Our company’s focus in the financial world is on a small, often unknown corner of the tax industry: dealing with tax debt issues for individuals and businesses that owe the IRS or State past due income, payroll, unemployment, or sales tax. Our clients come to us for a wide variety of reasons, but the reasons that are hardest to see are the preventable ones: the client had placed their trust in a tax return preparer whose actions, or inactions, resulted in a tax debt or tax audit.

It is crucial for individuals and businesses to have relationships with tax professionals to ensure their required obligations are being met and to ensure that appropriate tax strategies are implemented to leverage financial resources in the best manner possible. The following are some key pointers to keep in mind when considering a professional to align with for you or your business needs:

1. Communication level – Communication is key, especially with your tax returns and tax payments. A good tax return preparer or advisor will make you aware of each line item’s ins and outs, schedules, attachments, filing, and payment deadlines. Another critical item with communication is if they are available outside the standard tax filing season dates. Think of this relationship as a marriage rather than a casual date.
2. Professional affiliations – There are several professional organizations available to tax professionals: NAEA, NATP, and AICPA, to name a few. One of the main benefits of belonging to those organizations is the sharing of the latest and greatest in the tax world. If the preparer is a member of one or several of these organizations, that is usually a good sign that they have shown an initiative to stay updated on changes in the tax code and the latest tax news.
3. History – Does the preparer have open or even closed issues with the Business Better Bureau, State Bar Association if they’re an attorney, State Board of Accountancy if they are a CPA, or the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility for Enrolled Agents?
4. Records and final return – A good preparer should be thorough with their records request and help you understand why they need what they are requesting. When they have completed your tax return, they should walk you through the entire return and make sure you are comfortable with its accuracy before having you sign the document. And never, under any circumstances, sign a blank form or tax return.
5. How they file your current year’s tax return – While older tax returns cannot be filed electronically, make sure the tax professional will file your current year’s tax return electronically.
6. Fees – Review their fee structure. If a return preparer suggests that they charge a fee based on a percentage of the refund they can finagle for you, walk away as fast as your legs can carry you! This is commonly referred to as a “contingency fee,” which is against the IRS’ regulations.
7. How they recommend you receive any refunds owed to you - The only place your tax refund should be deposited is into your bank account, no one else’s.

Over the years of providing tax debt resolution services to our clients, I have often heard from clients, “it costs too much to hire an accountant or CPA to prepare our taxes, so I do it myself through an online service.” The age-old adage “you get what you pay for” holds true regarding tax preparation. Yes, you may be able to log onto a website, enter the information, and hit “send” to file your annual return, but unless you have a strong working knowledge of the tax rules, how do you know if you took advantage of all the credits available to you? How do you know if you wrote off all the expenses you could for your small business? How do you know if you should have written an expense off? There’s a reason you hire a professional: it’s their entire world! They are the experts and worth every penny to ensure you have taken advantage of all you should and haven’t tried to claim expenses for what you shouldn’t!

While the process of choosing a reputable tax return preparer can appear daunting, in the end, it can be extremely rewarding knowing you have a reliable preparer working in your corner… someone you can trust for years to come who will make every effort to help. The Team at Golden Lion Tax Solutions is proud to help our clients who have fallen victim to unreliable tax preparation by not only resolving the tax debt and petitioning for a reduction of the debt through Penalty Abatement requests, but also by introducing them to a network of reliable and, most importantly, trustworthy tax return preparers, so they do not have to experience such tumultuous times again.

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Trust. Protection. Wisdom.

Your future and your family deserve the right protection. Golden Lion Tax Solutions will be your advisor and confidant throughout the entire journey. We guarantee to offer you or your business best-case solutions for your tax debt. We are by your side every step of the way. Start now and get your life back.

For help with your tax debts, email contactus@goldenliontaxsolutions.com or call 833-LION-TAX (833-546-6829)

Disclaimer: There are requirements that must be satisfied in order to qualify for some of the tax solutions we discuss on our website. Not all of our services will be suitable for every client. Golden Lion Tax Solutions is here to help you find the most appropriate solution to fit your situation.