26 USC § 7427 - Tax return preparers

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t26/s7427"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "26 USC § 7427 - Tax return preparers"
title_number: 26
title_name: "INTERNAL REVENUE CODE"
section_number: "7427"
section_name: "Tax return preparers"
chapter_number: 76
chapter_name: "JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "Proceedings by Taxpayers and Third Parties"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 94–455, title XII, § 1203(b)(2)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1690; amended Pub. L. 110–28, title VIII, § 8246(a)(2)(J)(i), May 25, 2007, 121 Stat. 202.)"
---


# § 7427. Tax return preparers

In any proceeding involving the issue of whether or not a tax return preparer has willfully attempted in any manner to understate the liability for tax (within the meaning of section 6694(b)), the burden of proof in respect to such issue shall be upon the Secretary.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 94–455, title XII, § 1203(b)(2)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1690; amended Pub. L. 110–28, title VIII, § 8246(a)(2)(J)(i), May 25, 2007, 121 Stat. 202.)

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 7427 was renumbered 7437 of this title.

### Amendments

2007— substituted “Tax return preparers” for “Income tax return preparers” in section catchline and “a tax return preparer” for “an income tax return preparer” in text.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2007 Amendment

Amendment by  applicable to returns prepared after , see , set out as a note under .