sethb[at]panix.com (Seth Breidbart) writes:

- quote -

Assuming that the child meets the other four dependency
tests, no, there's no fraud.

- quote -

Perhaps, but passing out blank forms with the expectation
that they'll be signed blank is beyond the ethical pale to
me.

I remember thinking when I read the OP that if this jerk
would game his wife this way, why wouldn't he game me? I
wouldn't want to have anything to do with him.

Phil Marti
Topeka, KS

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

Nan Eklund <naneklund[at]aol.com> wrote:

- quote -

It seems like there are two semi-independent issues here.

1. Getting his wife to sign blank forms so she doesn't see
what's on the final return.

2. Taking his girlfriend as a dependent.

Presumably, he can take his child by his girlfriend as a
dependent legally. If he doesn't attempt to take his
girlfriend, is there still fraud involved?

It's certainly common for people to sign tax returns without
knowing what they contain. How many accountants on April
15th require their clients to demonstrate understanding of
the returns before turning them over to be filed?

Seth

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

If he's a "client" then you have a profession to lose - from
charges of fraud. All he can lose is some illegal refund
money. You can lose your livlihood.

Nan, EA in LA

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

Kerry wrote:

- quote -

Just when you think you've heard them all.........

I wouldn't worry at all about your exposure. You know what
he's thinking of doing, and if you can't dissuade him, don't
do the return. Anyway, what form would his wife sign? A
blank 1040? Or a valid POA that would allow him to file the
return and sign according to the POA?

I wouldn't touch this one with a ten foot pole.

Cheer$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

kerry[at]nospam.com says...

- quote -

Do you want to be a party in the divorce proceedings? I'd
check with a local lawyer on this one.

Gary

--
You can probably X figure out X which letters to X delete to
derive my email address X.

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

kerry[at]nospam.com (Kerry) writes:

- quote -

I don't see how you can stop him. Surely you're not
considering having anything more to do with him, so I can't
see any problem for you. You might want to be a nice person
and point out to him that the girlfriend fails the
relationship/household test so he can't legally claim her as
a dependent. If his wife is stupid enough to sign blank tax
forms that's her problem.

Phil Marti
Topeka, KS

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

Client called today with an unusual problem. He owns
apartment complexs. In 2002 he moved his girlfriend into
one of the apartments. They had a child in early 2003.
She was not employed in 2003, but she is working on some
projects for him (whatever that means). He was her sole
support. He also has a wife and three dependent children.

So he called me to ask for all forms that require his
wife's signature so that he can have her sign the blank
forms and take his girlfriend and their child as dependents
w/o his wife knowing about it.

What is my exposure if I let him do this?

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->