"mpally" <mpaluczak19[at]yahoo.com> wrote:

- quote -

Well make sure you do it right, and that you spell out the
engagement and get paid up front.

--
David M. Woods, EA, ChFC, CLU
Woods Financial Services
Norwood, MA 02062
www.woods-financial.com

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mpally <mpaluczak19[at]yahoo.com> wrote:

- quote -

It's very nice that you want to help out a friend, and I
beleive only Oregon and California require paid tax
preparers to be licensed.

The IRS Website www.irs.gov has prior year tax returns and
instructions. The instruictions contain the tax tables for
each year.

If there was no tax liability, there is no penalty or
interest, but get cracking! From what you decribe I can't
see why you would need software to turn out a fairly simple
set of 1040s.

1040As might work but, as a matter of principle, I picket
the 1040A. It's much easier to work with just a 1040. For
my VITA and sometimes TaxAide returns, I will occasionally
prepare an EZ when I'm trying to push someone to be more
self reliant, by giving them the pencil and W-2s and talking
them through preparing their own 1040EZ. Maybe next year
they will prepare their own.

__
Art Kamlet ArtKamlet [at] AOL.com Columbus OH K2PZH

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mpally wrote:

- quote -

Well, for starters, what was her income for each year since
1998? And if the IRS has sent her a letter re the 1999
return, and assuming she did not file such a return, was
this a substitute return made by IRS?

And for what year did she have the 20,000$ income? And was
her filing status consistent from 1999 forwards?

No, there's no reason to stay away from this situation,
UNLESS you detect something that (as we say) doesn't quite
past the smell test.

Anyway, she does need to get current with IRS asap, and if
you're confident that she intends to report all income, then
have at it.

If however that 1999 year involves a substitute return filed
by IRS, and their demands are based thereupon, you might
want to contact a local Enrolled Agent (EA) who specializes
in representation work for that issue, while you can
probably do just as well preparing the other returns, even
an amended return for 1999. I'm thinking, though, you need
a detailed breakdown of that 1999 data from IRS.

ChEAr$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

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- quote -

You can order TurboTax for 2000 - 2002 at
www.intuitestore.com/store/past_yeartaxproducts

You would have to contact Customer Service to find out if
1999 is still available. You can send them a message at
http://support.turbotax.com/turbotax...orm.other.html
or call 866-373-7820 Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Pacific time.

Note that the TurboTax license does not allow you to use it
to prepare returns as a paid preparer.

Bob Sandler
I have no connection with Intuit.

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paluczak19[at]yahoo.com (mpally) wrote:

- quote -

Check eBay. When I looked, they had all the years you're
after except 2001. Most at very cheap prices! If you keep
checking, it's likely that 2001 will come along. If not,
you can order it (at full price) from the publisher.

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- quote -

You likely would not need a program to prepare the return.
I suspect that the amount being charged may have to do with
a penalty for early distribution from a retirement plan. If
that is the case, there may be no relief from the penalty
tax no matter how many exemptions she has. Hopefully,
you'll find an exception to the penalty and find some relief
for the client. She may also have been eligible for an
earned income credit which, since her income was so low,
might be helpful in this case. Having said that, you may
download the forms & instructions for years dating back as
far as 1992 here:

http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/article...=98339,00.html

Sounds like a simple enough return that you shouldn't have to rely on a program
for help. It should be a snap!!!=

Hope this helps 'n' Good Luck!!=

"Jack" - John H. Fisher - TaxService[at]aol.com
Philadelphia, Pa - Atlantic City, NJ - West Wildwood, NJ
My Newsgroups & Boards at: http://members.aol.com/TaxService/index.html

Where Ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise!=

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I have someone who has not filed a 1040 since 1998. She
received a 30 day letter the other day regarding her 99
return, stating she owes a little over $3,000. She
basically just has a W-2 and a early withdraw from an IRA.
She says she still has her records from 99-03. I told her
that I would look it all over and possibly prepare her
returns for her. She has just under $20,000 of total income
and had two dependents living with her during that year. I
told her that it may work out that she owes no tax after
taking into consideration that she can file HOH and has 2
dependent exemptions. Basically, is there any reason I
should stay away from this situation? I am not a CPA, but I
am working on my master of taxation degree so I do have an
decent understading of tax law. Also, where can I get
software (Turbo Tax) for the years 99-02? Thanks for your
help.

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