Individual Tax Preparers - Code of Ethics, Notification of Actions, Enforcement, and Penalties (Stop Scam Tax Preparers Act)

This bill establishes a formal code of ethics and rules of professional conduct for individual tax preparers in Maryland, requiring the State Board to publish these standards on its website by January 1, 2026. It strengthens enforcement by mandating that the Board notify the Comptroller and the Field Enforcement Bureau within five business days of any disciplinary actions or alleged violations, while also granting Bureau employees peace officer powers to enforce tax preparation laws. Additionally, the legislation allows the Board to seek court injunctions against violators without the usual requirement to prove irreparable harm or post a bond, and it directs fines collected under the act to a fund supporting free tax clinics for low-income residents.