Qualification
A prerequisite for a local tax preparer is the necessary qualification. They should hold a high school diploma in the relevant field with experience in the same.
IRS Certification
Professionally, there are certain legal requirements too. In order to become a tax preparer, an individual must have a license and a PTIN number issued by the IRS. Some states in the US require additional credentials for an individual to perform tax preparations.
Technological Edge
In terms of expertise, a tax preparer needs sufficient knowledge of tax preparations including the mathematical calculations and the laws pertaining to the procedure. Additionally, they should be well-versed with the software used for preparing the taxes.
What More is Required of a Competent Tax Preparer?
The aforementioned requirements and skills are the bare minimum that a local tax preparer must meet in order to be eligible to perform their exclusive tasks. However, these certifications cannot cover certain aspects. There are other interpersonal skills and abilities that make some tax preparers better than others. While these may not be a client’s primary needs, their absence is what differentiates their competence.
Ability to Communicate Effectively
Communication includes both conveying one’s own views as well as the ability to listen and grasp what the other party has to say. Healthy and effective communication is the key to overcoming any obstacles in the process of tax preparation. It considerably minimizes the chances of errors and greatly benefits both parties.
A competent tax preparer excels at effective and productive communication. This means they have the ability to listen to their client’s expectations and have a clear understanding of those. This understanding in turn has notable effects on the entire tax preparation process.
Being Available
Many small businesses and non-profit organizations opt for seasonal local tax preparers mainly due to their lower fee as compared to others. A roadblock that such a process encounter is the unavailability of the tax preparer after the tax filing procedure is complete. Once the tax preparer has filed the taxes, they divert their attention elsewhere which means they may not be readily available in case the client encounters some problems or needs clarification.
Therefore, being always available, and being an exclusive local tax preparer is far better than temporary services. Such an individual is available when and if the client has any confusion that requires clarification. This in turn adds to their credibility.
Attention to Detail
Certifications and academic qualifications determine a local tax preparer’s basic knowledge of the subject. Keen attention and thoroughness is an individual skill. This critical skill identifies a competent tax preparer as it enables them to compile an error-free, thorough, transparent, and detailed tax filing. Such a tax preparation has zero chances of discrepancies.
Practical Experience and Reviews
Clients often go for local tax preparers with dozens of certifications, believing them as the criteria for expertise. These certifications are definitely significant. However, without relevant experience, they may eventually lose their applicability. It is best to hire local tax preparers who have substantial experience practicing the process of tax preparation and putting their knowledge to practical use. The second important step is to see how their previous work has been reviewed by their clients. This includes all points mentioned above.
Conclusion
The local tax preparer is a certified individual who holds exclusive expertise specifically in the field of compiling financial records and filing the annual tax for businesses or organizations. When looking for a local tax preparer, general considerations are their academic and professional qualifications. However, these are areas that do not really require much consideration, since these are already being taken care of by the IRS which has set legal requirements for practicing tax preparers. What the client really needs to look for are the tax preparer’s interpersonal skills, their ability to effectively communicate the process and its requirements to the client, and being available whenever consulted. These qualities are important not only for a smooth tax filing process but also to ensure peace of mind for both the client and the tax preparer.
Why Prudent Accountants?
Prudent Accountants is a firm where every team member agrees on a single principle: client satisfaction. This is achieved not only through expert and professional services but also through effective and productive communication that ultimately benefits the client. We cater to the needs of all business sectors and scales, and our tax preparers are aware of their individual expectations.
