You seem to be conflating two different issues -- using
e-file and using tax prep software. Thq question of whether
to use e-file to avoid IRS errors is orthogonal to the
question of whether to use tax preparation software because
it makes filing taxes easier and avoids *filer* errors.

The IRS's error rate in the transcription of tax returns is
very low. There are numerous safeguards in place to prevent
errors, including (from my understanding) every return being
keyed twice by two different people and cross-checked, and
the mathematical relations between various form lines being
checked as well. As someone else has pointed out, most
filers go through their lives without ever having to deal
with an IRS transcription error, and in the rare cases when
it does come up, it is easy to resolve. The IRS catches
math and copying errors introduced by filers far more often
than it introduces errors of its own.

- quote -

Again, you are conflating two very different issues. I've
been using tax prep software to do my taxes for almost
twenty years, but I'd never use e-file if I had to pay for
it; indeed, I use Federal e-file with TurboTax because I get
a rebate, but not State e-file because I don't. I agree with
the sentiment that others have expressed, that I shouldn't
have to pay money to make the IRS's job easier. Besides
that, to me there is pretty much no advantage in using
e-file. I have a good laser printer at home, so I can print
out clear, clean forms to mail in. I always finish my taxes
far enough before April 15 that I don't have to get a
receipt from the post office to prove that I mailed them --
there's time enough for the check to clear or the refund to
show up in my bank account before April 15, and if it
doesn't, I can resubmit the forms.

<< ================================================== ===== > << The foregoing is intended for educational purposes only > << and does NOT constitute legal OR professional advice. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ================================================== ===== >

I understood that there were - often times - problems when
transferring the printed information of a filed paper tax
return that could not happen when an electronic filing was
used. This concerned the folks at an IRS office and not the
actual tax preparer.

After having been in the education profession for over 30
years, I cannot help but feel that most people just
naturally are not overly diligent about following directions
or in transferring numbers from one printed source to
another source.

It would seem to me that being able to download W-2s and
interest information directly from one's place of employment
and investment sources, makes tax software worth the expense
for users with these problems.

Personally, I find tax preparation more fun when using tax
software.

I also feel that I am able to do my taxes myself (and not
miss new tax laws or forms) because I am lead through the
process by answering questions and getting to the needed
information I require.

I know I do not make as many mathematical and transference
of data errors when I use (for instance) TurboTax each year.

My belief is that many people may have similar views to mine
when tax season rolls around. Tax software and electronic
filing fees - as long as the costs are reasonable - are not
real issues. Our pride and training are not about tax laws
nor can we excel to the consistent level of accounting
accuracy that a "good" tax professional achieves.

Many folks need all the help we can get when paying (and not
over-paying) the IRS. Plus, I want to keep this annual
process easy, fun, accurate, and honest.

Thanks,
Tom

<< ================================================== ===== > << The foregoing is intended for educational purposes only > << and does NOT constitute legal OR professional advice. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ================================================== ===== >

"T. Willi" <tomson[at]adelpspamhia.net> wrote:

- quote -

I just got back from business travel so there may be some
replies I have not looked at. If this was a worry I would
never use TT. I am a mathatician by degree and training. I
use TT for TAX info and importation of Quicken data which I
check by hand with various reports. I am very anal with
this. There should be no difference between the electronic
filing accuracy and the paper accuracy of the return. At
least with the paper filing I know what data goes to the
IRS.

dennis

<< ================================================== ===== > << The foregoing is intended for educational purposes only > << and does NOT constitute legal OR professional advice. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ================================================== ===== >

"Victor Roberts" <xxx[at]lighting-research.com> wrote:

- quote -

should the irs make available on its website for free
continuosusly updated copies of the law it uses in arriving
at decisions (e.g. the entire internal revenue code,
treasury department regulations, court cases, etc.) or are
they already there on the irs website?

if not, but they add them to the irs website, what will
services like cch etc. do? go out of business?

<< ================================================== ===== > << The foregoing is intended for educational purposes only > << and does NOT constitute legal OR professional advice. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ================================================== ===== >

I don't believe any taxpayer should pay for e-filing just to
help the IRS. If the IRS thinks that e-filing reduces their
costs they should make it available for free. If the
taxpayer feels that e-filing has a particular advantage to
them, then they can choose to pay extra to e-file.

--
Vic Roberts
Replace xxx with vdr in e-mail address.

<< ================================================== ===== > << The foregoing is intended for educational purposes only > << and does NOT constitute legal OR professional advice. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ================================================== ===== >

T. Willi wrote:

- quote -

It's a good scam! Force people to pay MORE so that they can
ensure that the workers DO their job correctly! Sort of
like paying extra for a "registered" letter since you can't
trust the Post Office to deliver 'normal' mail.

I will never file electronically if I have to pay extra (or
not have the ability to have my fees waived via a credit)
for a service that is (unfairly) given to others at no cost.

Regards -

- Andrew

<< ================================================== ===== > << The foregoing is intended for educational purposes only > << and does NOT constitute legal OR professional advice. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ================================================== ===== >

"T. Willi" <tomson[at]adelpspamhia.net> wrote:

- quote -

Huh? Printing changes the accuracy of a return? How can
that happen?

I have never seen a figure change or fall off a printed page
in the mail either.

- quote -

If you mean that some key-punch operator at the IRS might
make a mistake transferring the printed data into the IRS
computer -- so what? That's an IRS error and if it should
happen it is easily resolved at no cost to me.

In 50 years of filing paper returns that has never happened.
I can see no reason to spend more than postage to send the
forms to the IRS (and the State).

--
-Ernie-

"There are only two kinds of computer users -- those who have
suffered a catastrophic hard drive failure, and those who will."
Have you done your backup today?

<< ================================================== ===== > << The foregoing is intended for educational purposes only > << and does NOT constitute legal OR professional advice. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ================================================== ===== >

Dennis, what about the possible loss of your return's
accuracy caused by printing-and-mailing it over electronic
filing your income information?

THAT alone, would make me easily decide to file
electronically costs rebated or not!

Tom

<< ================================================== ===== > << The foregoing is intended for educational purposes only > << and does NOT constitute legal OR professional advice. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ================================================== ===== >

"Dennis G. Rears" <drears[at]runningpagespam.org.lga.highwinds-media.com> writes:

- quote -

You can't completely generalize this.... Different TurboTax
SKUs have different pricing structures. For example, I've
been able to download my state's module for free for the
past several years directly from the TurboTax Web site, and
I've also gotten my Federal eFile fee refunded for the past
several years. This year it appears that both of those
continue to be true for the TurboTax SKU that I bought. The
fact that I bought TurboTax directly from Intuit with
AutoRenew appears to be relevant. Here's what it says on
the Federal eFile rebate form: "Offer valid only for
customers who purchase TurboTax 2005 direct from Intuit on
or before 10/15/05..."

<< ================================================== ===== > << The foregoing is intended for educational purposes only > << and does NOT constitute legal OR professional advice. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ================================================== ===== >

In previous years, TT would charge for the state Tax Return
and Electronic filing but would eventually rebate those fees
to the purchaser. This year the state return was a freebie
and electronic filing is a fee with no rebate. This will be
my first year since I started using TT (2000) that I will
not be electronically filing. I will print the forms and
use a 39 cent stamp to mail rather than pay a $9.95 or
$14.95 fee.

I am getting a small federal refund ( <$500) and even
smaller NJ state (<$90.00) refund. In previous years it was
worth paying the fees and doing the rebate shuffle. Now why
bother? The IRS has goals for electronic filing and I think
this change in policy is going to negatively impact
electronic filings.

Comments...

dennis

P.S. I am separately sending this to
alt.comp.software.financial.quicken and misc.taxes.moderated...

<< ================================================== ===== > << The foregoing is intended for educational purposes only > << and does NOT constitute legal OR professional advice. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ================================================== ===== >