Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY -- The IRS is reaching out to everybody that prepares taxes for a living to make sure they are doing it right -- and let them know in the future they will need continuing education, registration and testing.
Basically anyone can prepare taxes, but from now on the IRS wants to bring that level of competency up for those preparers who take money for the service.
"There is a lack of consistency across the board for tax preparers," said IRS spokesman Bill Brunson.
Brunson says the IRS is reaching out to all those are unlicensed, unenrolled or otherwise do not have the accreditation. The IRS is letting these preparers know that in the future, they will need to go back to school, take tests and essentially get formally licensed.
"(We are doing this) so that there are less errors when someone prepares a return for someone else and less issues down the line," he said.
These preparers need to "have clear knowledge of the tax law, and when they deal with a client they get better professional care," Brunson said.
The IRS has sent out 10,000 letters to these tax preparers. They are also holding forums, making visits and getting the word out through professional groups and societies to let preparers know about the changes.
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com
