"Bernard S" <berni...[at]pacifier.com> wrote:

- quote -

Gee, sorry, I didn't have a return handy to look at. But
now I see it says "attach." There is nothing on the form or
in the instructions prohibiting one from stapling the W-2 to
the 1040. If there is a payment it explicitly says not to
attach it.

<< ================================================== ===== > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ================================================== ===== >

"Mike20878" <mrosen[at]gmail.com> wrote:
- quote -

You do not need to be almost positive. You can look and read
your return now and kmow for a certainty.

<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

Mark Bole <m...[at]pacbell.net> wrote:

- quote -

Some states don't want staples. But people use them anyway.

<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

"Mike20878" <mrosen[at]gmail.com> wrote:
- quote -

You do not need to be almost positive. You can look and read
your return now and kmow for a certainty.

<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

Mark Bole <m...[at]pacbell.net> wrote:

- quote -

Some states don't want staples. But people use them anyway.

<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

Mark Bole <m...[at]pacbell.net> wrote:
- quote -

We in California are very familiar with what taxing agencies
(the one in Sacramento) do with paper clipped forms. I
remember the many clients who got bills for additional taxes
owed in the exact amount of their withholding from one of
their W-2s. This is because the only way FTB knows how much
withholding an employee has is from the copy of the W-2
attached to his/her tax return. The guys who collect the
tax, EDD, don't tell FTB whose money it is until several
years later. IRS doesn't even get the state withholding.

A few years ago FTB got the brilliant idea to have us clip
the W-2s to the return since staples would foul up their
scanner readable format on the front page. All the tax pros
were livid and the new method only lasted 2 years. Without
staples FTB was losing not just the W-2s but the balance due
checks as well. FTB soon redesigned their front page to
allow for staples and we all went back to stapling. FTB went
back to losing W-2s just like they always did. Now we enter
the data on a special form with Federal and state employer
IDs and withholding, and don't attach any W-2s. We still
have to attach 1099s that have withholding though. Maybe
they will come up with another special form for those.

Meanwhile, I staple all the W-2s and 1099s with withholding
together and then staple them with at least 2 staples to the
front page of the 1040. IRS loss rate has been virtual nil.

Linda Dorfmont E.A., CFP, CSA

<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

Patty.St...[at]gmail.com wrote:

- quote -

I'm almost positive it says right on the 1040 to staple W-2s
to the form.

<< ================================================== ===== > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ================================================== ===== >

Patty.St...[at]gmail.com wrote:

- quote -

I file a paper return every year (I'll start efiling when
the dollar cost to me is zero) so, believing I know it all,
I don't read the instructions detailing how to attach, or
not attach, W-2s. Therefore, I staple the W-2s to the Form
1040. As for the check, I just put it in the envelope loose.
As for the payment voucher, they've always managed to cash
my check without one.

We will see how the IRS reacts to my cavalier attitude
towards staples in a year (this one) that I'm due a refund.

Regards,
the first Bill

<< ================================================== ===== > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ================================================== ===== >

Patty.Still[at]gmail.com wrote:

- quote -

Something somewhere actually says that? I've been stapling
W2 forms to tax returns (when necessary this day and age of
efiling) for years and years, and never had one rejected for
something so trivial.

Not to worry; they'll process the return without calling you
a "bad girl".

ChEAr$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

<< ================================================== ===== > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ================================================== ===== >

Patty.Still[at]gmail.com wrote:

- quote -

Paper clips? The instructions for Form 1040 only use the
word "attach". What instructions are you referring to?

-Mark Bole

<< ================================================== ===== > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ================================================== ===== >

<Patty.Still[at]gmail.com> wrote

- quote -

Staple the W-2's and 1099's to your return and get it mailed
in. Some states require that you paper clip the return
together, but what's the worst case scenario, they send you
a notice that you're a baaaaad person for doing so.

"Psssst. Hey bud, whatcha in for?" "I'm doing 3 to 5 for
stapling my return together." None of the cons will mess
with you after they hear that.

FYI: The cutsy pictures of how to fasten the documents to
the return has their W-2 on top, doesn't it. Sounds like
marketing instead of law. You actually don't have to place
their W-2 on top of all the other W-2's.

--
Paul A. Thomas, CPA
Athens, Georgia

<< ================================================== ===== > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ================================================== ===== >

- quote -

"My way" used to be a paperclip.

--
Best regards
Han
email address is invalid

<< ================================================== ===== > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ================================================== ===== >

I hadn't filed a paper return in years and years, but I had
to this year - ack! The instructions on how attach the W2s,
etc., were printed on the back of the "big" W2: there was a
tiny line drawing of a large rectangle (the return), then
there a couple of smaller rectangles, which were laid
horizontally. Okay, I can figure that out, but HOW do you
attach them? In the very fine print, under the cute little
drawings, it said, "Do not staple or tape the forms...
attach them the agency's way." I looked all over the web,
and read, online, everything that MIGHT tell me how to
attach these little rectanges, "the agencies way." I'm going
to sleep, and call my friends at the IRS later this morning.
Oh, and will definitely check on the forbidden "staples and
tape." I know that everyone will be SOOOO happy to find out
this wonderful info! How I adore tax time! Yeah, right.

Patty

<< ================================================== ===== > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ================================================== ===== >