California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) Lists Warning Signs of a Bad Tax Preparer

The California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) joined with the California Tax Education Council (CTEC) to warn taxpayers about unregistered tax return preparers. In California only certified public accountants (CPA), attorneys, Internal Revenue Service enrolled agents, and CTEC-Registered tax return preparers are legally permitted to charge for preparing tax returns. According to the FTB it is believed that there are 3,000 to 4,000 tax return preparers throughout California breaking the law. The FTB then set forth some signs that should set off alarm bells. For example if a tax preparer:

Claims to be a registered tax preparer but is not listed on CTEC’s Website.
Fails to give you a name, address, phone number, and bond information.
Refuses to sign your tax return.
Asks you to sign a blank tax form.
Refuses to provide copies of any documents you have signed.
Promises a refund, without even looking at your tax information.
Charges a fee based on a percentage of your refund.

If you are a tax return preparer who has been unjustly accused by the IRS or the Franchise Tax Board of filing improper tax returns call Los Angles, California State Bar Certified Tax Specialist Dennis Brager.