The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance is reminding residents to review their rights before hiring a tax preparer as the April 15, 2026, filing deadline approaches.
State officials are highlighting the Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Tax Preparers, which establishes standards to protect against dishonest practitioners who exploit customers’ trust.
“The vast majority of tax preparers are honest professionals,’’ said Acting Commissioner Amanda Hiller. ”However, some take advantage of their position of trust to scam customers out of their hard-earned money. The Tax Department offers multiple ways to file your own taxes for free through our website, www.tax.ny.gov. Should you decide to pay for a preparer, I encourage you to review the Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Tax Preparers to protect yourself.”
Under state law, registered tax preparers must display their New York State Tax Preparer Registration Certificate and price list. They must disclose upfront whether they will represent clients if returns are audited later and ask about income, expenses, family details, and other necessary information to complete returns accurately.
Preparers are required to let customers review completed returns, including bank account information, before signing. They must sign returns and include their preparer tax identification number and New York tax preparer identification number when applicable. Returns must be filed electronically, and preparers must provide year-round contact information and copies of filed returns.
Anyone choosing a refund anticipation loan or refund transfer must receive written statements detailing interest and fees instead of direct deposit options.
Tax preparers who fail to meet these requirements face fines and potential suspension of their registration. Tax Department investigators conduct compliance checks during filing season to ensure preparers follow regulations. Taxpayers can file complaints online with the Tax Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility.
Before hiring a preparer, the Tax Department encourages residents to explore free filing options. Many New Yorkers qualify to file federal and state returns at no cost through Free File on the department’s website. Hundreds of thousands of state taxpayers use the service annually, saving an average of $269 in preparation fees.
The deadline to file returns and pay any tax owed is midnight on April 15, 2026.