Topic summary
Tax preparation
Extracted from the Wikipedia article Tax preparation in the United States.
Tax preparation is the process of preparing tax returns, particularly income tax returns, on behalf of a taxpayer, typically for compensation. Taxpayers may complete their own returns, either manually or with the assistance of tax preparation software and online services. Alternatively, tax preparation may be conducted by licensed professionals such as attorneys, certified public accountants (CPAs), or enrolled agents, as well as by unlicensed tax preparation businesses. Some U.S. states impose licensing requirements for individuals or entities that prepare tax returns for compensation, which may apply to federal, state, or both types of tax returns.