There has been talk for many years about regulating the tax preparation industry. As with any industry that becomes regulated, efficiency goes down and costs rise. Don’t misunderstand me. I am all for competent professionals. This is why I get continuing education every year. I recently got my license as an Enrolled Agent.
In my assessment, bureaucrats will require some sort of license for tax preparers beginning in 2011. When this happens, look for preparation fees to rise sharply, and for some business models in the tax industry to either fail or change drastically.