Paid Preparers

It is the Department of Revenue's policy to accept a paid preparer's signature on a return as authorization to discuss certain matters relating to that return, such as assessment and adjustment notices, information contained or missing on the return, and information about a refund or payment. Beginning with tax year 2018, certain forms provide taxpayers with a checkbox authorizing the Department to discuss the applicable tax form and its attachments with the paid preparer listed on the return. The box must be checked in order for the Department to discuss the applicable tax form and its attachments with the paid preparer.

Exceptions

With the exception of certified service providers who enter into a contract with the Secretary pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. §105-164.42I, this authority is extended only to an individual paid preparer, not to a company, and does not include discussing audit activity or requests for review of proposed assessments or proposed denials of refunds. Those matters require a Form GEN-58, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative, to be filed.

With respect to federal tax information provided to the Department pursuant to our exchange agreement with the Internal Revenue Service, we are prohibited from discussing such information with a representative without the taxpayer's express written authority to do so.