DORFMONT[at]aol.com wrote:

- quote -

See, I'd rather pay Lacerte than go through the headache of filing
online. The year Oklahoma offered free online filing, it took me 2
hours to get my (mostly simple) return done. Except that I couldn't get
it to match the version I'd done in 15 minutes in Lacerte, no matter how
hard I tried.

Phoebe

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DORFMONT[at]aol.com <DORFMONT[at]aol.com> wrote:

- quote -

AARP Tax-Aide sites serve any low- to moderate-income
taxpayer with a reasonably straight-forward return. There is
no restriction as to age, AARP membership, etc.

IRS, which provides much support to Tax-Aide, enforces a
non-discrimination policy.

Karl Pearson, Tax-Aide Coordinator

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DORFMONT[at]aol.com wrote:

- quote -

Wait a minute; let me get this straight now.

hmmmm.. you mean......
you're going to do a "pro bono" schedule c return?

On another tangent however, around these parts VITA people
do not do any shedule c, e, or f, or complicated d's.

ChEAr$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA
Sun 30 Jan 2005

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wrote:

- quote -

I've been teaching both the VITA and AARP-TaxAide volunteers
in Central Ohio for a few years, and the IRS-furnished text
says not to even try a Schedule C. A C-EZ is allowed
though.

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

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My client's son is 37 years old, a part time student and
part time web designer who still lives at home with his
parents. He wants me to work on his Sch. C since I can get
all those deductions that a VITA volunteer would not think
of. He's too young for AARP and there are no VITA sites in
his neighborhood. He doesn't make enough money even before I
tackle the Sch. C to pay for my running his return through
Lacerte. I'll keep trying the free sites online. If I have
to I can do it by hand. (Yes, I am that old.)

Linda Dorfmont E.A., CFP, CSA

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Karl Pearson wrote:
- quote -

And they do a rather good job so I've heard. One of our
own on this board is a long time helper.

Now, when a senior goes for AARP help, does the preparer go
through all the possibilities and explore options, such as
contributing to an IRA in order to minimize tax and maximize
the RIC? And does that person know how to transfer IRA
assets from one spouse to another (short of dying)?

Will the person be counseled in how to bunch up deductions
in alternate years?

Just some thoughts and questions.

ChEAr$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA
Wed 26 Jan 2005

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DORFMONT[at]aol.com wrote:

- quote -

Just goes to show ya; ain't no thing as a free lunch.

ChEAr$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA
Wed 26 Jan 2005

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The list of 3rd party firms is larger this year.
And there is one that doesnt have an income ceiling,
where most charge after you make above $30-$40K.
Since I havent tried many of them, I cant vouch for
quality and completeness. At least one seems identical
to its commercial version.

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DORFMONT[at]aol.com <DORFMONT[at]aol.com> wrote:

- quote -

Just as a gentle reminder: free tax preparation and e-filing
service for both federal and state income taxes, for
reasonably straight-forward returns, are available through
local AARP Tax-Aide, TCE, and VITA sites - and you get
assistance from reasonably knowledgeable volunteers, too.

You can find a local Tax-Aide site by calling 1-888-227-7669
or going to www.aarp.org/taxaide

Karl Pearson, AARP Tax-Aide District Coordinator

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Free filing is available at the FTB website but only if you
pay for the Federal return. Same is true of Federal free
filing. The providers want to charge for the State return.
I've tried to file both free using the government providers
but it just isn't possible.

Linda Dorfmont E.A.,CFP, CSA

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- quote -

The IRS does not prepare the tax return. You prepare your
tax return using the tax prep web site of TurboTax, H&R
Block, TaxACT, or one of the other participating companies.

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- quote -

I thought this was available at the FTB web site.

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- quote -

For a couple of years the State of Oklahoma offered free
state and federal e-filing using Turbo Tax Web. Alas, they
no longer do so...

--
John Goulden

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I have used the "free" filing services of H&R Block for the
past 2 years for the son of one of my clients. The second
year I tried to go into their site with the same user ID and
they tried to charge me for the service. I changed the user
ID and started from scratch. Filing for CA is impossible for
free. The services are only available if you pay for the
Federal filing. There is no such thing as a free lunch or
tax return online.

Linda Dorfmont E.A., CFP, CSA

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- quote -

A good segment of our society does not trust the IRS. In
fact, many probably have a strong disdain for the IRS! I
think only those who are eternally gullible would allow the
IRS to prepare their tax return. HOWEVER, I must say that
the IRS recalculated my income one year to give me the
Earned Income Credit even though I didn't figure it into my
tax return! I got a bigger refund than I expected, but this
does NOT mean one should blindly turn their tax liability
over to the peoople who are demanding it!

Jennifer DeBoer

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- quote -

Speaking as a long-time lurker and taxpayer (but not a CPA),
I don't see what y'all are worried about. People like me
efile because our tax situation is relatively
straightforward and efiling is a just more convenient way to
get it done. If I didn't know how to do my taxes myself (and
that day is rapidly approaching) these services wouldn't be
that helpful and I'd be at your door.

--
John Goulden

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"William Brenner" <wjbjr[at]webtv.net> wrote:

- quote -

In all fairness to the subject, shouldn't the qualifiers for
"free" e-filing be discussed?

"Each company sets its own criteria for free usage."

That may cut many folks out.

"There can be various levels set by each provider."

Wonder what that means?

"The government hasn't established a hard set of rules that
must be followed, or else."

So what dangers might that entail?

" Each provider can change their criteria at will."

Look out.

"The criteria varies but often is based on income, state
residency and age."

i.e. It may be "free" to some, but guard your personal data
and look out for bait-and-switch when you get into the
details.

ak

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William Brenner wrote:

- quote -

Course I won't shoot you, but I won't buy you a drink,
either! lol

Nothing new; they did this last year.

It's the trend of the times, and I'm not shocked or mad, or
anything. it's a tough world out there anyway. We must
adapt. And move on. And compete.

ChEAr$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA
Fri 21 Jan 2005

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Professional tax preparers among us will be delighted to
learn that the IRS, in conjunction with fifteen tax software
providers, has arranged for and is touting free -- yes free
-- internet preparation and e-filing of 2004 federal
individual tax returns. State returns will be done for a
small charge. The stated purpose is to boost e-filing
numbers.

For details, see the irs.gov home page.

And please, please, don't shoot the messenger.

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