If you are paid to prepare Minnesota returns and are not otherwise licensed (as an attorney, accountant, or enrolled agent), you must follow Minnesota?s standards of conduct.

You must:

• Use due diligence when preparing, approving, and filing returns
• Complete your client?s return promptly
• Include your Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) on any return or form when required
• Give your client a copy of their completed return
• Maintain confidential relationships with clients and former clients
• Safeguard and account for your client?s money
• Provide your client with an itemized schedule of charges

You must not:

• Obtain your client?s signature on an incomplete authorizing document or return
• Fail to return all documents to your client
• Charge a fee based on a percentage of an anticipated refund
• Deposit your client?s refund in a bank account with your name or business name, unless the client?s name is also on the account

For a complete list of the standards of conduct, see Minnesota Statute 270C.445, subdivision 3, and Minnesota Rule 8052.0300, subparts 4, 5, and 6.

What happens if I do not follow the standards of conduct?

You may be penalized and sanctioned. For details, see:

• Regulation of Tax Preparers
• Tax Preparers Subject to Sanctions

Questions?

Contact us.

?

Thank you for subscribing. Get our latest news and updates by following us on Facebook and Twitter or by signing up for email updates.