A tax preparer is hired to prepare the taxes of other businesses and individuals. A very common question is why there is a need for such a profession? The simple answer is Tax preparation entails tedious and careful work and is reserved for a professional who is trained in dealing with tax laws as well as who has the patience to go through pages after pages of financial papers and documents
What is the difference between a tax preparer and a CPA?
Many people would like to know that they must hire a CPA (certified public accountants) to prepare their taxes for them. But you do not need to hire a CPA to do your taxes for you. To have this title, one needs to study accounting and get a degree and then pass the CPA test. Certainly, with their knowledge, CPAs can do tax preparation. Remember hiring a CPA is not cheap and they can do more than just prepare your taxes. These professionals can provide sound financial advice.
It is not required to hire a CPA for the tax preparation but can just hire anyone to prepare your taxes for you. These days tax preparation is not only tedious but has become a very sensitive and complicated matte too. One wrong item in your tax documents can get you in big trouble with the IRS. Also, it is not good to be late when it comes to taxes. You must submit your documents on time, and for this, you have to hire a competent tax preparer. You can also hire a CPA as you should hire someone who has extensive knowledge of tax laws.
The Key To Finding The Best Preparer For You Is To Ask Questions
A very vital question you need to ask a preparer to verify if they are suitable for your needs is whether that person has a preparer tax identification number (PTIN) or not. This should be the first question you need to ask the preparer. Keep in mind that it is compulsory for anyone that prepares tax returns to have a valid PTIN. Thus if you come across a tax expert that does not have, you should not even bother wasting your time and money on them.
Also ask a tax preparer before searching a Tax Preparer near me in Google is whether they have prepared tax returns related to your industry or not. This is because there is no one size fits all when it comes to tax preparation. Also, some tax professionals are very fluent in Schedule C and E which are business and rentals in that order, while others are best when it comes to forms 1040-EZ. Although there might be an expert that may cover a wide scope, it is significant to verify their experience to avoid hiring someone who does not understand your needs well.