You get what you pay for

Surprise.  IRS prep sites have some real accuracy problems.  IRS sent some undercover agents to check out the IRS' volunter program. 

From Accounting Today:

Of the 39 tax returns prepared for auditors during the 2013 filing season, 20 of them (or 51 percent) were prepared correctly, while 19 (or 49 percent) were prepared incorrectly. That represents a two-percentage-point increase over the 49 percent accuracy rate for the same number of returns in the 2012 filing season. The 19 incorrect tax returns resulted from incorrect application of the tax law, insufficient requests for information during the intake and interview process, or lack of adherence to quality review requirements.

“Ensuring that tax returns are accurately prepared by volunteers remains a challenge for the IRS,” said TIGTA Inspector General J. Russell George in a statement.  “When volunteers use established interview and quality review processes, the accuracy of the tax returns they prepare improves.”


Frankly we have seen and amended returns prepared by the volunteer IRS Program.  The quality of work and the amount of the refunds/taxes paid are not in line for what we would do.  In other words our fee would be more than compensated by the reduce tax liability.


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