Warning About Tax Preparers

By Nehemiah Jefferson, Esq., LL.M.

Beware! There are many red flag warning signs that you could be dealing with an unethical, unlicensed, or unregulated tax preparer. One warning sign occurs when your tax return preparer does not sign your tax return. Another warning sign is when the preparer uses non-professional tax return software to prepare and e-file the return. When either of these events occur, it is essentially as if the return was prepared by the taxpayer. Thus, the real preparer of the return is not subject to preparer penalties when unscrupulous or fraudulent things are placed on the return.

Remember, you as the taxpayer, will ultimately be held responsible for what is on your tax return.

Nehemiah Jefferson, Esq., LL.M., is Principal of Esquire Tax Firm PLLC. The firm practice areas include Civil and Criminal Tax Representation, Estate Planning, Probate, and Business Planning. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from The Florida State University, his Juris Doctor from John Marshall Law School (Atlanta), and LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Alabama. Attorney Jefferson is licensed to practice law in the State of Florida, Texas, The District of Columbia, and is a member of the United States Tax Court Bar. He may be reached at www.esqtaxfirm.com.