Fact:
The national chains must hire a large number of tax preparers to service the large number of clients. The vast majority only work two to three months during the traditional “Income Tax Season”. Turnover is very high. As a result, the national chains must hire large numbers of new tax preparers every year. Some offices have as many as 50% or more of their staff in their first or second year as a tax preparer. If you go to a national tax service, it is vital that you insist on a tax preparer with at least 5 years experience. Do not be surprised if there is no one in the office with that much experience available. If no one is available, and you feel you must use a national chain, ask them to schedule an appointment for you at a later time or date with someone with at least 5 years of experience.
Fact:
I am sure you have seen the ads, “Learn To Prepare Taxes”. Most people are not aware that these schools are the recruiting arm of the national chains. The national chains must hire large numbers of new tax preparers every year. Since there is no large pool of experienced tax preparers from which to draw, they must create their own pool of candidates. So they use the tax preparer school where a student/future employee takes about 30 to 84 hours of classroom study and is then offered a job as a “professional” tax preparer.
Fact:
Not only are a large percentage of tax preparers at the national chains relatively inexperienced, but also, in most states only a very tiny percentage of them have any type of professional license. They have NEVER been tested by any governmental body or even by any industry regulatory organization. They have also NEVER undergone any background investigation by either of those groups. I should note that all of that is about to change due to a new licensing law that is being phased in next year. Even then, however, the new licensing law is only designed to insure that the tax preparer meets the MINIMUM requirements in order to call themselves a tax preparer.
Fact:
At least one of the national chains has responded to the lack of licenses by creating a set of internal company credentials that they hope will replace legitimate government and/or industry credentials. They may give their preparers titles such as “Tax Preparer 3” and even add words as “Additional Certifications”, without explaining that these are only internal designations and titles, not real credentials at all. The letters to remember are E.A., which stands for Enrolled Agent, the only IRS licensed tax preparation professionals.
Fact:
Many people seem to think that the national chains’ service will cost less. In reality, the exact opposite is the case. The national chains, almost without exception, cost more than using a local licensed tax professional. The national chains have much higher overhead than most local professionals due to layers of local, regional and national management, as well as many other factors. We typically have fees that are 25-40% less than you will pay at a national chain. And we do not charge extra for a faster refund with electronic filing.
Fact:
Our company, just like most of the national chains, provides year round service. There are two really BIG differences between the year round service offered by the national chains and ours. First, the national chains have only one office open in a local or district or region area. That office may be many miles from where you originally went to get your taxes prepared. Now that may or may not be a problem depending upon whether they have transferred your records to that office also. Many times the office may only be open 4 or 5 hours a week. We have our regular office hours all year round. All of your records are here, in the same place where your tax return was prepared. Second, the person who prepares your tax return at the national chain probably will not be available to assist you in the off season. I am available all year round.
Fact:
First, in our modern world of phone, fax and e-mail, a local firm can meet your needs just as well, whether you are across the street or on the other side of the country. We have many clients who live in other states. They either mail or e-mail their returns to us. We follow up as needed. We even have the capability of video conferencing with them so we can see each other face to face. Some of these clients have even referred new clients to us who live out of state as well. The point is that it is no longer necessary to live near your tax preparer to get world class service from highly professional tax preparers. Second, when a client receives a letter from the IRS, or if the client gets audited, the same principle applies. In the rare event of an audit, we can have the audit transferred to our local IRS office and go to the audit in your place. Unlicensed tax preparers, including the vast majority of those at the national chains, and even those licensed under the upcoming new licensing law cannot do that. I can because I am licensed as an Enrolled Agent.