Choosing the wrong tax preparer could cost you

It may not have crossed your mind yet, but it’s tax time. And Bill Brunson with the Internal Revenue Service is already offering advice on how to avoid problems with tax preparers.

What’s your first red flag?

“You can have an individual tax preparer that would say, ‘I’ll get you a refund and I’m only going to charge you a percentage of the refund that I’m going to get back for you,’” according to Brunson.

Watch out for that. A good tax preparer will charge only based on services provided – not on empty promises.

If you walk into a tax preparer’s office and they promise to get you the biggest refund in town, be careful.

“That raises red flags and you should say, ‘thank you, but no’ Brunson said, “and walk out.”

A good tax preparer will ask for just one thing when you walk into their office: records – “tax records, information returns, 1099s, W-2s and anything else that will help them prepare an accurate return,” Brunson said.

Without those forms in hand, any tax preparer is going to have a hard time completing an accurate tax return for you. And, remember, if your tax return is wrong, you’re the one held responsible for it – not your tax preparer.

In fact, when you turn in your tax return, “you sign a perjury statement stating that that information is true and correct to the best of your ability,” Brunson said.

So, be sure to never sign a blank tax return and never sign a tax return without having reviewed all of the information, Brunson advised.

This is also the time of year when you should be looking for your W-2s and other tax statements in your mailbox so you can start the filing process.

Remember, while it’s your employer’s responsibility to get those forms to you in time to file your taxes, it doesn’t always happen.

If you haven’t received those forms by February 1,“you need to make contact with the business or the person who should have provided that material to you earlier,” according to Brunson.

If you still haven’t received them by February 15, contact the IRS .

“We'll work with you in obtaining that item so that you can file a timely and accurate return this year,” Brunson said.

Do you have more tax questions or problems? Email me or go to my ABC15 Facebook page and let me know.