Page 111 - Small Business Taxes

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Fileid: … tions/p535/2022/a/xml/cycle01/source
The type and rule above prints on all proofs including departmental reproduction proofs. MUST be removed before printing.
The following points will assist you when se- paper form mailed to you, go to IRS.gov/ after the beginning of the calendar year prior to
lecting a tax return preparer. OrderForms to order online. For more in- filing your current-year return. For the list of the
• Check the preparer’s qualifications. All formation, go to How Do You Report various types of transcripts available for you to
paid tax return preparers are required to Suspected Tax Fraud Activity? on IRS.gov. order, see Transcript Types and Ways to Order
have a PTIN. Them at IRS.gov/Individuals/Tax-Return-
• Check the preparer’s history. You can Using online tools to help prepare your re- Transcript-Types-and-Ways-to-Order-Them. To
check with the Better Business Bureau to turn. Go to IRS.gov/Tools for the following. order your transcript, you can choose from one
find out if a preparer has a questionable • The Earned Income Tax Credit Assistant of the following convenient options.
history. Check for disciplinary actions and (IRS.gov/EITCAssistant) determines if • Request a return or account transcript us-
the license status for credentialed prepar- you’re eligible for the earned income credit ing Get Transcript at IRS.gov/Individuals/
ers. For CPAs, check with the State Board (EIC). Get-Transcript.
of Accountancy. For attorneys, check with • The Online EIN Application (IRS.gov/EIN) • Download the free IRS2Go app to your
the State Bar Association. For Enrolled helps you get an employer identification mobile device and use it to order tran-
Agents (EAs), go to IRS.gov/Tax- number (EIN) at no cost. scripts of your tax returns or tax account.
Professionals/Verify-the-Status-of-an- • The Tax Withholding Estimator (IRS.gov/ • Call the automated transcript toll-free line
Enrolled-Agent and follow the instructions W4app) makes it easier for you to estimate at 800-908-9946 to receive your transcript
for requesting EA status verification. the federal income tax you want your em- by mail.
• Ask about service fees. Avoid preparers ployer to withhold from your paycheck. • Go to Get Transcript at IRS.gov/
who base their fee on a percentage of your This is tax withholding. See how your with- Individuals/Get-Transcript, and click on
refund or those who say they can get holding affects your refund, take-home “Get Transcript by Mail.” You will need
larger refunds than others can. Always pay, or tax due. your SSN or your individual taxpayer iden-
make sure any refund due is sent directly • The First-Time Homebuyer Credit Account tification number (ITIN), date of birth, and
to you or deposited into your bank ac- Look-up (IRS.gov/HomeBuyer) tool pro- address from your latest tax return. Tran-
count. You should not have your refund vides information on your repayments and scripts arrive in 5 to 10 calendar days at
deposited into a preparer’s bank account. account balance. the address we have on file for you.
• Ask to e-file your return. Make sure your • The Sales Tax Deduction Calculator • Mail Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript
preparer offers IRS e-file. Any paid pre- (IRS.gov/SalesTax) figures the amount you of Tax Return, or Form 4506T-EZ, Short
parer who prepares and files more than 10 can claim if you itemize deductions on Form Request for Individual Tax Return
returns must generally e-file their clients’ Schedule A (Form 1040). Transcript (both available on IRS.gov).
returns. The IRS has safely processed • Go to IRS.gov/Pub17 to get Pub. 17, Your The IRS never sends email requesting that
more than 1.3 billion e-filed tax returns. Federal Income Tax for Individuals, which you obtain or access your transcripts. Report all
• Make sure the preparer is available. features details on tax-saving opportuni- unsolicited email claiming to be from the IRS or
You need to ensure that you can contact ties, 2022 tax changes, and thousands of an IRS-related function to phishing@irs.gov.
the tax preparer after you file your return. interactive links to help you find answers to A transcript isn’t a photocopy of your return.
That’s true even after the April 17, 2023, your questions. View it online in HTML or
due date for individual returns. The due as a PDF or, better yet, download it to your If you need a photocopy of your original return,
complete and mail Form 4506, Request for
date for partnerships and S corporations mobile device to enjoy eBook features.
using a calendar year is March 15, 2023. • You may also be able to access tax law in- Copy of Tax Return, available at IRS.gov/Pub/
irs-pdf/F4506.pdf, along with the applicable fee.
You may need to contact the preparer if formation in your electronic filing software.
questions come up about your tax return at • Go to IRS.gov and click on the Help & Re- Reporting and resolving your tax-related
a later time. sources tab for more information. identity theft issues.
• Provide tax records. A good preparer will • Tax-related identity theft happens when
ask to see your records and receipts. They Getting a transcript or copy of a return. Tax someone steals your personal information
ask you questions to report your total in- transcripts are summaries of tax returns. IRS to commit tax fraud. Your taxes can be af-
come and the tax benefits you’re entitled to transcripts are best and most often used to vali- fected if your SSN is used to file a fraudu-
claim. These may include tax deductions, date past income and tax filing status for mort- lent return or to claim a refund or credit.
tax credits, and other items. Do not use a gage, student, and small business loan applica-
preparer who is willing to e-file your return tions, and to help with tax preparation. • The IRS doesn't initiate contact with tax-
payers by email, text messages (including
using your last pay stub instead of your Taxpayers can also use transcripts to obtain shortened links), telephone calls, or social
Form W-2. This is against IRS e-file rules. their prior-year adjusted gross income (AGI),
• Never sign a blank tax return. Do not which they need in order to e-file their tax re- media channels to request or verify per-
sonal or financial information. This in-
use a tax preparer who asks you to sign a turns. You can get a transcript by mail to view cludes requests for personal identification
blank tax form. your tax account transactions or line-by-line tax numbers (PINs), passwords, or similar in-
• Review your return before signing. Be- return information for a specific tax year. The formation for credit cards, banks, or other
fore you sign your tax return, review it thor- method you used to file your return and whether financial accounts.
oughly. Ask questions if something is not you have a refund or balance due affects your • Go to IRS.gov/IdentityTheft, the IRS Iden-
clear to you. Make sure you’re comfortable current tax year transcript availability. Gener- tity Theft Central webpage, for information
with the information on the return before ally, these transcript types are available for the on identity theft and data security protec-
you sign it. current tax year and 3 prior years. The quickest tion for taxpayers, tax professionals, and
• Preparer must sign returns and include way to get a copy of your tax transcript is to go businesses. If your SSN has been lost or
their PTIN. A paid preparer must sign re- to IRS.gov/Transcripts. Click on either "Get stolen or you suspect you're a victim of
turns and include his or her PTIN as re- Transcript Online" or "Get Transcript by Mail" to tax-related identity theft, you can learn
quired by law. The preparer must also give order a free copy of your transcript. If you need what steps you should take.
you a copy of the return. an account transcript for an older tax year, a
• Report abusive tax preparers to the wage and income transcript, or a verification of • Get an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN). IP
PINs are six-digit numbers assigned to tax-
IRS. You can report abusive tax preparers nonfiling letter, you’ll need to complete Form payers to help prevent the misuse of their
and suspected tax fraud to the IRS. Use 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return, SSNs on fraudulent federal income tax re-
Form 14157, Complaint: Tax Return available at IRS.gov/Forms-Pubs/About- turns. When you have an IP PIN, it pre-
Preparer. If you suspect a return preparer Form-4506-T, and send it to us as instructed on vents someone else from filing a tax return
filed or changed the return without your the form. If you made estimated tax payments with your SSN. To learn more, go to
consent, you should also file Form 14157- and/or applied your overpayment from a IRS.gov/IPPIN.
A, Return Preparer Fraud or Misconduct prior-year tax return to your current-year tax re- • The IRS stops and flags suspicious or du-
Affidavit. You can download and print turn, you can request a tax account transcript to plicate federal tax returns that falsely
these forms from IRS.gov. If you need a confirm these payments or credits a few weeks

Page 52 Chapter 12 How To Get Tax Help