Tax law is complicated and the answers are not always clear. When a client wants you to take a position on a tax return, such as reporting income as capital gain, or taking a deduction, how sure do you have to be that your position is correct? If the IRS audits the position, when can the client be subject to penalties? When can you, the preparer, be subject to penalties? When you are collecting information from your client, can you just accept what your client tells you, or do you have to audit the client’s representations? What are your ethical responsibilities under the Statements of Standards for Tax Services when confronted with unclear positions? This program will address these and other questions.

Learning Objectives:

• Determine the ethical obligations of tax professionals as they prepare tax returns or offer advice to clients.


• Identify ethical standards and penalties that apply to tax planners and preparers.