This just in: the IRS wants taxpayers to help them decide which tax preparers… they can decide to work with.
At first, it seems like a pretty redundant exercise: the IRS is asking taxpayers and other interest groups to decide what criteria they’d like someone to satisfy before that person can prepare their taxes. People already do this — by paying someone to prepare their taxes. So what is the IRS trying to add here?
This is all part of their efforts to make quality tax preparers available to all taxpayers. Instead of just declaring certain preparers qualified (or having them all take a standardized test), the IRS is asking regular taxpayers for their ideas.
This is going to give people a chance to articulate why they pick whoever they pick, which means that the IRS will be able to focus on qualitative issues: some people might excel at quickly preparing tax returns — but others might be great at making sure taxpayers don’t get overwhelmed by all the rules and regulations (not to mention fines and fees).
This IRS is looking for input from two groups:
Consumer groups (and regular consumers):
These groups include:
- AARP
- Consumer Federation of America
- Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
- National Community Tax Coalition
- Low Income Tax Clinics.
Industry groups (and tax preparers):
…Including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the National Association of Enrolled Agents, the National Association of Tax Professionals and the National Society of Accountants.
So what if you’d like to attend? Just send them an email:
CL.NPL.Communications@irs.gov
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