Comments on: But Tax Pros Are Already Certifiable… http://www.taxgirl.com/but-tax-pros-are-already-certifiable/ Paying taxes is painful... but reading about them shouldn't be. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:02:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: IRS Targets 100,000 Tax Professionals For Noncompliance | taxgirl http://www.taxgirl.com/but-tax-pros-are-already-certifiable/comment-page-1/#comment-25711 IRS Targets 100,000 Tax Professionals For Noncompliance | taxgirl Sun, 31 Jul 2011 15:59:19 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=3525#comment-25711 [...] oversight of paid preparers has been a goal of the IRS for some time now. In 2009, the IRS publicly broached the idea of certifying tax professionals resulting in a flurry of debates on the issue. The following year, the IRS proposed amendments to [...] [...] oversight of paid preparers has been a goal of the IRS for some time now. In 2009, the IRS publicly broached the idea of certifying tax professionals resulting in a flurry of debates on the issue. The following year, the IRS proposed amendments to [...]

]]> By: IRS Targets 100,000 Tax Professionals For Noncompliance - Kelly Phillips Erb - Taxgirl - Forbes http://www.taxgirl.com/but-tax-pros-are-already-certifiable/comment-page-1/#comment-25646 IRS Targets 100,000 Tax Professionals For Noncompliance - Kelly Phillips Erb - Taxgirl - Forbes Wed, 13 Jul 2011 17:01:18 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=3525#comment-25646 [...] oversight of paid preparers has been a goal of the IRS for some time now. In 2009, the IRS publicly broached the idea of certifying tax professionals resulting in a flurry of debates on the issue. The following year, the IRS proposed amendments to [...] [...] oversight of paid preparers has been a goal of the IRS for some time now. In 2009, the IRS publicly broached the idea of certifying tax professionals resulting in a flurry of debates on the issue. The following year, the IRS proposed amendments to [...]

]]> By: IRS Targets 100,000 Tax Professionals For Noncompliance | Financial Publicity http://www.taxgirl.com/but-tax-pros-are-already-certifiable/comment-page-1/#comment-25644 IRS Targets 100,000 Tax Professionals For Noncompliance | Financial Publicity Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:47:20 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=3525#comment-25644 [...] oversight of paid preparers has been a goal of the IRS for some time now. In 2009, the IRS publicly broached the idea of certifying tax professionals resulting in a flurry of debates on the issue. The following year, the IRS proposed amendments to [...] [...] oversight of paid preparers has been a goal of the IRS for some time now. In 2009, the IRS publicly broached the idea of certifying tax professionals resulting in a flurry of debates on the issue. The following year, the IRS proposed amendments to [...]

]]> By: Lisa http://www.taxgirl.com/but-tax-pros-are-already-certifiable/comment-page-1/#comment-10953 Lisa Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:31:58 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=3525#comment-10953 Jill, I don't agree with you that CPA's and Degreed Accountants should be exempt. I have been doing Taxes and bookkeeping for 20 years and have worked for CPA's and yes even ran 2 H&R block office for 8 years. Not all CPA's are up to date on the tax law changes because they usually only take a 8 hr update course per year. The one's that I've worked with hated doing personal taxes but did because of the income it brought in. I agree with the certification process because I think it would help the taxpayer. As far as the cost if someone is going to be in the business of preparing taxes then they should have to pay for the cost of the course and the test. This is how the enrolled agent is done. Jill,

I don’t agree with you that CPA’s and Degreed Accountants should be exempt. I have been doing Taxes and bookkeeping for 20 years and have worked for CPA’s and yes even ran 2 H&R block office for 8 years. Not all CPA’s are up to date on the tax law changes because they usually only take a 8 hr update course per year. The one’s that I’ve worked with hated doing personal taxes but did because of the income it brought in. I agree with the certification process because I think it would help the taxpayer. As far as the cost if someone is going to be in the business of preparing taxes then they should have to pay for the cost of the course and the test. This is how the enrolled agent is done.

]]> By: Tax Preparer Regulation | taxguy http://www.taxgirl.com/but-tax-pros-are-already-certifiable/comment-page-1/#comment-10743 Tax Preparer Regulation | taxguy Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:11:30 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=3525#comment-10743 [...] ü  But Tax Pros Are Already Certifiable… [...] [...] ü  But Tax Pros Are Already Certifiable… [...]

]]> By: Tax Preparer Regulation | taxguy http://www.taxgirl.com/but-tax-pros-are-already-certifiable/comment-page-1/#comment-10742 Tax Preparer Regulation | taxguy Sun, 21 Jun 2009 11:52:00 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=3525#comment-10742 [...] But Tax Pros Are Already Certifiable…  [...] [...] But Tax Pros Are Already Certifiable…  [...]

]]> By: Kelly http://www.taxgirl.com/but-tax-pros-are-already-certifiable/comment-page-1/#comment-10728 Kelly Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:34:12 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=3525#comment-10728 Jill, I think the bill would exempt professionals with certification requirements. Jill,
I think the bill would exempt professionals with certification requirements.

]]> By: Jill http://www.taxgirl.com/but-tax-pros-are-already-certifiable/comment-page-1/#comment-10725 Jill Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:06:45 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=3525#comment-10725 I think certification would add an extra layer of protection for the consumer. However, I think, as a professional, I would like to see an exemption for people who can show that they are CPA's, degreed accountants, or tax attorneys. We've already been to school, we have training above and beyond just tax, and we work in the industry all year (not just at tax time) so the thought of me having to go for MORE training to get a special piece of paper certifiying me to do taxes seems overly burdensome. But for someone that just wants to work for H&R Block or another "storefront" tax preparer - then yes, I would favor certification to protect the consumer. I think certification would add an extra layer of protection for the consumer. However, I think, as a professional, I would like to see an exemption for people who can show that they are CPA’s, degreed accountants, or tax attorneys. We’ve already been to school, we have training above and beyond just tax, and we work in the industry all year (not just at tax time) so the thought of me having to go for MORE training to get a special piece of paper certifiying me to do taxes seems overly burdensome. But for someone that just wants to work for H&R Block or another “storefront” tax preparer – then yes, I would favor certification to protect the consumer.

]]> By: Trish http://www.taxgirl.com/but-tax-pros-are-already-certifiable/comment-page-1/#comment-10724 Trish Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:21:59 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=3525#comment-10724 The first licensing bill, so long ago, had an education provision budgeted in to make sure the public understood the that if they paid someone to prepare their return that person needs to sign the return. By signing the preparer couldn't hide from the rules. I have always seen licensing as a way to educate the public in their rights and control the car dealers/pawn shops and the "kitchen table" preparers. I am very concerned at the conflict of interest too many of these preparers display. There are too many people who think a computer and tax software is simply a way to make money and don't learn or follows what rules there are. The idea behind licensing is good but it won't be enough if there isn't education of preparers and the public. Give the public the info they need to make good preparer decisions. The first licensing bill, so long ago, had an education provision budgeted in to make sure the public understood the that if they paid someone to prepare their return that person needs to sign the return. By signing the preparer couldn’t hide from the rules. I have always seen licensing as a way to educate the public in their rights and control the car dealers/pawn shops and the “kitchen table” preparers. I am very concerned at the conflict of interest too many of these preparers display. There are too many people who think a computer and tax software is simply a way to make money and don’t learn or follows what rules there are.
The idea behind licensing is good but it won’t be enough if there isn’t education of preparers and the public. Give the public the info they need to make good preparer decisions.

]]> By: Urbie http://www.taxgirl.com/but-tax-pros-are-already-certifiable/comment-page-1/#comment-10722 Urbie Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:33:20 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=3525#comment-10722 I'm not sure whether certification would be helpful or not. Maybe it would. Having spent this season as a first-year preparer in the trenches at HRB -- a tax-prep chain that has, I am well aware, a less-than-stellar reputation in the accounting profession -- you would not believe some of the stories WE get, from our clients, about some of the things that happen when they go to small, storefront tax preparers. Block takes a lot of heat over over the fact that a lot of its preparers are less knowledgeable and experienced than EA's and people like Kelly -- and that's certainly true; but the company does put us through 60+ hours of training before turning us loose to do people's taxes, and the training, I have to say, isn't bad. HRB's official position, in fact, is that the company favors the institution of IRS certification requirements -- because HRB's training would be sufficient to get us certified, and I think because it would put some of the small competitors out of business. A lot of storefront preparers in poor neighborhoods are really second-rate (again, judging from what my own clients tell me about their experiences) -- it may be that certification, by putting some sort of floor under what you're getting, would help. I’m not sure whether certification would be helpful or not. Maybe it would. Having spent this season as a first-year preparer in the trenches at HRB — a tax-prep chain that has, I am well aware, a less-than-stellar reputation in the accounting profession — you would not believe some of the stories WE get, from our clients, about some of the things that happen when they go to small, storefront tax preparers. Block takes a lot of heat over over the fact that a lot of its preparers are less knowledgeable and experienced than EA’s and people like Kelly — and that’s certainly true; but the company does put us through 60+ hours of training before turning us loose to do people’s taxes, and the training, I have to say, isn’t bad. HRB’s official position, in fact, is that the company favors the institution of IRS certification requirements — because HRB’s training would be sufficient to get us certified, and I think because it would put some of the small competitors out of business. A lot of storefront preparers in poor neighborhoods are really second-rate (again, judging from what my own clients tell me about their experiences) — it may be that certification, by putting some sort of floor under what you’re getting, would help.

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