The National Independent Tax Preparers Association which after last week now represents the voices and interest of over 500 industry related parties in Alabama alone with additional voices and representation from North Carolina throughout side the continental U.S. Due to being in the middle of the busiest part of their season these local independent business owners are completely unaware of the Bill's existence especially since it's most recent modifications have only been made public late last week providing now less than 4 days for anyone to become aware of it's changes.
More importantly no one is aware of the understandings as to how it would work and why such drastic board modifications and board oversights were created. As it is written the Board in SB201 would have greater jurisdiction rights and stronger regulation abilities than what is afforded to the U.S. Senate and the United States Congress, not to mention the President himself. There are more than eleven Federal Laws and IRS Rules currently governing the Tax Preparer Industry. When other industries such as the Cosmetology Industry were Regulated in Alabama they did not have Ten (10) or more Federal Laws, Rules and Regulations already providing oversight.
The current federal oversights governing this industry are as noted below;
Truth in Lending Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Federal Trade Commission Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices, Electronic Funds Transfer Act, Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, National Bank Act, USA Patriot Act, John Warner National Defense Appropriations Act of 2007 and the Internal Revenue Code of 2008, 2009.
The State of Alabama is in the process of passing a law that would directly and indirectly effect each and everyone of the citizens of the state and would in affect be a direct conflict with the U.S. Bill of Rights and the 14th amendment. NITPA firmly opposes any new legislation that would deny American Citizens the right to due process and allow a "Board member who can not be held personally liable" to shut down a business without due process based on a "Alleged Alligation" or "rumor" and especially if such a board member didn't even have to prove that such "alleged/rumor" actually did indeed take place.
NITPA along with any association representing any business, industry or American citizen in the United States would firmly appose SB201's unprecedented right to close a business based only on an "alleged" activity without the need to prove that any such wrong doing actually occurred. Especially since according to SB201 such business owner would not be entitled to due process which is granted to every American through the U.S. Constitution."
SB 201 would allow an anonymous alleged allegation as the only substantiated evidence needed or required to close down a business in Alabama. (section d page 10, SB 201) The National Association Independent Tax Preparers is highly in agreement with the need for the advancement of testing and furthered education within the industry.
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Thank you,
J.C. Snowden II
President
NITPA
National Independent
Tax Preparers Association
866-910-5899
