01/01/2026
🚨 Tax Fraud Awareness Notice 🚨
If you pay someone to prepare your tax return and it is marked “Self-Prepared,” this is a serious red flag.
In many cases, dishonest preparers use this tactic to avoid accountability. When a return is flagged for errors or fraud, the taxpayer is fully responsible—especially when there is no preparer name, PTIN, or signature on file.
Without that information, the IRS has no way to identify or investigate the individual who prepared the return.
Choosing a tax preparer should never be based solely on familiarity. Being a friend, relative, or neighbor does not automatically make someone qualified, compliant, or trustworthy.
If someone prepares your taxes, your return should always include:
✔️ The preparer’s full name
✔️ A valid PTIN
✔️ The preparer’s signature
Protect yourself by working with a transparent tax professional. Accountability matters.