Wyden Urges Support for Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act After New Study Finds Widespread Incompetence and Fraud Among Paid Tax Preparers

Wyden Urges Support for Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act After New Study Finds Widespread Incompetence and Fraud Among Paid Tax Preparers

Washington, D.C. - A new "mystery shopper" report released today by the Center for Taxpayer Rights found widespread incompetence and fraud among paid tax preparers resulting in significant errors on sample returns. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement on the new study:

"This report is proof that Congress needs to pass the bipartisan Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act to protect Americans with minimum standards for the paid preparers who fill out their tax returns. Congress has been waiting around for too long while crooked and incompetent tax preparers have been screwing up people's taxes or outright stealing their money. My bill with Senator Crapo would protect taxpayers and fix this nationwide epidemic of tax prep gaffes and grifts."

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