Why this check matters
California is one of only a handful of states that regulates paid tax preparers. If someone charges you to prepare a return here, they must be one of four things: a CTEC-registered tax preparer (CRTP), a certified public accountant, an enrolled agent, or a California-licensed attorney. Anyone else charging you to prepare a return is doing so unlawfully — and you are the one left holding a problem return.
Verification is free and public. There is no reason to skip it, and a legitimate preparer will not be offended that you asked.
The four lookups
1. CTEC-registered preparers (CRTPs)
The California Tax Education Council publishes a public lookup of everyone currently registered. Search by name or by their CTEC number. If a preparer says they are CTEC-registered and they do not appear, treat that as decisive.
ctec.org — use the “Find/Verify a Tax Preparer” lookup.
2. Certified public accountants
The California Board of Accountancy maintains a licence lookup showing status, licence number and any disciplinary action. Check the status reads clear or active, not expired or suspended.
3. Enrolled agents
Enrolled agents are credentialed federally by the IRS, not by California, and may represent taxpayers before the IRS in any state. Verify through the IRS directory below, or ask for their EA number.
4. The IRS preparer directory
The IRS publishes a searchable directory of preparers with a PTIN who hold an attorney, CPA, enrolled agent, enrolled retirement plan agent or enrolled actuary credential, or an Annual Filing Season Program Record of Completion. It is a useful cross-check, but a CRTP may not appear there, even though they are perfectly legitimate in California, unless they also hold one of the credentials listed above or a Record of Completion. The Annual Filing Season Program is voluntary and aims to recognise non-credentialed preparers, so a Record of Completion is not a professional credential.
IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers
IRS guidance on the Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers
The PTIN rule, which has no exceptions: anyone paid to prepare a federal return must have a Preparer Tax Identification Number and must sign the return as the preparer. A preparer who refuses to sign is not a shortcut, a discount or a technicality — see warning signs.
What to do if they do not check out
Do not hand over documents, and do not pay a deposit. If money has already changed hands, you can report an unregistered preparer to CTEC, and report suspected preparer misconduct to the IRS using Form 14157. California’s Franchise Tax Board also takes reports about unregistered preparers.