IRS Help Center · 14 guides

Choosing Tax Help: Every Guide, In One Place

Not every tax problem needs professional help — and not every firm deserves your trust. These guides explain when to hire help, what it should cost, and the red flags to avoid.

Check credentials first. Paid tax return preparers include certified public accountants, enrolled agents, attorneys, and many others who don't have a professional credential, and anyone can be a paid preparer as long as they have an IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). You have the right to retain an authorized representative of your choice to represent you in your dealings with the IRS.

Updated August 17, 2026

Key takeaways

• Anyone can be a paid tax return preparer as long as they have an IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN), so a PTIN alone tells you little about skill.
• Preparers include certified public accountants, enrolled agents, attorneys, and many others who don't have a professional credential.
• The IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications lists preparers who hold IRS-recognized credentials or an annual filing season program record of completion.
• The Taxpayer Bill of Rights gives you the right to retain an authorized representative of your choice in your dealings with the IRS.
• If you cannot afford representation, you have the right to seek assistance from a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic.

Who is allowed to represent me in my dealings with the IRS?

The Taxpayer Bill of Rights includes the Right to Retain Representation. Taxpayers have the right to retain an authorized representative of their choice to represent them in their dealings with the IRS, and taxpayers have the right to seek assistance from a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic if they cannot afford representation.

The IRS says there are various types of tax return preparers, including certified public accountants, enrolled agents, attorneys, and many others who don't have a professional credential. Those preparers have differing levels of skills, education and expertise, so the label a person uses matters. The IRS maintains directory listings of preparers who currently hold professional credentials recognized by the IRS, or who hold an annual filing season program record of completion, which is one way to confirm what someone actually holds before you hand over your file.

Remember what you are handing over. The IRS puts it plainly: you trust a preparer with your most personal information, including details about your marriage, your income, your children and your Social Security numbers. Treat the choice of who speaks for you with the same care you would give any other decision about your financial life.

How do I check a tax professional's credentials before I hire them?

Use the IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications. The IRS says it can help you find preparers in your area who currently hold professional credentials recognized by the IRS, or who hold an annual filing season program record of completion. You can also check the professional organizations many tax preparers belong to.

Before you sign anything, work through the basics:

• Confirm the preparer has an IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN), which anyone who is paid to prepare returns must have.
• Ask what credential they hold, since skills, education and expertise differ from one preparer to the next.
• Look at the IRS tips for choosing a tax preparer and its guidance on how to avoid unethical "ghost" return preparers.

The IRS notes that most tax return preparers provide outstanding and professional tax service. It also warns that each year, some taxpayers are hurt financially because they choose the wrong tax return preparer. Spending a few minutes verifying a credential is the cheapest protection available to you.

What if I cannot afford help, or my preparer did something wrong?

If you cannot afford representation, you have the right to seek assistance from a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. Separately, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free basic tax return preparation for qualifying taxpayers, which can be a sensible route if your situation is straightforward and your income qualifies you.

If your issue is that the IRS has not resolved your tax problems properly and timely through its normal channels, or you are experiencing financial difficulty, the Taxpayer Bill of Rights says you have the right to receive assistance from the Taxpayer Advocate Service.

If a preparer has already caused harm, you can act. Tax return preparer fraud is among the list of common tax scams, and the IRS says it is committed to investigating paid tax return preparers who act improperly. You can make a complaint if you have been financially impacted by a tax return preparer's misconduct or improper tax preparation practices. Taxpayers also have the right to expect appropriate action will be taken against employees, return preparers, and others who wrongfully use or disclose taxpayer return information.

Ways to verify a tax professional or get help, per IRS guidance

What the IRS says

“Taxpayers have the right to retain an authorized representative of their choice to represent them in their dealings with the IRS.”

— IRS, Taxpayer Bill of Rights, IRS — Taxpayer Bill of Rights https://www.irs.gov/taxpayer-bill-of-rights

Frequently asked questions

Does a PTIN mean a preparer is qualified?

Not by itself. The IRS says anyone can be a paid tax return preparer as long as they have an IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). It also says tax return preparers have differing levels of skills, education and expertise. Treat a PTIN as the entry requirement, then check what credential the person actually holds using the IRS directory or the professional organizations many preparers belong to.

What kinds of tax professionals are there?

The IRS says there are various types of tax return preparers, including certified public accountants, enrolled agents, attorneys, and many others who don't have a professional credential. Because expertise varies, ask directly what credential someone holds and check it against the IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications, which also lists holders of an annual filing season program record of completion.

What can I do if I cannot afford representation?

The Taxpayer Bill of Rights says taxpayers have the right to seek assistance from a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic if they cannot afford representation. For return preparation, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free basic tax return preparation for qualifying taxpayers. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, or the IRS has not resolved your issues properly and timely through normal channels, you may receive assistance from the Taxpayer Advocate Service.

How do I report a tax preparer who harmed me?

You can make a complaint if you have been financially impacted by a tax return preparer's misconduct or improper tax preparation practices. The IRS says tax return preparer fraud is among the list of common tax scams and that it is committed to investigating paid tax return preparers who act improperly. The IRS also publishes tips on avoiding unscrupulous preparers, including unethical "ghost" return preparers.

Which choosing tax help guide do I need?

All 14 Clarity guides on choosing tax help, newest research first. Each one covers a single situation end to end.

Can't find your situation? Decode your IRS notice, browse the full IRS Help Center, or get a free confidential review from an experienced tax professional at (888) 825-7779.

Which choosing tax help guide do I need?

All 14 Clarity guides on choosing tax help. Each one covers a single situation end to end.

Related topics: IRS Forms · Audits & Appeals · Tax Debt Help & Basics · all topics