Learn about Tax Pros, their qualifications, and the valuable assistance they can provide to you.
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How are Pro’s Vetted and Verified?
How can I trust that my Pro is a quality one?
What is my relationship with my Pro?
How does my Pro know what I need?
Who is considered a Pro?
A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or an Enrolled Agent (EA).
CPAs
Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) are individuals who've met the stringent requirements required by their state board of accountancy and passed the CPA Exam which is largely regarded as one of the more difficult professional exams with an average 50% pass rate.
CPAs who are tax practitioners are subject to many different standards and ethics rules; including all enforceable tax ethics, Circular 230 of the Internal Revenue Code, state licensing boards and other regulatory agencies, professional associations, and various other laws and regulations.
EAs
Enrolled agents (EAs) are also subject to IRS Circular 230 and must pass a three part exam that ensures they have the necessary knowledge to be able to prepare returns and represent clients before the IRS. They must maintain compliance with ethical standards set forth by the IRS as well as continuing education requirements.
EAs, like attorneys and certified public accountants (CPAs), have unlimited practice rights. This means they are unrestricted as to which taxpayers they can represent, what types of tax matters they can handle, and which IRS offices they can represent clients before.
How are Pro’s Vetted and Verified?
EveryTax Pro is required to have the following:
- United States Residency
- Background Check
- Government issued ID
- Proof of active PTIN
- Proof of EFIN
- Credit Check
- Tax Compliance Check
In addition to the above, Taxfyle also verify's each Tax Pro's license using trusted third party organizations. Provided the requisite documentation, Taxfyle ensures that Pros operating within the platform not only meet the stringent requirements necessary to hold a professional designation, but that they pass the IRS's suitability check as well. This includes a credit check, tax compliance check, a criminal background check, and a check for prior non-compliance with IRS e-file requirements.
Taxfyle maintains a list of all Pros within its database to track their license expiration dates as well as all the additional documents noted above. Registration must be renewed at the end of every calendar year by providing proof of updated PTIN indicating authority to file as a paid preparer for the approaching tax season.
How can I trust that my Pro is a quality one?
While working within the platform, clients are prompted to rate their Pro based on a 5 star scale, with 5 being a great job. Should a Pro's average rating fall below a 3.5 after the completion of their first 5 jobs within the platform, they will lose access to any additional opportunities.
What is my relationship with my Pro?
Pros engaged within the Taxfyle network are independent third parties who have passed Taxfyle's background check (explained above) and gained access to customer opportunities. Tax Pros are free to accept or reject work referred by Taxfyle in their own and absolute discretion and are free to complete any accepted work referred by Taxfyle on their own schedule. As a client of the Pro assuming your engagement, you'll provide them relevant information regarding your activity during the tax year through the platform's chat and document upload features. At the end of the engagement, you'll rate your Pro's performance on a scale of one to five, with five indicating an excellent job. Taxfyle uses the rating of your Pro in order to manage the quality of its workforce.
Can I select my Pro?
Tax Pros have different availability at any given time, so you won't be able to choose who prepares your return. Instead, your tax profile is carefully matched with Pros who specialize in your specific tax situation, ensuring you receive the personalized service you merit.
When your tax filing request comes through, it's directed to our network of Pros. Our Pros then select the request that best fits their specialty and comfort level.
How does my Pro know what I need?
We ask that you provide your Pro with a copy of your prior year tax return so they may have a baseline to work with. You will also be able to communicate with them via our encrypted messaging feature at any time. Through discussions, you can make them aware of any new activity that needs to be captured in the current year. You may also discuss items that may have accidentally been missed in prior years as well as options to remedy the problem. Once you've used Taxfyle, relevant information will be saved within your profile and future Pros may pick up where the last one left off.
Can I use the same Pro again?
If you've had a good experience with your previous tax pro and would like them to prepare another request for you, reach out to Taxfyle support team. We will be happy to check their availability and transfer your next request to them if the pro is available. Please note that cases may vary.
Once a Pro has marked your job complete, there is no relationship established within the platform to ensure they will be your Pro on future work requests. Given that there is no obligation for Pros engaged within the Taxfyle network to remain available after a job is completed, Taxfyle cannot promise you will have the same Pro on all your work requests.
At Advisor Wealth Management, we’re here to guide you through this phase and help you build the foundation you need for a prosperous future. For personalized assistance, please reach out to tax@advisor.com.