Paid Tax Preparers and Tax Software

GAO reviewed the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) oversight of paid tax preparers and tax software. GAO noted that: (1) IRS lacks useful data on how paid preparers and tax software affect tax compliance; (2) IRS could improve its oversight of tax preparers if it knew how specific preparer groups affect tax compliance; and (3) while IRS has established testing programs for certain tax software, it has limited information on the use of tax software in preparing tax returns or the extent that these packages generate accurate returns.