For more information:
Martha J. Lockwood, CAE, APR
202-822-6232
mlockwood@naea.org
For a printable copy of this news release click here.
For Immediate Release
IRS Seeks Tax Return Preparer Oversight
and Improved Tax Return Accuracy
Commissioner's Plan to be Unveiled by Year's End
WASHINGTON, DC, June 4, 2009—The American taxpayer may be getting a fair shake, after all. Recommendations to increase tax return preparer oversight and improve tax return accuracy were promised by the end of 2009 by IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman.
The plan, to be unveiled by year’s end, will contain a set of recommendations that will ensure uniform high ethical standards for tax return preparers and increase taxpayer compliance.
According to a release issued by the IRS, the foundation of this plan to strengthen the integrity of the tax system will rely on “fact finding and receiving input from a large and diverse constituent community that includes those that are licensed by state and federal authorities—such as enrolled agents, lawyers and accountants—as well as unlicensed tax preparers and software vendors.”
“Taxpayers who pay good money to have their taxes prepared by a professional should be reasonably assured of receiving a well-prepared and accurate return,” said Sandra Martin, EA, president of The National Association of Enrolled Agents. “Requiring a paid preparer to demonstrate basic competency by passing an IRS-approved exam is not too much to ask,” she continued, concluding that the members of NAEA “are ready to “help the Commissioner in any way appropriate” as the IRS goes about its fact-finding.
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The National Association of Enrolled Agents is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to representing, promoting and enhancing the enrolled agent (EA) profession. EAs are unique as the only group of tax practitioner specialists required to maintain their credentials through continuing education reported directly to the Internal Revenue Service. NAEA provides a national, toll-free EA Referral Service hotline, (800) 424-4339, for taxpayers seeking the services of an enrolled agent. NAEA’s Web Site (www.naea.org) includes an online referral of licensed tax preparers available to the public.
Enrolled agents are available to answer the media’s tax questions. Please contact Martha Lockwood at 202-822-6232 (202-822-NAEA) or mlockwood@naea.org for a source for your story.