Panel backs licensing for tax return preparers

[The Straight Story]

Panel backs licensing for tax return preparers

By Jenny Mandel
[e-mail]

The Internal Revenue Service should develop a licensing scheme for tax preparers, reverse its decision to outsource some tax debt collection, establish a free electronic filing system and secure more resources for a taxpayer assistance program, a panel representing taxpayers recommended recently.

The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel, a volunteer federal advisory committee that relies on taxpayer input to address IRS service and customer satisfaction, submitted its recommendations in response to a request by IRS Commissioner Mark Everson at an April meeting.

In its Aug. 18 letter, the panel found that the current system, in which no qualifications or licenses are required to offer paid tax preparation services, leaves customers open to inept and unethical service and identity theft.

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=34835&dcn=todaysnews

[ThoughtCriminal]

1. I had to tell the last guy that prepared my taxes

That he forgot to include self-employment tax in the total.