer who has a fixed fee for his or her services, which is regardless of the amount of your refund.
