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Tax Preparers are required by The California Tax Education Council (CTEC) to possess a California Tax Preparer Surety Bond for $5,000 before you can be licensed as a California Registered Tax Preparer.

With Bonds Express, you are guaranteed pre-approval for a one year $5,000 California Tax Preparer Bond for only $25. Check below for the California Tax Preparer Surety Bonds in multi-year increments (up to five years) to increase your savings!

Bonds Express offers a California Tax Preparer Bond with a 100% approval rate.

Please note this bond must be issued under an individual’s name, not a company. If a bond is needed for a company instead, please follow this link to order a Group Tax Preparer Bond: https://www.bondsexpress.com/product/california-tax-preparer-1-year-group-bond-2-or-more-tax-preparers/

The California Tax Education Council (CTEC) mandates that you must register as a California Tax Preparer if you, for a fee, assists with or prepares state and/or federal income tax returns. Exempt preparers are California Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), attorneys who are members of the State Bar of California, Enrolled Agents, and certain other specified banking or trust officials.

A surety bond protects the party requesting the bond, the Obligee (CTEC), against any financial losses as a result of poor financial decisions, damages, unethical decisions, or a failure to follow state and local laws on the part of you, the Principal.  The California Tax Preparer Bond holds you accountable for your business decisions.

By possessing a California Tax Preparer Bond, you are telling your Obligee that you can be trusted as a Principal and that you stand behind your business decisions.