5 tips before you search ‘best tax preparer near me’

As tax deadline is getting closer, many of you are searching ‘tax preparer near me’, finding the closest tax office near your residence or place of work. While this may be the easiest way to find a tax preparer, many times you are probably not spending enough time researching the right tax preparer and asking the right questions.

Here are few quick tips for finding the best tax preparers near you.

 

1. Ask for credentials: There is a reason why qualified and certified tax professionals charge higher fees. They are trained with several years of experience in handling tax filing, therefore you get the highest quality of service hiring a good qualified professional.
2. Ask for Preparer Identification number: Ask for a PTIN -preparer Identification number. As part of the process, they are required to put the PTIN number on the tax return.
3. Professional organizations: Check for their affiliations to professional organizations eg: local chamber of commerce, national tax professional association etc: This step ensures you find reliable and trustworthy tax professionals.
4. Check pricing and compare fees: On an average tax, professionals charge $275 for itemized form 1040 with state tax return. Without the itemized deduction, it is $175. While this may be good information, your tax returns may have additional items to be considered for accurate tax filing. Therefore, ensure you provide the right data and compare it with multiple service providers.
5. IRS audit assistance: Check at the time of initial meeting how they manage IRS audits. Will this be covered as part of tax preparation cost or would be additional?