I agree you should ask many questions before hiring a tax preparer.

One of those questions should be “are you regulated or licensed by a government body?”

Also, in response to your last point, I think this is an important issue and should be thoroughly discussed and debated.

There are people out there giving taxpayers the impression that “unenrolled preparers” have some status other than that they are not CPAs, lawyers or IRS Enrolled Agents.

It’s misleading and one of the reasons I favor IRS regulation of unenrolled preparers.

The good tax preparers, like you and Robert, will then join the ranks of CPAs, IRS Enrolled Agents and tax lawyers and the bad ones will go gently into that good night . . . .

I hope.

I would question, where did I say “CPA preparers” suck eggs?

I think or have memories saying that it is assumed that all CPAs are most proficient at tax preparation Just because they hold an accounting license.

I have stated repeatedly that a CPA is a licensed bookkeeper, and is in fact the most qualified to prepare books and records to get a return prepared correctly. I have never said that CPA preparers are worse or better at preparation.

I’ll say this now, a CPA who pursues taxation and preparation as their specialty would by far be the most qualified to prepare a return. (this might be a little biased.)

In the example given, If life and death depended on it would I chose a CPA, an EA, or an un-enrolled preparer I could only hope that my death to be quick. Why? Like any taxpayer a preparer should not be hired based solely on their title. I need to ask questions. So I wouldn’t chose any of the three. Even if my very life depended on it. Each of them would need to be interviewed.

Thank you for the compliment.

All of this, this that has gone on is, well, pointless really. How are we helping the taxpaying public by quarrelling among ourselves?

I for one choose to blog for the same reason I chose my profession, to help taxpayers better understand the taxing world. Everyone is drawn into it at least once a year, others are so more often.

My personal opinion aside, lets blog about taxation, shall we?