Question about tax return reviews?

Question

After my boyfriend filed for taxes and received his income tax refund, he received a letter from the IRS saying that they were reviewing his tax return and they requested some information. My boyfriend had a paid preparer file his taxes and I was wondering if it is the preparer's responsibility if the return is incorrect or does it even matter?

Answer 1

Ultimately, a Tax Return is the responsibility of the person who signed it, in this case your boyfriend. This is the statement that you are signing on a Tax Return:

"Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this return and accompanying schedules and statements, and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, they are true, correct, and complete. Declaration of preparer (other than taxpayer) is based on all information of which preparer has any knowledge."

You can HOPE that the person you used to prepare the Income Tax Return is legitimate and responsible and will make themselves accountable for any mistakes or errors, and most of the larger Tax Preparation companies are. But in the end it is your boyfriend who bears the responsibility if the Tax Return is incorrect.

Answer 2

Most major companies like H & R block will not only correct any mistakes but they promise to pay any fines if they make a mistake. It is the preparer's responsibility unless they didn't recieve all the income/tax info.