Leopatrizi | E+ | Getty ImagesMost tax preparers don't have credentialsDespite the talent shortage, vetting is important because "pretty much anyone can call themselves a tax preparer," Young said.
There are no federal licensing or competency requirements, and some paid preparers have no training or experience, the report noted.
Under current law, the minimum requirement for paid professionals is an IRS-issued preparer tax identification number, or PTIN.
Free preparation options like Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, and Tax Counseling for the Elderly, or TCE, also have competency standards.
How to vet your tax preparerUnlike big box preparers, many tax professionals don't accept walk-in traffic and operate mainly by referral, according to Tom O'Saben, an enrolled agent and director of tax content and government relations at the National Association of Tax Professionals.
Persons:
Young, preparers, Tom O'Saben
Organizations:
Getty, IRS, National Taxpayer, National Association of Tax