Page 11 - VTaxOnDemand Independent Industry Analysis of Accounting Industry

2.) 80 percent of the public supports requiring paid tax preparers to pass a test administered
by government that would ensure that paid preparers have the knowledge and training to
complete taxpayer returns correctly.
3.) 83 percent of the public supports paid tax preparer licensing requirements for paid
preparers by a state agency that would also accept and resolve complaints, and enforce
consumer protections.
4.) 89 percent of respondents support requiring paid preparers to supply an upfront list of
fees as tax preparation is a rare industry where prices are often not given up front before
the work is done.
5.) 56 percent believe paid preparers should have special training but don’t need a degree
and 31 percent of the public believes that paid tax preparers should have a college degree
in accounting.

Identity Theft and Cyber Security

IRS Statistical Data-Identity Theft Investigations

Online Trust Alliance IRS Free E-File Tax Services Audit
1.) 46% Fail to Adequately Protect Consumers 22

Tax Preparation Software Cyber Security Breaches
1.) IRS: 2.4 million falsified SS# and names 2013 23
2.) Tax Slayer: 8,800 individual profiles 24
3.) Tax Act: 500 individual profiles 25
4.) Liberty Tax Service: Undisclosed 26

22 https://otalliance.org/news-events/press-releases/online-trust-alliance-finds-46-irs-free-e-file-tax-services-fail
23 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-30/why-the-irs-won-t-tell-fraud-victims-what-thieves-stole
24 http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2016/02/05/identity-theft-a-concern-as-two-tax-preparation-
software-companies-announce-unusual-activity/#1962c19f2adb
25 http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2016/02/05/identity-theft-a-concern-as-two-tax-preparation-
software-companies-announce-unusual-activity/#1962c19f2adb
26 https://www.scmagazine.com/data-at-risk-following-burglary-at-liberty-tax-service-office-in-
california/article/536690/

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