5 Questions To Ask Your Tax Return Service

Working with a tax return service can make life a lot easier in April. Rather than handling the details of your return on your own, you simply hand over the paper and the information to a highly trained preparer and you receive your refund check a few weeks later. However, in order for that system to work, you need to be sure you have the right preparer and the right overall service. Asking these questions will help eliminate mistakes and reveal preparation that might not be up to par.

#1: How Will My Refund Be Processed?

Most offices can prepare your tax return and file it electronically through the IRS eFile, mail it in for you, or have you mail it yourself. All of these will ultimately lead to the same result of successful filing, but most of them won't accomplish it as quickly as eFile. Knowing which one will be used gives you an estimated time of arrival on your refund, which makes it easier for you to plan. If the company you have selected doesn't offer eFile, ask why.

#2: What Guarantees Do You Offer?

Every company offers a different set of guarantees for its services. Some companies will stand behind you and help testify if you are audited. Some simply guarantee that you'll receive the maximum refund to which you are legally entitled. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to accept some risk of an unassisted audit, but for the most part doing so is unwise. Look for a strong guarantee that will really protect you.

#3: How Long Have You Been Preparing Returns?

The company itself may be reputable, but it's always wise to ask your individual preparer how long he or she has been in the business before you trust them with your return. Although virtually every tax return service trains the people they hire, someone with more experience is almost always going to do better for you - especially if your situation is in any way complex.

#4: How Many Of Your Returns Have Been Audited?

A company (or an individual) that is commonly having returns audited or found deficient is a sign of trouble. Most good companies will identify people who may be producing bad results and remove them, but it's always better to ask. This is particularly true when you use an individual such as a CPA or a solo tax preparation expert.

#5: Why Do We Need X? Why Didn't We Do Y?

If something doesn't feel right to you, ask! If they can't explain every single decision clearly, choose another tax return service. Even if you're not a tax expert, you can still see when an individual may be insecure or uncertain about a particular decision. If someone is making a bad call about your filing, it's your responsibility to stop them if you can.

Asking these questions - and asking questions in general - will help you get the best results from any tax return service, whether it's a company or an individual.

Author writes about a variety of topics. If you would like to learn more about how to prepare your tax return, visit http://www.libertytax.com/.