New Report Analyzes Delays and Challenges Faced by Taxpayers This Tax Season (WASHINGTON) As the tax season enters its final push, advocates from the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) and Consumer Federation of America (CFA) issued their annual report on...
More infoTax Refund Loans Are Revamped and Resurrected
By Stacy Cowley – New York Times Fast, free money. That’s what H&R Block, the nation’s largest tax-preparation chain, is advertising on giant banners outside its storefronts and in TV commercials featuring Jon Hamm of “Mad Men”: “You could get a...
More infoTax Time Troubles: Delays and Risks Await Many Taxpayers in 2017
By National Consumer Law Center WASHINGTON, December 21 – The holiday season may still be in full swing, but advocates from the National Consumer Law Center and Consumer Federation of America urge Americans to start now to plan for tax-time...
More info“Who needs and doesn’t need licenses to work in Georgia spurs questions”
By: Kristina Torres In Georgia, the professional landscaper reimagining your backyard may need three separate licenses to do the work you want, but not the woman who does your taxes. Several dozen professional occupations — such as auctioneers, used car...
More infoGeorgia requires no training, licensing for tax preparers
Georgia Watch has released its final findings in the ‘secret shopper’ study done on paid tax preparation in Southwest Atlanta. The results are a culmination of investigative work done to bring to light the harm that unlicensed tax preparation...
More infoState: Police, firefighters target of fraud
Hapeville councilwoman faces calls for ouster amid probe on ta. business. By Brad Schrade Year after year, Ruth Barr’s thriving tax preparer’s business, now the focus of a large state fraud investigation, serviced thousands of clients from all walks of...
More info“What to do if you suspect you’ve been a victim”
State Department of Revenue and the IRS will look into some complaints about tax preparers. By Brad Schrade If you suspect your tax preparer of fraud or mistakes on your tax return, it’s important to correct the problems or you’ll risk paying fines that...
More info“Choose your tax preparer carefully”
There’s little oversight of tax prep businesses, so watch for red flags like fees tied to size of refund. By Brad Schrade Lack of professional standards and oversight of tax preparers has led to an industry rife with fraud or mistakes, and consumers must...
More infoUnregulated paid tax preparers cause problems for consumers
Last week, Georgia Watch released preliminary results from a mystery shopper study that examined the paid tax preparation market in Southwest Atlanta. “The study results cause us great concern around the lack of regulation of paid tax preparers and the...
More info‘Mystery Shopper’ Study Finds Numerous Errors, Lack of Transparency and Arbitrary Fees for Paid Tax Prep Services in Atlanta
For Immediate Release For more information: Elise Blasingame (404) 205-6680 or eblasingame@georgiawatch.org April 5, 2016 – ATLANTA, GA – Today, Georgia Watch released preliminary results from a mystery shopper study that examined the paid tax preparation...
More info“Mystery Shopper” Tests Show Problem with over 90 Percent of Tax Returns Filed by Paid Preparers
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 15, 2015)—As the deadline for filing 2014 taxes looms, and consumers turn to paid tax preparers, a coalition of consumer and community organizations and advocates is calling attention to a recent report, Prepared in Error: Mystery...
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