Department of Business and Professional Regulation News Release:

TALLAHASSEE—

With tax season underway, many Floridians are beginning to gather their W-2s, 1099s, 1040s and other tax documents in preparation for the April 15th Federal Income Tax filing deadline. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation encourages Floridians to hire a Certified Public Accountant for tax preparation.

“Although it is not required that tax preparers be Certified Public Accountants, a CPA can ensure that your taxes are prepared by a professional who has been educated and tested. Licensed CPAs are required to take continuing education which ensures that they are up-to-date on the latest changes to the tax code and IRS regulations. This is especially important for individuals with complex filings,” said Interim Secretary Charlie Liem.

CPAs have met the requirements of Florida state laws and been issued a license to practice public accounting by the Florida Board of Accountancy. Only people who are licensed can legally call themselves a CPA. As practitioners, CPAs provide accounting, auditing, tax, financial planning and management consulting services.

When choosing to work with a CPA

• Check the license status at MyFloridaLicense.com or call the Customer Contact Center at 850.487.1395.

• Make sure the license is current, and check for any complaints against the licensee.

• Interview the prospective CPA. Find out what type of accounting work they typically perform. Compare the CPAs experience to your service needs.

• Before any work is done, receive an engagement letter detailing the work to be performed, who will be performing the work and cost of the services. In addition to stating the cost and scope of work to be performed, the engagement letter can be used to indicate how and when client files will be returned; avoiding miscommunications and potentially additional fees.

The Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly. The department licenses more than one million businesses and professionals ranging from real estate agents, veterinarians, and accountants to contractors and cosmetologists. For more information, please visit MyFloridaLicense.com.