Queens, NY – With tax season swiftly approaching, Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D,WF-Flushing) issued a warning for Queens residents.

“It is important to understand what you should look for in a tax professional, whom to avoid, and the signs that should raise red flags,” said Assemblywoman Rozic. “While New York is one of only four states to regulate the tax preparer industry, we still need to raise awareness and do everything we can to ensure that clear standards exist and protect consumers.”

Taxpayers should be cautious to avoid preparer scams that include:

• Discrepancies between the advertised price and charged price of tax preparation services due to the unanticipated complexity of the tax return.
• Tax preparers that advise clients to deposit their refund into the preparer’s account instead of the client’s.
• Offering high-interest loans, often with unclear terms, prior to refunds being received.

Last week, Governor Cuomo announced that the Department of Taxation and Finance is requiring individuals who prepare 10 or more tax returns annually to meet new state standards. These standards require tax preparers to pass a state competency exam, take four hours of annual continuing education and meet applicable Internal Revenue Service requirements. Since 2011, tax preparers have had to register annually with the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance.

If consumers are aware of any tax preparers who have engaged in improper conduct, please contact 518-530-HELP or file a tax preparer complaint at www.tax.ny.gov. Local residents can contact Rozic’s office at 718-820-0241 or rozicn@assembly.state.ny.us with additional questions or concerns.