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Taxpayer Protection: Stricter Penalties and Professional Standards for Tax Preparers.

This law significantly increases financial penalties and introduces strict education and background check requirements for professional tax preparers. The goal is to protect citizens from fraud, errors, and refund theft by dishonest advisors. The IRS gains explicit authority to suspend or revoke a preparer's identification number (PTIN) for serious misconduct, aiming to improve service quality.
Key points
Increased financial penalties for tax preparers who commit errors, fail to sign returns, or misuse identification numbers (penalties rise from $50 to $250).
Mandatory suitability checks (including personal tax compliance) and ongoing education for all individuals seeking or renewing a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN).
New severe penalties, including felony charges, for willful misuse of a PTIN or misappropriation of a client's tax refund via electronic transfer.
The IRS must establish a program allowing preparers to correct identifying number errors on electronic returns before penalties are imposed.
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Introduced
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Additional Information
Print number: 119_HR_6323
Sponsor: Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]