What do the letters behind the names mean (e.g., Jane Doe, LTC or Bob Smith, EA/CPA)? Does this tell me what kind of license they have?
Answer: Those letters indicate their license or certification. (Currently, Oregon is one of the few states that licenses and monitors its tax consultants.)
| Some of our members specialize specifically in tax preparation: | |
| LTC | Licensed Tax Consultant |
| LTP | Licensed Tax Preparer |
| For some, tax preparation is only part of what they can offer you: | |
| EA | Enrolled Agent (a national license) |
| CPA | Certified Public Accountant |
| CFP | Certified Financial Planner |
| Acct | Accountant |
| Atty | Attorney |
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Are all NATC members included in this listing?
Answer: No. We only display information for members who have specifically authorized us to
do so, and some have not yet completed the authorization process in the Members Only section of this site.
Other members prefer not to appear on the World Wide Web because of
personal privacy concerns. If you have difficulty locating an NATC member in
your area, please contact the NATC chapter and
they can assist you.
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Do all states have the same licensing requirements for tax professionals?
Answer: No, not all states have a requirement yet! For example, in Washington State anyone can prepare income taxes – there is no license required.
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How do I know what type of license is appropriate for my situation?
Answer: LTCs, LTPs and EAs specialize specifically in taxes. The distinction between LTC and LTP is a state-by-state differentiation.
The difference between the LTC license and the EA license is that EA is a national license whereas LTC is a state designation.
This may change as national registration becomes national law. In addition to preparing tax returns, an EA can represent a
taxpayer without the taxpayer being present in any interaction with the IRS regardless of whether or not the EA prepared the
original return. LTCs can only represent tax returns they prepared and signed in the first place. A CPA or Attorney may
specialize in taxes, but many do not, and usually tax preparation is only a small part of what they do for their clients.
In choosing a tax professional you don't need to buy services that exceed your current tax needs.
Your first concern is selecting someone knowledgeable of the taxes to which you are subject.
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Last year's taxes were a nightmare – can a tax professional help me get my records in shape so that this year is smoother?
Answer: Yes, a tax professional can help you get organized, but following through on the plan is your own responsibility.
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Can a tax professional help me understand how new legislation in my area will affect my business?
Answer: Yes, a tax professional is required to learn the new laws and can help you interpret the effect on your business operations and your business plans.
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Can a tax professional help me prepare for an audit?
Answer: Most definitely YES. A person should always consult with
a Tax Professional before an audit. If you get a letter from the IRS, whether it calls for an audit or just a phone call or a letter, ask a professional before responding.
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Can a tax professional act as my representative during an audit?
Answer: An Enrolled Agent (EA), an Attorney or a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) can represent you without you being present at an audit.
A Licensed tax consultant can represent you if that person prepared the return. But to go beyond the scope of the original preparation,
you need a federally authorized tax practitioner (an EA), a CPA or an Attorney, who can see you through not only the audit, but an appeal
or a collection issue as well. Look at the issues. If you have documents to verify every item on your return and you just have to provide them in
an organized fashion for review, your preparer is the best person to represent you. If you are missing documents, if there is some question about
a deduction or the representation of some portion of your income, that's when you need an EA, a CPA or Attorney.
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Do I have to take all of my records to the tax professional?
Answer: We don't need all the records – most prefer not to see the paper bags arriving! A list of income and expenses is sufficient in many cases.
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How do tax professionals charge? Do different license types charge more/less? Will I need to pay in advance?
Answer: There are two common approaches: a "per form" charge (e.g., Form 1040 for $40, Schedule A for $35, and so on); or there is a "per hour" charge. Specifics will vary with the professional.
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Are the services of a tax professional deductible?
Answer: Yes, the fees are deductible as long as you can itemize
your deductions.
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Are all NATC tax professionals faumiliar with not only federal, but state and other local taxes?
Answer: Yes, NATC requires 30 hours of education in tax laws, this includes state and local taxes.
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Is it better to work with a tax professional from my immediate area, so that she is familiar with local city/county/etc. tax codes?
Answer: It's helpful, but not necessary.
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Your site shows no NATC tax professionals in my area – what can I do?
Answer: If you have difficulty locating an NATC member in
your area, please contact the nearest NATC chapter
and they can assist you.
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What if the advice that the tax professional gives me is wrong, and I have to pay a penalty?
Answer:
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If I have a bad experience with an NATC member, is there an "internal affairs" group at NATC that will review my story?
Answer: Usually the individual state boards do the policing of their members. In Oregon, the Oregon State Board of Tax Practitioners also handles the complaints about LTC's who are unethical.
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Is my correspondence through this Web site confidential?
Answer: This site does not store any information you enter as part of correspondence. The staff recipient of your message is bound by professional
ethics to consider your communications confidential.
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If I give you my email or mailing address, will I end up on some mailing list?
Answer: This site does not store any information you enter. The staff recipient of your message may retain your contact
information to facilitate response to your inquiry.
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