Tips for Choosing a Tax Preparer in 2025

The Internal Revenue Service has previously reminded taxpayers that carefully choosing a tax professional to prepare a tax return is vital to ensuring that their personal and financial information is safe, secure, and treated with care.

Most tax return preparers provide honest, high-quality service.

But some may cause harm through fraud, identity theft, and other scams. It is important for taxpayers to understand who they’re choosing and what questions to ask when hiring an individual or firm to prepare their tax return.

The IRS has put together a Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications to help individuals find a tax preparer who meets the highest professional standards. There is also a special page on IRS.gov for Choosing a Tax Professional that can help guide taxpayers in making a good choice, including selecting someone affiliated with a recognized national tax association.

There are different kinds of tax preparers, and a taxpayer’s needs will help determine which kind of preparer is best for them.

IRS tips

Here are a few tips to consider when choosing a tax preparer:

• Find an authorized IRS e-file provider like Rebel Bookkeeping. We are qualified by the IRS to prepare, transmit, and process e-filed returns. The IRS issues most refunds in fewer than 21 days for taxpayers who file electronically and choose direct deposit. 
• Avoid tax return preparers who base their fees on a percentage of the refund or who offer to deposit all or part of the refund into their own financial accounts.
• Look for a preparer who’s available year-round. If questions come up about a tax return, taxpayers may need to contact the preparer after the filing season is over.
• Provide records and receipts. Good preparers ask to see these documents. They’ll also ask questions to determine the client’s total income, deductions, tax credits and other items.
• Understand the preparer’s credentials and qualifications.
• Never sign a blank or incomplete return.
• Review the tax return before signing it.
• Be sure to ask questions if something is not clear or appears inaccurate.
• Any refund should go directly to the taxpayer – not into the preparer’s bank account.
• Review the routing and bank account number on the completed return and make sure it’s accurate.

Taxpayers can report preparer misconduct to the IRS using Form 14157, Complaint: Tax Return Preparer PDF.

If a taxpayer suspects a tax return preparer filed or changed their tax return without their consent, they should file Form 14157-A, Tax Return Preparer Fraud or Misconduct Affidavit PDF.