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Beware of Shady Taxpreparers Offering Big and Quick Refunds

Every tax season, around this time of year, if you look close enough, you can always find "tax preparers" advertising and promising to get you a BIG and QUICK tax refund.  Sounds like a good deal, right?  Be careful! 

There is a reason that the accounting and tax profession is strictly regulated by accounting societies, state organizations, and public bodies who ensure compliance with rules and ethics.   The IRS tax regulations may not be easy to read, but they do lay out the (often complicated) rules that everyone must follow when their tax return is submitted.  Because of this and because of the very unique tax situation that everyone brings to the table each year, there is simply NO WAY that anyone can guarantee you a big tax refund. In fact, they cannot even guarantee that you will receive a tax refund.  It all depends on your unique circumstances that year.  So if someone is promising you a refund, be wary.  They are likely following some less than scrupulous methods to prepare tax returns.

Likewise, no tax preparer can get you a QUICK tax refund.  In today's world, everything is done electronically, which vastly speeds up how we file tax returns.  Ultimately, the speed of any POTENTIAL tax refund is dictated by the IRS.  They must receive, process, and then issue ALL tax refunds.  Millions of tax refunds are issued each year.  Anyone who can guarantee a speedy refund is either lying to you (since they don't control the issuance of refunds -- the IRS does) or they are likely providing you a tax refund advance or loan.  The latter of which can be costly to you.  

The truth is that you get what you pay for.  Trust a CPA or certified tax preparer who is looking out for your best interests and will explain the rules and regulations to you.  Many fly-by-night tax preparers pop-up and disappear overnight during the tax season rush.  Don't fall victim to their scams.  Find a CPA and stick with them.  You'll be happy you did.