CTEC Launches New Microsite Which Visually Explains How to Find a Tax Pro

The animated microsite helps taxpayers easily find a California
approved tax preparer

SACRAMENTO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Tax time. Agh. Sound familiar? Taxpayers are overwhelmed with
information. Tax preparers are frustrated by all the misinformation.

Enter KnowYourTaxPreparer.org,
an animated microsite with one goal.

“To make the message memorable so Californians know who’s who and how to
avoid fraud,“ said Margy Dunn, chair of the California Tax Education
Council (CTEC), a state-mandated nonprofit organization that manages the
registration of more than 40,000 unlicensed tax preparers.

The microsite takes taxpayers through an animated journey of how to find
a California approved tax preparer, what California law requires of the
industry and the pitfalls of choosing the wrong tax preparer.

“We wanted to make the message more approachable and less daunting,”
said Dunn.

California is one of the few states that require tax preparers to be
licensed or registered. Only attorneys,
certified
public accountants (CPAs), CTEC-registered
tax preparers (CRTPs) or enrolled
agents (EAs) can prepare tax returns for a fee in California.

“It can get confusing. There are four different tax preparers to choose
from and each one has a different oversight that regulates them and
their requirements,” said Dunn. “We’re trying to take out some of the
legwork for taxpayers by offering them quick facts and links.”

In addition to the microsite, the campaign will spread the message
through Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. CTEC will launch two new animated
videos and three infographics to help illustrate the message to
California taxpayers.

“It’s a colorful and lively campaign,” said Dunn. “It’s a very different
approach from anything we’ve done before.”

The microsite takes less than two minutes to read. It is also available
in Spanish at conozcaasupreparadordeimpuestos.org.

CTEC is a nonprofit organization that was established in 1997 by the
California State Legislature to protect taxpayers against fraud and
incompetent tax preparers. To report an unregistered tax preparer in
California, visit ctec.org.

Contacts

CTEC
Gigi Jones, 916-296-6913 cell
PR Director
gjones@ctec.org