Over 80% of United States taxpayers are now using either a paid professional or computer software to assist in preparing their taxes each year. The IRS is interested in knowing who these professionals are as well as how qualified they are to help the average taxpayer file his return. As it stands now, anybody, with or without a tax preparation certification, can charge a fee for preparing someone else’s tax return; and while some of these individuals are licensed by their respective states or certified by the IRS, there is no mandate in place for any paid tax preparer to meet even minimum government or professional certification standards. So basically, anyone claiming to have even a little bit better understanding of tax law and filing practices can demand a fee for filing my tax return.So after a lengthy six month study, the IRS, in their infinite wisdom, has launched an aggressive effort to reach these free-wheeling tax preparers with higher levels of education and enforcement. The hope is that higher standards for tax preparation will ultimately provide greater protection for the droves of taxpaying citizens who seek out some form of support in navigating the undeniable complexities that tax season brings. To know much information about tax preparer certification visit the website fastforwardacademy.com