| If there is something people enjoy less than preparing | | | | are even remotely qualified to do your return. Don't |
| their tax returns, it is hard to imagine. If you look to | | | | believe me? Well, the indicted school bus driver/tax |
| another to do the job, be very careful who you pick. | | | | preparer may change your mind. |
| The internal revenue code is a beast of government | | | | Yolanda White is a school bus driver in St. Louis. Well, |
| inefficiency and confusion. I dare you to pull it up on the | | | | she was. Apparently looking to make a little extra |
| web and try to give it a read. I guarantee you will be | | | | cash, she started offer tax preparer services on the |
| suicidal by the fifth page or at least trying to pluck your | | | | side. While driving a bus full of kids around prepares |
| eyes out. Heck, even most IRS employees don't | | | | you for many things, such as war, it really isn't helpful |
| understand it. In a study a few years back, an | | | | when it comes to the old 1040 form. Ms. White is |
| independent group found IRS employees gave out the | | | | finding this out the hard way. |
| wrong tax information to taxpayers 50 percent of the | | | | On February 1, 2007, the Department of Justice was |
| time! Former President Carter even called the code a | | | | successful in obtaining an injunction barring Ms. White |
| crime against humanity. Hard to argue with that. | | | | from preparing any further returns. She apparently had |
| As we close in on April, many people will think about | | | | problems claiming the correct deductions and amounts |
| having a go at preparing their own taxes. Some will | | | | for the same. The IRS audited 30 of the returns she |
| actually go through with the process. Most, however, | | | | had prepared out of 337 and found all over them to |
| will throw their hands in the air and look for someone | | | | fraudulently claim deductions that had no business |
| else to handle the mess. This someone else is the | | | | being claimed. Where a deduction could be claimed, |
| infamous tax preparer. | | | | she also had a habit of inflating the amount of the |
| Most tax preparers are good, honest people. CPAs, in | | | | deduction well beyond the actual amount that could be |
| particular, are also schooled in all things tax and can | | | | claimed by the taxpayer. The IRS is now planning to |
| get your return prepared with the minimum of fuss. | | | | audit the remaining 307 returns she prepared. |
| Unfortunately, non-CPAs can be hit and miss when it | | | | Preparing your taxes is pretty low on the totem pole |
| comes to providing a quality service. In fact, you really | | | | of fun. That being said, make sure you use someone |
| need to know who the person is and whether they | | | | who is qualified to do it should you go in that direction. |