How to choose a tax preparer you can trust.

A lot of tax-forum posts aren't really about tax law. They're about trust: "My preparer wants receipts for things that don't seem right." "My accountant hasn't filed in two years." Choosing the right person up front prevents most of those stories.

The basics every paid preparer must meet

Anyone paid to prepare federal returns must have a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN), and must sign your return and include it. A preparer who prepares your return but won't sign it is what the IRS calls a "ghost preparer," and it's a serious red flag.

Know what the credentials mean

CPAs, enrolled agents, and attorneys can represent you before the IRS on any matter, including audits, collections, and appeals. Preparers in the IRS Annual Filing Season Program can represent you only on returns they prepared, and only in limited situations. A PTIN alone carries no representation rights. The IRS keeps a public Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications you can search. Ask any preparer, including us, exactly what they hold.

You're accountable for every line on your return, even if someone else prepared it.

Red flags to walk away from

The IRS warns about preparers who:

• charge a percentage of your refund, or deal in cash only with no receipt;
• want your refund deposited into their account instead of yours;
• won't sign the return or give you a copy;
• invent income or expenses to boost a refund, or file using a pay stub instead of a W-2;
• ask you to sign a blank or incomplete return.

Questions worth asking before you hire

What credentials do you hold? How is your fee set, and will I get it in writing? Will you be available after tax season if the IRS sends a letter? How will I know my return was filed? The answers tell you a lot.

Make sure your return was actually filed

Your preparer must give you a complete copy of your return. If you ask, they must also give you the IRS Submission ID and the date the IRS accepted it. A rejected e-file isn't a filed return. You can also confirm with your free IRS account transcript.

This matters because, as the IRS puts it, you're ultimately accountable for the accuracy of every item on your return, and relying on a preparer who failed to file generally doesn't excuse late-filing penalties.

If your preparer let you down

First, get your records: a copy of your return (Form 4506, $30 per return) or free transcripts. Fix the tax problem first, then deal with the preparer. You can report preparer misconduct to the IRS with Form 14157, or Form 14157-A if your return was changed or your refund diverted without your consent.

What to expect from us

A written price before we start (personal returns from $399), a signed return with a copy for you, proof of filing, and someone who picks up the phone after April. Call (800) 850-5237 for a free 30-minute call, and ask us anything on this list.

General information, not tax advice for your situation. Facts checked against IRS and Georgia sources as of October 2026; rules change, so confirm before acting. Sources: IRS: Choosing a tax professional, IRS: Topic 254, IRS: Understanding preparer credentials, IRS: Ghost preparers warning, IRS: Publication 1345, IRS: Reporting preparer misconduct, IRS: Reasonable cause, IRS: Get Transcript.