Tax preparer red flags

The IRS warns taxpayers every filing season about the same warning signs. If you see one of these, walk away, and consider reporting the preparer on Form 14157.

• Won't sign the return

  Every paid preparer must sign the return and include their PTIN. One who won't is called a ghost preparer.

• Refund goes to their account

  Your refund should go to you, by direct deposit to your own account or a check in your name.

• Fee is a cut of your refund

  Fees based on the size of your refund reward inflating it.

• Asks you to sign a blank return

  Never sign a return you haven't read, or one with blanks to be "filled in later."

• Files without your W-2

  Filing from a pay stub instead of your W-2 breaks IRS rules.

• Promises a bigger refund

  Nobody can promise a refund before seeing your documents.

Ghost preparers

A "ghost" preparer is paid to prepare a return but won't sign it, so the return looks like you prepared it yourself. If anything on it is wrong, you're the only one on the hook. Every paid preparer must sign the return and include their PTIN.

Protect your refund

Your refund should go to an account in your name, or come as a check made out to you. Be wary of a preparer who wants it deposited into their account first, or who pressures you into a refund loan or advance you don't understand.