Ed note: If you want to have your taxes prepared by a person – instead of doing them yourself with a software program or online – you have a big decision to make. Violeta has some great tips from the IRS as well as a few things she learned from personal experience. Leer en español.
When I first came to this country, taxes were the last thing on my mind. However, when I found my first job and start working, I found out that regardless of your immigration status, if you have any income, you need to pay taxes. The thing is, I didn’t know anything about taxes in the United States. The first question I had was, “Where do I start?”
One of the options that I found was filing taxes with the assistance of a tax professional. During this process, I realized that choosing the right person to help you prepare your tax return can make a huge difference between a very calm and relaxed tax season and a chaotic one. Luckily for me and for all of you, there are a number of very good tax pros ready to help you out.
But how do you find a tax pro that meets your needs? Here are some helpful tips to choose your tax pro:
Check their credentials and background, as well as their professional history and personal qualifications.
First off, any person authorized to prepare your tax return needs to have a preparer tax identification number, or PTIN. So, it’s important to ask about his/her credentials if you find someone to do your taxes. Also, all tax professionals have different levels of education and skills in the tax industry, so you should ask questions about how long they have been preparing returns and what courses they have completed. For example, if you choose your aunt’s cousin to do your taxes, verify their qualifications and experience for yourself. Credibility is everything in this job.
Find out the cost of their services in advance.
If the tax pro wants to charge you a percentage of the total amount of your refund, don’t allow it. It’s a practice that’s penalized, so you need to pay a lot of attention to this point. Also, you need to be suspicious if the tax pro says they can get you a bigger refund than what you have the right to claim.
Be sure to provide all the necessary information to complete your return.
A good tax pro will ask you about all your files and any receipts. The preparer will need all this information to determine your total income, as well as any deductions and credits available to you. Also, do not trust anyone who wants to prepare your tax return with your last paycheck instead of using your W-2.
Make sure the tax refund goes directly to you.
When you get to the part about your refund with your tax pro, it is important to verify that the refund goes to you. Please, check to make sure that your bank account information and the address where the check will go is correct.
Ask if they will e-file your tax return.
It is the most secure and accurate way to file a return, whether you do it yourself or you pay someone to prepare it for you. Furthermore, usually, the time to process electronic returns is less than if you send it by U.S. mail.
Make sure that your tax pro is available to you.
We are talking not only during tax season; we are talking about the long-term as well. Here is why: If the IRS needs more information about your tax return, it is important that the tax pro be there to help you. Also, the person that you choose will know all your information, so if you maintain a lasting relationship with your tax pro, it can make a big difference.
Never sign a blank tax return.
Even if the person who is helping you with your tax return is a relative or friend, do not make an exception. Be alert if someone asks you to do so. As far as the IRS is concerned, you are the only person responsible for your return.
Check all the information before you sign.
Take your time to understand what is in your tax return. Ask your tax professional to explain what has been done.
Make sure both parties sign.
After you complete all your information in your tax return, your tax pro needs to sign with his/her PTIN number. His/her signature, as well as your signature, is the final step to complete your tax return.
One last piece of advice, do not be afraid to ask questions. If you have questions for your tax pro, it’s better to ask those questions and remove any doubt. The most important thing is that you have peace of mind that your tax return was prepared correctly.
In the end, I chose my tax pro through H&R Block. You can search the qualifications and experience of each tax pro here. If you feel more comfortable speaking to someone in Spanish, do not worry. They have more than 9,000 bilingual tax professional nationwide that can help you. It’s your call, but now you know what you need to make the best decision.
Click Here To Submit A News Tip Or Story