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"Here’s my proposal, which is based on the TV show Survivor: We put the entire Congress on an island. All the food on this island is locked inside a vault, which can be opened only by an ordinary American taxpayer named Bob. Every day, the congresspersons are given a section of the Tax Code, which they must rewrite so that Bob can understand it. If he can, he lets them eat that day; if he can’t, he doesn’t." --Dave Barry Wish I could take credit for this, but I copied it.

It is not practicing law if you fill it out for your own corporation. If you fill it out for a client, then you might be guilty of paracticing law without a license. I've done it several years ago for clients, but I wouldn't do it again.

I think the IRS is shooting at the wrong target. Here is what I think they should have done. To buy into this idea, you have to accept the premise that nearly every tax return is going to be prepared on some type of software. If that is the case, then you register the software. IRS should make the software providers require registration of the software before it activates. The buyer of the software MUST register their software using their Social Security number. The software provider then imbeds the SS# into the return with no way to take it out. When the return is scanned or e-filed, that social security number is part of the return. IRS would then have a database of the software company and the person who bought it. When more than one return is filed from the software and there is no paid preparer information, they could investigate. This would stop the Turbo Tax mills from operating. Just my humble opinion. But I think it would be easier for the IRS to regulate the software than the preparers. It would be a smaller group, and if they objected, the IRS could just pull their ability to e-file. Tom Hollister, CA

In the realm of crappy preparers is the joe schmoe across town who "does returns on the side" and accepts payment of whatever folks "negotiate" with him. He doesn't fill in the preparer section or sign the return even though he received cash for it. Why people trust him I'll never figure out. Sure, they may have saved a few dollars. But they have also dealt with someone unlikely to help if any government branch questions anything. Yes, it is true the taxpayer is ultimately responsible for the return and said taxpayer chose that preparation route. So who is ultimately at fault? (rhetoric) Several times our office has been contacted to assist in audits or reviews of returns prepped by the schmoe. Sometimes we help, other times we decline. Depends on the extent of the mess. Thankfully, auditors so far have allowed us to help the ones we took on. Usually those people then become clients trusting in our knowledge. There are people out there who may view the fact that we pass the RTRP exam as reinforcement that we do know what we are doing. Still, it won't elimiate schmoe. Elfling

I expect that a lot of the people choosing not to bother to get the RTRP are older ones who have just decided not to bother, preferring to retire rather than jump through any more hoops. I really doubt that the bad ones will be significantly reduced. We will have to wait several years, though, to get any real idea of it's effectiveness..

I agree with the principle, but... How is giving a test where they give you access to enough answers to pass going to "...put out of business the crappy prepareres out there..." I am seeing many very competent, experienced, ethical preparers leaving because of the requirements. Not getting how this system is helping....