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How to Choose a Tax Preparer in Jamaica, Queens

What New York law requires of every paid preparer, the questions worth asking, and how to spot a preparer to avoid.

Last updated: October 4, 2026

In short: Before you hand anyone your tax papers in Jamaica, Queens, check five things the law already requires: the preparer signs your return with an IRS preparer ID (PTIN), is registered with New York State or exempt from registering, shows a price list and gives you New York's free consumer bill of rights, lets you review the return before you sign, and sends any refund to your own account. Then look for what matters to you, such as a language you understand and help after the filing season ends.

Five Things Every Paid Preparer Must Do

  1. Sign with an IRS preparer ID. Anyone paid to prepare federal returns must have a valid PTIN and sign the return with it. The IRS calls a preparer who won't sign or give a PTIN a major red flag, and you are legally responsible for what's filed.
  2. Register with New York State. Paid preparers must register with the New York State Tax Department unless they are CPAs, attorneys, public accountants or enrolled agents, and their New York preparer ID goes on your state return.
  3. Post prices and give you your rights in writing. New York requires preparers to display a current price list showing their minimum fees and to give you a free copy of the Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Tax Preparers before discussing your return. In New York City, preparers must give you the city's bill of rights in your language when a translation exists, and there is one in Bengali.
  4. Let you review the return and keep a copy. The preparer must let you review the return before you sign, give you a copy, and can't guarantee a refund or charge a separate fee to e-file your New York return.
  5. Send the refund to you. Your refund should go to your own bank account. Since the IRS has generally stopped mailing paper refund checks, check the routing and account numbers on the return before you sign.

Questions Worth Asking a Preparer in Jamaica

The law sets the floor. These questions tell you whether a preparer fits your situation:

  • Can you explain my return in a language I read well? A return you don't understand is a return you can't check.
  • Will you be here after April? IRS and New York letters arrive months later. A storefront that closes after tax season leaves you with nobody to ask.
  • Have you done returns like mine? Self-employment, an ITIN, a first year in the United States or income and accounts abroad all need specific forms.
  • How do you handle past years? If you missed a year or need to fix one, ask how the preparer handles past-due and amended returns.
  • Can I meet virtually if I can't come in? Useful during the busiest weeks of the season.

How Hillside Answers Those Questions

Hillside Accounting Services prepares returns at 167-13 Hillside Ave, 2nd Floor, Jamaica, NY 11432, about two blocks from the 169 St station on the F train. Here is how we work:

  • We go through your return with you line by line, in English or Bengali (Bangla), before you sign, and you leave with a copy.
  • Every return we prepare is signed with the preparer's IRS PTIN and New York preparer ID, as the law requires. Ask to see them.
  • Ask us for a quote for your return before we start.
  • We e-file with direct deposit to your own account.
  • After filing, we help you track your refund and answer any IRS or New York letter that arrives later.
  • We prepare individual and family returns, self-employed returns, past-due and amended returns, ITIN applications and small business taxes, and virtual appointments are available.

Red Flags to Walk Away From

  • A preparer who won't sign the return or give you their PTIN.
  • A promise of a bigger refund than anyone else, or a refund guaranteed before your papers are reviewed.
  • A refund routed to the preparer's account instead of yours.
  • Pressure to sign a blank return, or a return you haven't been shown.

If you read Bangla more easily than English, our post on filing taxes when English isn't your first language covers the free IRS and New York interpreter lines and IRS letters in Bengali.

Common Questions

Do tax preparers in New York need a license?

There is no state license, but anyone paid to prepare New York returns must register with the New York State Tax Department, unless they are a CPA, attorney, public accountant or enrolled agent. Every paid preparer also needs an IRS preparer tax identification number (PTIN) and must sign the returns they prepare.

Can a tax preparer guarantee my refund?

No. New York's consumer bill of rights for tax preparer customers says a preparer can't guarantee a refund. The IRS sets the refund after it processes your return.

Can a preparer charge extra to e-file my New York return?

No. Under New York's rules, a preparer can't charge a separate fee to e-file your New York State return.

Is there free tax help in Jamaica, Queens?

Yes, if your income is under the program limits. See our guide to free and paid tax help in Jamaica, Queens.

Sources

Checked October 4, 2026.