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 "Two weeks ago, I'd have just gone ahead and scheduled it, but now
it's not something I will put on the calendar," Pinck said.
First, the good news: This year, the federal filing deadline is not
until April 18 (April 19 for Maine and Massachusetts residents).
Another bit of happy information is that seasoned veterans like
Pinck will not coldly turn you away if you come clamoring for help
when they are all booked up, but you may not get immediate service.
So if you are among the 35 percent of taxpayers who do not file
until the final two weeks or blow the deadline altogether, here is
what you need to know about getting some last-minute professional
help:
1. Extensions are not a bad thing
If every tax preparer you call is already too busy to see you in
person, stay calm. Pinck's way of dealing with a straggler is to
take down some basic information and file an extension.
The key is that if you owe money, you have to pay it by the
deadline, usually by sending a check along with the extension
request.
The drawback is that if you are one of the 75 percent of taxpayers
entitled to a refund, you will not get it until after you file your
full return, according to Intuit Inc's TurboTax tax preparation
software division.
Another ding: The later you call, the more it will cost you. Many
preparers add surcharges for last-minute appointments and additional
fees for extensions, which vary depending on the complexity of the
return.
2. Ask around
Last-minute or not, most people find a new tax preparer by word of
mouth.
Laurie Ziegler, a tax preparer with Sass Accounting in Saukville,
Wisconsin, gets a lot of referrals through Facebook from people who
post there asking their friends for recommendations.
You can also find an expert by reading up on your specialized needs
in newsletters and journals. Shomari Hearn, a vice president with
Palisades Hudson Financial Group in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has
had many small business owners discover him that way.
And you can solicit for quotes for professional services on a web
service like Thumbtack (http:/thumbtack.com/). Aaron Blau's tax
advisory firm in Tempe, Arizona, has attracted new clients through
Thumbtack in the past several years, although he has been too busy
this year to participate.
3. EAs matter
Tax preparers do not need to have a license in order to prepare
returns, which sometimes makes it hard to find someone reputable.
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One way to judge is to look for what letters come after the person's
name. Ziegler, Blau, Pinck and Hearn are all EAs - "enrolled
agents." This special designation from the U.S. government means
they have passed a rigorous test and completed a required amount of
continuing education each year.
"A certified financial planner (CFP) doesn't have any specialty in
tax," said Ziegler, who is also on the board of the National
Association of Enrolled Agents. "A certified public accountant (CPA)
or attorney may specialize in tax, but it's only one part of the
credential."
An enrolled agent does not have to be in your local area to take you
as a client, so you can search nationwide (http:\\eatax.org) for
anyone with last-minute availability.
Preparers who have put out a shingle without any specialized degree
may still be experienced professionals, Blau said, but if something
goes wrong and you are audited, they cannot represent you.
Pinck gets many new clients this way. They come for audit
representation and stay for tax preparation the next year.
4. Look for red flags
Alarm bells should go off if your tax preparer does not sign your
return as a paid preparer.
Blau also said you should be wary if the preparer uses consumer
software rather than a professional-grade service.
And most of all, beware if the preparer offers to pay the refund to
you immediately and have the official government funds deposited
into a third-party account.
"They will give you the right amount," Blau said, "and then they
will modify the return and pocket the difference."
(Editing by Lauren Young and Lisa Von Ahn)
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