The Internal Revenue Service now wants to make sure taxpayers who use tax preparers get their money's worth. Money Matters reporter Tara Lynn Wagner filed the following report.

Going forward, tax preparers will have to follow a few new rules and regulations. The Internal Revenue Service's new requirements will affect anyone who gets paid to prepare a tax return.

"These changes, which is going to be a three-step process, will help ensure taxpayers get quality service for their tax preparation needs," said IRS spokeswoman Dianne Besunder.

Under the first phase, which starts in September, all preparers will be required to get a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). Once the second phase two kicks in during mid-2011, certain preparers seeking a PTIN will have to pass a competency exam.

While no start date has been set, under the third phase preparers will have to complete 15 hours of continuing education courses each year.

While some certified public accountants, agents and attorneys will be exempt from the latter two phases, on the whole, the changes mean greater regulation of the entire industry.

"Everyone will be on a system. You won't just have someone who pops up and starts preparing returns," said Mark Steber of Jackson Hewitt Tax Service. "They'll be registered in the IRS system, so if they are doing bad things, the IRS will be able to track them better."

However, some industry veterans say the new rules should not apply across the board.

"The IRS has really used a scattergun approach in terms of trying to capture everybody, when who they are really after are the unethical people," said Jay Safier of the New York State Society of CPAs.

While Safier agrees everyone should have an ID number, in the past he says these numbers were free. Under the new system, everyone will have to pay $64 for a PTIN, including those who already have one.

The American Institute of CPAs estimates registration, testing and courses could cost small firms as much as $390 million.

"These are costs that the firm is going to have to pass along because it's too much to absorb, and the clients are not going to really get any value for that money," says Safier.

An IRS spokeswoman says the value comes in knowing the tax professional one has hired is truly a professional.

"If people are going out paying money to buy a service, they should get a service that is competent, compliant and will get them what they need to do to meet their tax obligations," said Besunder.