Tax Season is upon us. It is that time of year where both the tax preparer’s need to know what is expected of them and consumers need to know how to protect themselves.

The Tax Preparer Ordinance mandates that tax preparers:

• Offer a detailed explanation of their available services.
• Prior to rendering any service must provide the price of each offered service, any and all fees, and an estimate of the total charge based upon the services chosen for purchase.
• Inform customers of the reasonable period of time they can expect to wait for a refund.
• Tell customers they have the right NOT to utilize an alternative settlement product.
• Certify that they provided a clear explanation and the required disclosures.
• Inform customers of their right to file a complaint. 

Every tax season unsuspecting Chicagoans fall victim to tax preparation firms that use hidden charges and recommend unnecessary and expensive tax refund products like Refund Anticipation Loans (RALS) or Refund Anticipation Checks (RACS) to make a profit at the expense of citizens’ deserved tax refunds. View the Bill of Rights for Tax Preparations Services and Know Before you Hire a Tax Preparer for more information.