Better Business Bureau warning people of 'ghost tax preparers'

Mar 5, 2020
Mar 5, 2020 Updated Mar 5, 2020

IRS - TAXES - TAX FORM - AP FILE 1.jpeg — FILE- This Feb. 13, 2019, file photo shows multiple forms printed from the Internal Revenue Service web page that are used for 2018 U.S. federal tax returns in Zelienople, Pa. The majority of individual taxpayers in the U.S. are eligible to file their taxes for free, yet many may be unaware or confused by how to do so. Improvements have been made and Free File should be easier to use in 2020. But, with tax season getting into full gear, users should be aware of the details of the service and alternatives. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The Better Business Bureau is warning people about "ghost tax preparers."

"... these are un-certified individuals that bypass checks and balances in the tax preparer certification system," the Better Business Bureau wrote in a March 3 report. "Commonly, the big refunds they promise are not calculated in legal ways."

The issue is with someone who does all the paperwork and math for the tax return but does not sign it. As a result, the taxes are considered self-filed by the taxpayer, meaning the taxpayer is responsible for any problems — omissions and errors such as underpayment and negligence.

By law, if someone prepares federal tax returns, they have to have a valid identification number.