Public Accounting Act Determines Qualifications for Illinois Tax Preparers

The Illinois House of Representatives and Senate have now approved legislation that will set the foundation for a program to regulate professional tax return preparers in that state.

Public Act 098-1040 amends the Illinois Public Accounting Act by adding Section 30.9 as follows:

(225 ILCS 450/30.9 new)

Sec. 30.9. Tax return preparation task force.

The Department shall convene a task force consisting of eight members, one of whom shall be appointed by the Department and be a representative of the Department; one of whom shall be appointed by the Department and be a representative of a statewide association representing CPAs; one of whom shall be appointed by the Department and be an enrolled agent or representative of the tax return preparation industry; one of whom shall be the Director of Revenue or his or her designee; one of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; one of whom shall be appointed by the

President of the Senate; one of whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and one of whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

The task force shall prepare a report that does the following:

• Determines the appropriate scope of a program for regulating commercial tax return preparers.
• Addresses the appropriate qualifications, including, but not limited to, minimum educational qualifications and continuing educational requirements for commercial tax return preparers.
• Considers any other matters the task force determines to be necessary or appropriate.

The task force shall meet no less than 3 times before the end of the year in which this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly becomes effective.

The report required under this Section shall be submitted by no later than December 1, 2015 to the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation, the Governor, and the General Assembly. Members of the task force shall receive no compensation, but shall be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties.

This Section is repealed July 1, 2016.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.

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Source: Illinois Public Act 098-1040