AICPA experts discuss minimum standards for tax preparers

About this episode

AICPA experts discuss the importance of minimum standards for tax preparers and recent legislative proposals.

In this joint Tax Section Odyssey and Journal of Accountancy ( JofA) podcast episode, host Neil Amato is joined by Melanie Lauridsen, AICPA VP of Tax Policy & Advocacy and Todd Sloves, AICPA Director of Congressional & Political Affairs, t o discuss why paid tax preparer oversight is back in the spotlight. The conversation looks at key findings from a recent Government Accounting Office (GAO) report , what "minimum professional standards" could mean for the largely unregulated preparer market, and how the Senate's Taxpayer Assistance and Service (TAS) Act would implement guardrails and enforcement tools. The episode also explains a practical proposal from the SAFE Act that could simplify filing extensions and reduce penalty risk for taxpayers. Questions answered in this episode: What did the GAO find in its latest report on paid tax return preparers, and why does it matter to taxpayers and the IRS? Why are so many paid tax preparers considered "unregulated," and what risks can that create for taxpayers? What are "minimum professional standards" for paid preparers, and what role does the AICPA support for establishing them? How would the TAS Act change IRS authority and guardrails…

People in this episode

Host: Neil Amato

Guests: Melanie Lauridsen, Todd Sloves

Topics covered

• tax preparer oversight
• minimum professional standards
• GAO report findings
• TAS Act
• SAFE Act
• taxpayer risks

Keywords

• tax preparers
• GAO report
• TAS Act
• SAFE Act
• minimum standards
• IRS
• taxpayer assistance

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: AICPA, Journal of Accountancy, Government Accounting Office, Senate, IRS, SAFE Act, TAS Act

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