GETTING THE HELP YOU NEED AT A PRICE YOU CAN AFFORD
Don't wait until April 15 to find out that you need professional help to complete your tax return. We recommend that you review your tax forms now and decide whether or not you can complete them on your own. If you decide that you need professional help, you'll have time to locate a qualified tax preparer who can best meet your needs.

WHO NEEDS A TAX PREPARER?
It is not necessarily your level of income, but rather the complexity of your return that determines your need for a tax preparer. If you have experienced a major lifestyle change, such as a divorce or a drastic change in your financial situation, you may want to hire a tax preparer. Other factors that may trigger the need for professional help include owning a home-based business, claiming substantial itemized deductions, or owning rental property.

Similarly, you should probably seek assistance from a CPA or tax attorney if you need to claim a major casualty loss, account for a change in child custody, or deduct investment-related expenses.

SHOP AROUND
To find a qualified tax preparer, ask for references from family, friends and business associates, especially individuals who work in your field. Be sure these people have actually used the preparer. Ask them about the quality of the preparer's work, responsiveness to questions, and ability to complete the return in a timely matter. Remember, the likelihood of errors is greater if your return is hastily prepared.

Don't rush to hire the first tax preparer with whom you speak. Contact several preparers by phone and ask them to discuss their qualifications. If they don't have time to give you an interview, they may be equally unresponsive to questions and concerns about your tax return preparation.

ASK ABOUT FEE STRUCTURES
When interviewing a prospective tax preparer, be sure to ask about the fee structure. Some will charge on an hourly basis, others on the number of forms to be completed, and still others will give you a fixed price. Prices may range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand depending on the nature of your return. How your records are organized will also have an effect on the fee structure.

Generally, beware of tax preparers who base their fees on a percentage of your tax refund. You should also stay away from preparers who guarantee you a refund or are unwilling to sign your return.

Don't let the fee structure alone affect your selection of a tax preparer. An individual who charges more, but has a reputation for quality work, may help you to avoid costly mistakes and save you more money in the long run.

EVALUATE STANDARDS AND EXPERIENCE
Enrolled agents, tax attorneys, and CPAs prepare tax returns. So do numerous individuals who hold themselves out as tax preparers. However, neither the IRS nor other government organizations have licensing requirements for such tax preparers. What's more, not all tax preparers are permitted to present your case to the IRS in the event that your tax return is audited. Generally, only CPAs, tax attorneys and enrolled agents are permitted to represent clients before the IRS.

In evaluating tax preparers, consider how long they have been in business and whether they work full-time or part-time.

Keep in mind, too, that CPAs who provide tax services have passed a stringent professional examination, which concentrates in part on tax law, and have usually met experience and education requirements in order to obtain their CPA certificate. Enrolled agents are admitted to practice before the IRS after passing an IRS examination, or after completing five years of audit-level service as an IRS employee.

HIRE FOR THE LONG HAUL
If you think you'll be using a tax preparer in future years, be sure the individual you retain to do your return can meet your needs today as well as in the future. For example, if you anticipate a big change in your finances over the next year, it may be wise to retain a tax professional who can help you to devise an effective tax-planning strategy long before your tax return is due.