Canons

Question 1

What are the 5 categories of the code of ethics?

Answer 1

1. General conduct 2 - good conduct, don’t break laws
2. Relationships 3 - maintain boundaries, don’t pretend to represent people, don’t share private information
3. Undeserved rewards 2 - don’t bribe officials, don’t bribe potential clients
4. Fairness 3 - referrals must be communicated clearly in advance, don’t promise specific results, don’t pursue action you know has no basis in fact
5. Honest presentation 8 - be independent, don’t knowingly use bad information, don’t lie about credentials, don’t lie in promoting services, don’t use a client as a reference without permission, don’t pretend to have IPT endorsement, don’t lie to IPT or on IPT forms, don’t condone subordinates to violate the ethics code,
6. Consulting practices 2 - don’t create a conflict of interest between two clients, don’t pursue personal interests at the detriment of the client

Question 2

What are the six categories of the code of ethics?

Answer 2

1. General conduct 2
2. Relationships 3
3. Undeserved rewards 2
4. Fairness 3
5. Honest presentation 7
6. Consulting practices 3

Question 3

What are the canons regarding general conduct?

Answer 3

1. No conduct that reflects poorly on the profession or IPT
2. Commit no crimes

Question 4

What are the canons regarding relationships?

Answer 4

1. Stay in the agreed boundaries of the relationship
2. Don’t lie about who you represent
3. Don’t disclose private information

Question 5

What are the canons regarding undeserved rewards?

Answer 5

1. Don’t bribe officials
2. Don’t bribe potential clients

Question 6

What are the canons regarding fairness?

Answer 6

1. Must disclose referrals
2. Don’t promise specific results
3. Peruse remedies that have no basis in fact or law

Question 7

What are the canons regarding honest presentation?

Answer 7

1. Maintain independent judgement
2. Don’t use or share bad information
3. Don’t lie about credentials
4. Don’t pretend to have IPT endorsement
5. Don’t lie to IPT
6. Don’t condone your subordinates acting unethically
7. Don’t pursue personal interests at the detriment of the client

Question 8

What are the canons regarding consulting practices?

Answer 8

1. Don’t create a conflict of interest between your clients
2. Never pursue personal interests over those of your client’s

Question 9

What is Canon 1

Answer 9

It is unethical to engage in any conduct that discredits IPT, its membership, or the tax profession.

Question 10

What is Canon 2

Answer 10

It is unethical to engage in any activity that results in a conviction of any crime committed in connection with the member’s involvement in the tax matter.

Question 11

What is Canon 3

Answer 11

It is unethical to operate beyond the bounds of an agreed relationship with an employer or client.

Question 12

What is Canon 4

Answer 12

It is unethical for a member of IPT to state or imply that such a member represents a person that the member does not represent, or to file an document on behalf of such person without authorization.

Question 13

What is Canon 5

Answer 13

It is unethical to disclose confidential employer or client documents or information except with the consent of the employer or client or as directed by law.

Question 14

What is Canon 6

Answer 14

It is unethical to offer or give anything of value to a public official to induce that official to take any action with respect to a tax matter.

Question 15

What is Canon 7

Answer 15

It is unethical to offer or give anything of material value to an individual in an employment, advisory, or representative relationship with a business to induce that individual to recommend the purchase of goods or services by the business, and it is unethical for such individuals to receive such value.

Question 16

What is Canon 8

Answer 16

It is unethical to pay, retain, or accept a share of a fee or other monetary compensation for the referral of a person to another for the provision of ta services in which the recipient of such compensation does not participate, unless advance notice is given to the person for whom such services are to be performed. The amount of the compensation for the referral need not be disclosed unless requested by the person to whom the services are to be furnished.

Question 17

What is Canon 9

Answer 17

It is unethical to solicit a tax assignment by assuring a specific result or to solicit, assign, accept, or perform a tax assignment that is conditioned upon producing a preconceived option or conclusion.

Question 18

What is Canon 10

Answer 18

It is unethical to initiate or pursue an appeal, protest, refund claim or other action on behalf of a taxpayer for which there is no known to be basis in fact or law. When the basis is unknown, the determination of whether a basis in fact or law exists must be made as soon as reasonably possible.

Question 19

What is Canon 11

Answer 19

It is unethical in the performance of a tax assignment to fail to exercise independent judgment in advising and representing a client.

Question 20

What is Canon 12

Answer 20

It is unethical in the performance of a tax assignment to knowingly furnish or knowingly rely upon inaccurate, deceitful, or misleading information, or to knowingly withhold information which lawfully should be revealed.

Question 21

What is Canon 13

Answer 21

It is unethical to prepare or use in any manner, for any purpose, a resume or statement of professional qualifications that is misleading or false.

Question 22

What is Canon 14

Answer 22

It is unethical in promoting a tax practice or soliciting tax assignments to make misleading or false representations.

Question 23

What is Canon 15

Answer 23

It is unethical to use client listings or references without specific authorization.

Question 24

What is Canon 16

Answer 24

It is unethical to state or imply IPT authorization, endorsement, or approval of any business, product, or service.

Question 25

What is Canon 17

Answer 25

It is unethical in any representation of fact to IPT in a membership application, renewal form, or otherwise, to knowingly furnish inaccurate, deceitful, or misleading information, or to knowingly withhold material information.

Question 26

What is Canon 18

Answer 26

It is unethical for a member having supervisory responsibility for another professional to knowingly authorize, direct, permit, or ratify any subordinate's act or omission that is declared unethical by this code, regardless of whether the subordinate is a member of IPT.

Question 27

What is Canon 19

Answer 27

It is unethical to represent a client if such representation would be, or would risk being, adverse to the interest of another client unless each affected client gives informed, written consent to such representation.

Question 28

What is Canon 20

Answer 28

It is unethical to have, acquire, or seek a personal interest in a matter that is adverse to the interest of the client or employer.

Question 29

List all 20 IPT Ethics Canons in your own words.

Answer 29

1. No conduct that discredits the profession 2. Do not commit any crimes 3. Maintain the boundaries of agreed business relationships 4. Don't pretend to represent people 5. Do not disclose confidential information of your clients 6. Do not bribe officials 7. Do not bribe employees for recommendations 8. Do not accept referrals without prior disclosure 9. Do not promise specific results, or accept specific outcomes as a condition of a job 10. Do not perform frivolous appeals, refund requests, etc. 11. Maintain independent judgement 12. Do not use or provide knowingly faulty information 13. Do not lie about your qualifications 14. Do not make false representations in advertising 15. Do not use a client as a reference for promotion without their written consent 16. Do not claim IPT endorsement 17. Do not provide false information to IPT 18. Do not condone unethical behavior in your subordinates 19. If two clients would create a conflict of interests between them, you must have everyone's consent first 20. Do not seek personal benefits that would be to the detriment of the client

Question 30

What are the steps to submitting an ethics complaint?

Answer 30

1. Put the complaint into writing. 2. List all the details of the misconduct. 3. Include written evidence when possible. 4. Mail to the ethics committee in an envelope marked "confidential"