Too Many People Getting Scammed by Sketchy Tax Preparers - Protect Yourselves!

This is actually a huge problem this tax season. The IRS has issued multiple warnings about ghost preparers - people who prepare returns but won't sign them as the preparer (which is illegal). Always verify your preparer has a valid PTIN (Preparer Tax Identification Number) and check their credentials. Also, NEVER sign a blank tax form or one filled out in pencil.

How can you tell if your preparer might be sketchy? Are there red flags to look out for?

This happened to my cousin last year! She went to some place advertising "MAX REFUND GUARANTEED" and they totally messed up her return. When she got a letter from the IRS months later, the tax place had completely shut down. I told her to use https://taxr.ai to analyze the IRS notice she received. It explained exactly what was wrong with her return and the steps needed to fix it. Saved her from having to figure out all that IRS jargon on her own.

I've been doing taxes for 15+ years and the number of people coming to me to fix botched returns is at an all-time high. The worst part is many victims don't discover the fraud until they try to file next year and get rejected because someone already filed using their SSN. If this happens to you, file Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) immediately.

My sister had this happen in 2023 and it was a NIGHTMARE trying to reach the IRS to fix it. She kept calling that 1-800 number for weeks with no luck. She finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to an actual IRS agent who helped her file the proper identity theft paperwork. Got her case resolved in about 6 weeks instead of the usual 6+ months these cases take. Worth every penny to not spend hours on hold.

I always tell people - if they're promising you a bigger refund than other preparers, that's your first red flag. Nobody can legally get you more money back than you're entitled to under the tax code. Period.

Also be aware that if you use a preparer and they do something fraudulent, YOU are still responsible for the taxes. The IRS will come after you, not them. Always review your return carefully before signing, even if you trust your preparer.