March 12, 2018

On March 12, 2018, Louisiana Society of Enrolled Agents’ (LSEA) President Linda Sandidge, EA submitted comments to the Louisiana Senate Committee on Revenue and Fiscal Affairs on Senate Bill 237, a bill that would make changes to paid return preparer signature and identification requirements in the state of Louisiana. SB 237, sponsored by Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee Chairman Jean-Paul Morrell (D), would

  • Require paid tax preparers to sign all returns and claims for refund they prepare for taxable periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018;
  • Require paid preparers to include their Social Security number (SSN), preparer tax identification number, or federal employer identification number (EIN) on every state tax return or claim for refund they prepare;
  • Provide for a penalty of $50 for each failure by a paid preparer to sign or provide an identification number on a tax return the preparer files, up to a maximum penalty of up to $25,000 per calendar year; and
  • Define a “paid tax preparer” as a person who prepares all or a substantial portion of a tax return or claim for refund for compensation, or who employs one or more persons to prepare tax returns or claims for refund.

LSEA’s comments on SB 237 can be found here.