The Internal Revenue Service routinely processes more than 200 million tax returns each year, many of them prepared by tax professionals. Not surprisingly, as tax law becomes increasingly complex, taxpayers often seek for the knowledgeable assistance of attorneys, CPAs, enrolled agents and other qualified tax return preparers. To help ensure such professionals understand their ethical responsibilities in representing their clients before the IRS and in preparing their tax returns, the IRS has published Treasury Department Circular No. 230. Circular 230 offers substantial guidance by:
- Sets forth rules relating to the authority to practice before the IRS,
- Identifies the duties and restrictions relating to preparing returns for taxpayers, and
- Prescribes sanctions for violating the regulations.
This course will examine many of those rules, duties, and restrictions as well as the sanctions imposed for their violation. The course will present real-world scenarios focusing on specific ethical issues you may encounter. You will be asked to analyze the scenario, identify the ethical issues presented, and determine an appropriate response.
