I picked up the Wiley Tax Preparer book hoping it would be a handy guide for navigating tax season, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The first thing I noticed was that this is the 2013 edition, which immediately raised red flags given how much tax laws have changed over the past decade.

As I flipped through the pages, I realized many of the rules and guidelines mentioned no longer apply to the current Form 1040. It's frustrating to invest time in a resource only to find out it's outdated and unreliable. The book might have been useful back in 2013, but today, it's more of a historical artifact than a practical tool.

I tried using it to cross-reference some basic tax concepts, but I kept second-guessing whether the information was still valid. This constant doubt made the book more of a hindrance than a help. If you're looking for an up-to-date tax guide, this isn't it—save your money for a current edition or consult online resources instead.

One positive note: if you're training preparers and want to show how tax laws have evolved, this could serve as a comparison tool. But for actual tax preparation in 2023? It's practically useless.