SCORE Workshop - How to Choose a Tax Return Preparer 

Most tax return preparers are professional, honest, and provide excellent service to their clients. However, dishonest tax return preparers who file false income tax returns do exist. We will discuss what you need to do to ensure you are selecting a competent tax return preparer. We will also discuss what you need to do if you fall victim to an unscrupulous preparer and are financially impacted by that preparer's misconduct or improper tax preparation practices.

This workshop will cover the following topics.

1. Steps to Take to Find a Tax Return Preparer.
2. The different types of tax preparers.
3. The difference between “credentialed” and “non-credentialed” preparers.
4. How to check a preparer’s qualifications and history.
5. How to identify and avoid “Ghost” preparers.
6. The difference between limited and unlimited representation.
7. What is a Preparer Tax Identification Number or PTIN.
8. What to do if you fall victim to an unscrupulous preparer.

Our Presenter: Karen L. Russell

Karen Russell represents the IRS at outreach and educational events working with tax professionals, industry and small business owners. 

Russell has been employed with the IRS since 1986 – spending 15 years at the Atlanta Service Center working in Examination, Collection, Quality Assurance, Underreporter and Criminal Investigation. She relocated to South Florida in 2001 to work in the Taxpayer Assistance Centers in Ft. Myers and West Palm Beach.  In 2007, she accepted a position in Maryland as a Tax Analyst in the Individual Master File E-File Branch and spent 2 years in HQ before accepting a Liaison position in 2009.  She regularly speaks at organization meetings, conferences, seminars and workshops, both face-to-face and via webcast, on tax related topics.