Tax Planning

What Kind of Tax Professional Is Right for You?

6/14/2020

If you’ve been using software like TurboTax or H&R Block to do your own taxes for years, hiring a professional to help you with tax issues may seem daunting. There are so many choices — should you use an enrolled agent? A CPA? A tax attorney?

Anyone with an IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) can be a paid tax return preparer, but different kinds of tax professionals have varying levels of education, experience, and credentials. Furthermore, they differ in representation rights before the IRS. If you’ve never had an issue with a tax return before, that may not bother you. But when your tax situation gets more complicated, it can help to have someone who can represent you before the IRS.

The question of which type of tax preparer to hire depends on your individual financial situation. Generally speaking, the more complicated your situation, the higher credentials you’ll want in your tax preparer — and the more expensive their tax preparation services will be.

What are the different types of tax preparer? And which kind of tax preparer is right for you?

Tax Attorney

A tax attorney is a lawyer who specializes in tax law. A tax attorney has a law degree and has passed the state bar exam. Similar to CPAs, tax attorneys are licensed by state courts or state bars, so requirements for continuing education vary between states.

A tax attorney's services are usually the most expensive compared to other kinds of tax preparers.

A tax attorney may be a good choice for you if you’re dealing with tax-related legal issues, such as back taxes, or IRS penalties like wage garnishment or bank levies. The best tax relief companies often employ professionals including tax attorneys and specialize in problems such as these.

Enrolled agent

An enrolled agent has achieved the highest level of credential the IRS awards. These individuals become enrolled agents by either passing a three-part exam that covers both individual and business tax returns, or through their experience as a former IRS employee. Every three years, they have to complete 72 hours of continuing education to maintain their enrolled agent status.

An enrolled agent may be the right choice for you if your tax situation is particularly complicated, such as if you are self-employed, have rental property, sold a home or other property, have a large number of itemized deductions, experiencing a life event such as divorce, death of a spouse, or other complicated situation. Enrolled agents are also trained to represent taxpayers before the IRS.

CPA

A CPA, or certified public accountant, helps individuals and organizations achieve their financial goals. Because CPAs are licensed by state boards of accountancy, accounting and continuing education requirements vary from state to state. But all CPAs must pass the same Uniform CPA Exam.

You may want to get tax help from a CPA if you already use the services of a reputable CPA and you aren’t expecting any potential legal issues in regard to your tax return. If you already employ a CPA, he or she would already be familiar with your financial situation, and hopefully your regular use of their services means they're good at what they do. A CPA may also be particularly useful during tax season if you own a business.

Annual Filing Season Program Participant

The annual filing season program (AFSP) is for tax return preparers who don’t hold credentials. The program is designed to encourage non-credentialed preparers to keep up with continuing education. To participate in the program, preparers need to take 18 hours of continuing education, including passing the timed examination for 6 credit hours of an Annual Federal Tax Refresher course whose content is specified by the IRS.

A person can be a paid return preparer without being an annual filing season program participant, but participating in the program gives the preparer limited representation rights before the IRS. An AFSP preparer can represent clients whose returns they prepared and signed before revenue agents, customers service representatives, and other similar IRS employees.

If your tax situation is relatively simple, such as if you have only one source of income and aren’t planning on claiming itemized deductions, you probably don't need someone with unlimited representation rights. Someone who's an annual filing season program participant may be enough to suit your needs.

PTIN Holder

Anyone with a PTIN, or preparer tax identification number, can be a paid tax return preparer, but if they aren’t an annual filing season program participant, they don’t have even limited representation rights before the IRS.

Someone who’s simply a PTIN holder and not an annual filing season program participant will probably be your cheapest option among the various kinds of tax professionals. Just keep in mind that you may be on your own should any issues arise after you’ve filed.

Be wary of anyone who claims to be a tax preparer who does not have a PTIN and who does not sign the returns they prepare. When you encounter one of these, the signature area of the tax return will say “Self-Prepared.”

The Bottom Line

There’s no one right answer in regard to who you should hire to help you with your taxes. The right choice will vary from person to person, and the answer could change from year to year for even a single person. Use your personal tax situation, as well as your budget, as your guide in choosing a tax professional.

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Ashraf Khatib

Ashraf Khatib is the founder of Tax for Expats, LLC. Prior to establish the expatriate tax business, Ashraf was employed by the Big Four (4) CPA firms as the head of international client services group, where he managed the individual expatriate and foreign national tax programs for an impressive array of their clients which included high net-worth individual clients, multi-national companies and professional firms. Ashraf received his BA in Economics from Southern Illinois University, and an MBA in Finance from Southeastern University, he is an active member of the AICPA and the Virginia Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

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TaxBuzz AI is a tool designed to provide tax professionals with assistance in generating responses to tax research questions. While we strive to maintain the accuracy and reliability of the information provided, it is imperative to recognize that tax laws are dynamic and subject to change. Therefore, the use of TaxBuzz AI should be complemented by professional judgment and consultation with legal and tax experts.

By utilizing TaxBuzz AI, you acknowledge and agree that the information generated should not be considered as a substitute for professional advice tailored to your specific circumstances. We explicitly disclaim any liability for the consequences arising from the use of advice generated by TaxBuzz AI. Users are encouraged to independently verify the information and seek professional advice before making decisions based on the AI-generated responses.

Usage Guidelines:
- Professional Judgment: TaxBuzz AI is a tool to aid tax professionals in research and analysis. It is not a replacement for professional judgment, and users should exercise their expertise when interpreting and applying the information generated.
- Consultation with Experts: While TaxBuzz AI provides valuable insights, it is crucial to consult with legal and tax experts to ensure the advice aligns with the latest legal developments and specific nuances of a particular situation.
- Verification of Information: Users are responsible for independently verifying the information provided by TaxBuzz AI, especially in instances where the advice generated is critical to decision-making.
- Educational Purposes: TaxBuzz AI is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide specific legal or tax advice tailored to individual circumstances.
- Non-Endorsement: The use of TaxBuzz AI does not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of the accuracy of the information provided. Users are encouraged to corroborate the advice with other reliable sources.
By accessing and using TaxBuzz AI, you agree to abide by these terms and acknowledge the limitations outlined herein. We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time, and your continued use of TaxBuzz AI constitutes acceptance of any such modifications. If you do not agree with these terms, please refrain from using TaxBuzz AI.

TaxBuzz.com is a service of CountingWorks, Inc., 2549 Eastbuff Drive., #448 208, Newport Beach, CA 92660

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