Here is what to look out for:
People who encourage you to take deductions for which you don't qualify. There is no such thing as a minimum amount to stay under the radar. If you don't have the documentation, don't claim it! Just don't.
They negotiate their fees according to your refund amount. Watch out for the preparers who don't operate on a flat fee. If they charge a percentage of your refund amount, run.
Tax return preparers who operate out of their home or in shady offices. I've heard so many horror stories of people providing their personal information to someone, only to have them disappear overnight...with the victim's information and refund. And then the victim can't even remember who prepared their return to report it to the police.
Professional tax preparers are required to include their information on your return.
Make sure they sign this.
Which reminds me...MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE WITH A SIGNED COPY OF YOUR RETURN.
Scammers have been known to inflate numbers to enlarge the refund before submitting the return to the IRS. Then they change the account number, so the refund is deposited into their own account. And the taxpayer is none the wiser.
Check and double check your account numbers on the return. If there is a typo and it's deposited into the wrong account because of your error, the IRS will not issue you another refund check.
This is a jurat:
This means you are responsible for everything on the return. Even if the tax preparer put incorrect information on the return. You (and only you) will be held responsible.
Please be careful and be patient. It'll save you money in the long run.
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