Not The DIY Type? Tips To Find A Tax Preparer

EILEEN AJ CONNELLY

NEW YORK (AP) — If your financial life is simple and you have basic computer skills, using do-it-yourself software is an "EZ" way to file your tax return.

But if you're nervous about preparing your own taxes, don't have time, had a major life or job change last year or simply think the tax laws are too complex, you're not alone.

About 60 percent of all returns are filed by professional preparers, according to the Internal Revenue Service. Officials at H&R Block, which prepared one out of every six tax returns last year, told investors recently that the growth in the software market has come mainly from do-it-yourselfers who switched from paper to digital, not from taxpayers who switched from paid preparers.

But how do you find a tax preparer you can trust? Here are a few tips:

1. Ask around

Tax professionals say the best way to find someone is through an old-fashioned, word-of-mouth recommendation. Ask friends and family members who they use, and why they would recommend their preparer.

If you're expecting to claim a lot of business-related expenses, ask colleagues from work or professional organizations if they know a preparer who focuses on your industry. If you have a small business make sure, at a minimum, that the person has worked a lot with small businesses, preferably within your field, advised Melissa Labant, the director of tax advocacy for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

2. Make a few calls

Before committing, speak to two or three candidates and ask about their experience and their approach. Get a list of their base fees, but remember that fees may change depending on the complexity of your return and the training and education of the preparer.

Also confirm that the individual or the firm will be able to represent you before the IRS, if there are questions about your return or if you're audited.