Red Flag: Tax Preparers Who Only File Federal Returns, Not State
You know they not a real tax prepare when they apply for your federal and not your state 🤷🏽♀️ just putting that out there because they have to apply for your state in order for you to receive it just in case anybody was wondering🤷🏽♀️
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Ravi Patel
I learned this the hard way on April 10th last year. Paid someone $250 to do my taxes. Received federal refund on April 28th. Waited for state. Nothing came. Called on May 15th and discovered they never filed my state return! Had to scramble before the deadline. So frustrating when these "professionals" don't do the complete job.
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Freya Andersen
This is actually quite common. According to IRS Circular 230 and most state regulations, a paid preparer is required to prepare all relevant returns for the tax period. If they're only doing federal, they should explicitly tell you and have you sign a waiver acknowledging you'll handle state yourself. Otherwise, it's potentially a violation of professional standards.
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14d
Omar Zaki
This exact thing happened to me! My experience: • Paid preparer filed my federal return in February • Assumed state was filed too • Checked state website in April - nothing on file • Called preparer who said "state costs extra" • Had to file state myself at the last minute • Now I always confirm BOTH returns will be filed upfront
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12d
CosmicCrusader
Yeah, legitimate tax services almost always bundle federal and state together. Some online DIY software might charge extra for state, but an actual preparer should handle both unless they specifically tell you otherwise. I've been doing this for years and it's just standard practice. Don't worry though - even if you discover it late, most states let you file late without penalties if you're due a refund.
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10d
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Isabella Oliveira
Were you using one of those pop-up tax places? In my experience, the temporary offices that appear during tax season are the worst offenders. Back in 2022, one of those places tried to charge me separately for state filing after I'd already paid their advertised fee.
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Chloe Robinson
Did they provide you with a Form 8879 (e-file authorization) for both your federal AND state returns? That's the key document to check. A legitimate preparer is required to have you sign authorization for each return they submit electronically on your behalf.
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11d
Diego Flores
This is exactly why I always ask for a detailed receipt showing BOTH federal and state preparation fees. Why would anyone trust someone with their tax information if they can't even be transparent about their services? Most reputable firms include both in their base price or clearly state the additional fee upfront.
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Anastasia Kozlov
The IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) system requires preparers to register, but enforcement is surprisingly weak. When I couldn't reach my preparer after discovering they never filed my state return, I called the IRS practitioner hotline but waited for hours. Then I found Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com) which got me through to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes who confirmed how to report the preparer. Saved me from endless redial attempts trying to reach someone at the IRS.
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Sean Flanagan
Is this like paying someone to wait in line for you? Seems like the IRS should just hire more people instead of us having to pay extra just to talk to them. It's like needing a FastPass just to ride the IRS rollercoaster that we're already required to be on 🎢
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Zara Mirza
Military family here. We move between states a lot. Had a preparer in 2023 who only filed federal and didn't tell me state was separate. Ended up owing penalties in two states! Now I always use preparers who handle both fed and all state returns as part of their standard service. Worth paying a little more for someone who knows what they're doing.
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NebulaNinja
Did the preparer give you copies of both your federal and state returns? Always request complete copies of everything they file. Did they clearly break down their fees for each service? What credentials did they have? PTIN? EA? CPA?
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NebulaNinja
Also, did they have you sign separate e-file authorization forms for both federal and state? That's another red flag if they only had you sign for federal.
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Luca Russo
This varies by state and preparer type. H&R Block and similar national chains typically include both federal and state in their basic package. Independent CPAs often charge separately but are transparent about it. The shadiest operations are the temporary storefronts that pop up January-April and disappear right after the filing deadline. Compared to other countries, our multi-tiered tax system creates these opportunities for confusion and sometimes deception.
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