Tax law changes highlight the importance of professional tax help

July 7, 2025

Any time Congress messes around with the tax code, there’s a price to be paid.

It could be literal dollars if the Internal Revenue Code changes don’t favor your tax situation.

But even when the tax revisions benefit you, you need to know exactly how they apply, and then properly file to claim them. Confusion and frustration in trying to figure out what the tax changes mean to you exact their own fee.

We’re all dealing to some degree with that psychic tax toll now that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is law.

Getting tax change translation help: You’ve probably already read (here, I hope) about some of the new and extended tax provisions. You’ll probably read more (again, in coming new posts here, I hope) as you make tax moves involving the changes in anticipation of next year’s filing season.

But you also might want to consider hiring a tax professional.

Reputable tax pros are doing more than just reading about the new law, or reading the OBBB itself. They also are participating in seminars to make sure they know the tax nuances and exactly how its provisions can help clients.

They can help you decipher the new laws and how to make them work for you.

This time of year also is one of the best to look for tax help. With Tax Day well past us, most tax preparers have a lighter summer work load, and are more willing to take on new taxpayers.

Here are a few tips to help you pick the perfect tax pro, starting with the answers to the following questions.

Will new tax laws affect you? If you’re reading this, chances are you know or suspect that you might be affected by some of the new tax laws. If you answer yes to any of the below questions, then the OBBB likely will come into play when you file your tax return.

Do you have young children? (Child Tax Credit and/or Trump Savings account)
Are you an older taxpayer? (Senior bonus)
Do your earnings include tips? (Tax relief for some, not all, gratuities)
Do you regularly work overtime? (Tax relief for some, not all, the extra pay)
Do you donate to charitable organizations? (Options for standard deduction filers; limits on those who itemize)
Do you take an annual trip to Las Vegas or Atlantic City to gamble? (Changes to deducting gambling losses)
Are you planning on getting an auto loan? (Deducting some loan interest)
Will that vehicle be an electric one? (Less time to claim the electric vehicle tax credit)
Are your state and local taxes, popularly known as SALT, more than $10,000? (An increase in the deduction limit until 2030)

These are just some of the more publicized OBBB changes. A tax pro can help you determine exactly how they might affect your personal circumstances, for the 2025 tax year and beyond.

How complicated are your taxes? Basically, you need to determine just what level of expertise you need of someone to competently complete your paperwork. The OBBB might have increased your personal tax complexity.

Also, decide whether you want a tax adviser or a tax preparer.

If you’re mainly interested in getting your Form 1040 filled out properly, with all the tax breaks for which you are eligible, and in to the Internal Revenue Service on time, then you’ll want a qualified preparer.

But if you’re also interest in your tax-planning needs this and future years, you’ll want a company or individual who will offer that guidance, as well as file your annual taxes.

Do you have special tax issues? Your small business is not so small anymore, as you’ve hired more employees to meet growing customer needs. Your family has a trust from which you and several siblings receive income. You and your ex-spouse are still sorting out child custody issues.

All of these situations, and more, have potential tax implications, during filing season and beyond. You’ll want a tax pro who is experienced in these areas. You definitely do not want your 1040 to be on-the-job training.

What’s your budget? Money is a touchy subject, one that exacerbated when it comes to spending more of it to reduce what you owe the U.S. Treasury. You need to be honest with yourself about how much you’re willing to spend before you get too deep into your tax help search.

The worst thing for both you and whomever you hire is continual tension during the tax season, or beyond, over charges for professional guidance and filing.

If you find a tax pro you like, but who is just too expensive for your finances, let that person know. Remember that tax pros have to make a living, but you also might be able to work out a payment plan.

Or that pro could provide a recommendation for a colleague who meets your budget and tax needs.

The many tax pro choices: You also need to understand the various levels of professional tax help. They range from literally anyone who obtains an IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number, or PTIN, and hangs out a tax service shingle to pros who’ve spent years in school and continuing their professional training.

Your first focus should be on the differing levels of skills, education, and expertise that popular credentialed tax professionals offer. One of the key factors for many filers is representation rights, or the ability to speak for clients on any tax matters, including audits, payment/collection issues, and appeals.

There are three credentials that provide the tax pro unlimited representation rights before the IRS. They are —

Enrolled Agents (EAs). These tax professionals are licensed by the IRS, which involves a suitability check and successfully completing a three-part Special Enrollment Examination. This comprehensive exam requires the EA candidate to demonstrate proficiency in federal tax planning, individual and business tax return preparation, and representation. An EA must complete 72 hours of continuing education every three years.

Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). These credentialed accountants are licensed by state boards of accountancy, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. To earn this designation, they must pass the Uniform CPA Examination. CPAs also have completed a study in accounting at a college or university, as well as met experience and good character requirements established by their respective boards of accountancy. In addition, CPAs must comply with ethical requirements and complete specified levels of continuing education in order to maintain an active CPA license. CPAs may offer a range of services. Look for a CPA who specializes in tax preparation and planning.

Attorneys. Lawyers are licensed by state courts, the District of Columbia, or their designees, such as the state bar. Generally, attorneys have earned a degree in law and passed a bar exam. Attorneys generally have on-going continuing education and professional character standards. These legal advisers also may offer a range of services, so look for an attorney who specializes in tax preparation and planning.

Preparers without one of the above three credentials have limited rights of practice before the IRS. They may only represent clients whose returns they prepared and signed, but only before revenue agents, customer service representatives, and similar IRS employees, including the Taxpayer Advocate Service.

They cannot represent clients whose returns they did not prepare. They cannot represent clients regarding appeals or collection issues even if they did prepare the return in question.

IRS’ list of approved tax preparers: Tax return preparers with limited representation rights include those who voluntarily participate in the IRS’ Annual Filing Season Program. This program recognizes the efforts of return preparers who do not obtain the credentials of attorneys, CPAs, or EAs, but who commit to tax education and filing season readiness.

The IRS issues an Annual Filing Season Program Record of Completion to return preparers who obtain a certain number of continuing education hours in preparation for a specific tax year.

You can find those preparers, as well as those with professional and state accreditations, in the IRS’ public tax professionals directory. The searchable, sortable database includes the name, city, state, and Zip code of those preparers, as well as enrolled retirement plan agents and enrolled actuaries, who have valid PTINs for the current tax season.

You also can use the find-a-tax-pro search options at the National Association of Enrolled Agents and National Association of Tax Professionals websites. If you’re looking for a CPA, your state’s CPA society is a good starting point.

Checking out your tax pro: OK, things are looking good. You’ve decided on the type of tax professional that fits your filing and planning needs. You’ve found one within your price range.

But before you sign any agreement, do a bit more vetting of your choice. My earlier post, 5 things to check when hiring a tax preparer, goes into detail, but here are some highlights.

Inspect the pro’s IRS ID. You’re seen mention of a preparer’s PTIN a couple of times. This ID number is required by Uncle Sam of folks who file returns for others for a fee. The digits also must be entered on any tax return the pro prepares. Note, however, that a valid PTIN is not an indicator of skill, education, or expertise.

Confirm credentials and complaints: The IRS’ directory is a good place to start. Also check the various professional associations (like those mentioned earlier) to which they may belong. A check of your state’s board of accountancy for CPAs or bar association for attorneys can let you know if the person is in good standing. Those organizations, as well as the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility for Enrolled Agents and the Better Business Bureau, also can alert you to any complaints that have been filed. If your state licenses or registers tax preparers, contact that regulatory office, too, for comments and possible complaints
Ask about availability, history: Obviously you want your tax pro to be around through April and if your return is extended, through the mid-October due date. But you also want some longer-term assurances. Has the solo preparer or tax firm been around for a while? Will it continue its operations months or years after filing the return? Sometimes that’s the extended time frame involved in IRS questions about what’s on a tax return.

Look out for these red flags: Finally, at any time during your tax professional search be on the lookout for the red flags below.

The fee is based on your refund amount.
The preparer guarantees a refund.
The tax pro won’t answer your questions.
The preparer doesn’t want you to sign your return or asks you to sign a blank return.
The tax pro recommends your refund be sent to his or her office instead of to you or being directly deposited into your bank account.

If you encounter any of these instances, stop. Then move on to the next tax pro on your interview list.

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