What Information Should You Never Give a Tax Preparer ?
- Rhonda Davis
- Aug 22
- 3 min read
Choosing a tax professional requires trust. After all, you’re potentially handing someone your Social Security number, income information, dependent information, banking details, and other pieces of your financial life.
But there’s an important difference between providing the information legitimately needed to prepare your tax return and giving someone unnecessary access to your personal accounts and information.
Whether you’re searching for tax preparation in Jacksonville, St. Johns County, FL, or St. Louis, MO, knowing that difference can help you better protect yourself.
Your Tax Preparer Will Need Sensitive Information
Preparing an accurate tax return often requires sensitive information.
Depending on your situation, your preparer may legitimately need:
Social Security numbers or taxpayer identification numbers
W-2s and 1099s
Dependent information
Business income and expense records
Certain banking information
Prior-year tax information
Documentation supporting deductions and credits
The question isn’t simply:
“Is this information private?”
Instead, ask:
“Does my tax professional actually need this information to perform the service I’ve requested?”
Never Give Someone Your IRS Online Account Password
Your personal IRS online account credentials should remain under your control.
You should not need to hand someone your IRS account password or authentication codes simply because they’re preparing your tax return.
The IRS provides taxpayers with an Individual Online Account where they can access tax information and account services themselves.
Likewise, never unnecessarily provide someone with your:
Email password
Online banking password
Authentication codes
Security-question answers
If a tax professional needs certain IRS information, there are established authorization procedures for accessing appropriate tax information.
Download Your Own IRS Records When Appropriate
One of the simplest ways to maintain control of your information is to retrieve your own records.
The IRS allows taxpayers to access tax records and transcripts online, including certain tax return, account, wage and income, and other transcript information.
That gives you the ability to:
Download it. Save it. Protect your records.
You can maintain your own copy and securely provide appropriate documentation when necessary rather than automatically giving another person access to your personal IRS account.
Remember, however, that downloaded tax records can themselves contain sensitive information. Treat them as confidential documents.
Don’t Sign a Blank Tax Return
Never sign a blank tax return or approve a return you haven’t had an opportunity to review.
Before approving your return, check important information including:
Your name and filing status
Dependents
Income
Deductions
Credits
Refund or balance due
Bank information
Ask questions when something doesn’t make sense.
Your preparer has professional responsibilities, but you are ultimately responsible for the information reported on your tax return.
Be Careful With Refund Promises
Your refund shouldn’t be a mystery—and it shouldn’t be the only reason you choose a preparer.
Be cautious if someone promises you a specific refund before reviewing your complete tax situation.
Income, withholding, credits, deductions, dependents, business activity and numerous other factors can affect the final result.
A larger refund does not automatically mean a better tax preparer.
Accuracy and compliance matter.
Ask How Your Information Is Protected
Before sending Social Security cards, identification, W-2s, 1099s, bank information, or business records, ask how those documents should be submitted.
Whenever available, use a secure document portal or another secure method approved by your tax professional.
Financial responsibility isn’t only about what happens to your money.
It’s also about protecting the information behind your money.
Protect Yourself Before Tax Season
The goal isn’t to withhold information your preparer legitimately needs.
The goal is to avoid giving anyone unnecessary access to your financial life.
Ask questions.
Understand why information is being requested.
Know who is preparing your return.
Review what you’re signing.
Protect your passwords.
And keep copies of your important tax records.
At CoreLogix Consulting, LLC, we believe tax preparation should include accuracy, financial responsibility, and respect for the sensitive information clients entrust to us.
Stop leaving money on the table. Make financial responsibility the standard.
CoreLogix Consulting provides tax preparation, bookkeeping, accounting support, QuickBooks support and other financial services for individuals and small businesses in Jacksonville, St. Johns County, FL, and St. Louis, MO.
CoreLogix Consulting, LLC
980-980-8191
This article is provided for general educational purposes and is not individualized tax, legal, or information-security advice.
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