Robin
Waldron,#2Consumer Suggestion
Tue, June 17, 2003
Ouch! You in no way indicated in your first post that you were advocating for someone else or that you are a tax preparer. I thought this had happened to you. You are correct; taxes should be discussed if the taxpayer has questions. Then an UNSIGNED original of the forms should be delivered to the taxpayer, along with a copy for their records. All supporting documents should be returned (still better to take copies in the first place). Taxpayers should NEVER NEVER NEVER sign and leave a tax form with a preparer to be mailed; it has happened in the past that preparers have had refunds delivered directly to themselves rather than to the taxpayer! The taxpayer should sign the original documents and transport them to the post office themselves, with as much care as if they were transporting the Holy Grail. It is a resposibility issue; as much as I like and trust my own accountant, I am the one who goes down if these are not mailed. If you have other arrangements with your clientele, fine, but there may be some liability on your part should something go awry. I just feel more secure knowing that I have done what I know is supposed to be done. Since you are trying to help your friend, I would suggest a discreet call on her behalf directly to the IRS. They have busted unscrupulous tax preparers in the past. I hope that you have also filed an extension for her to keep her out of trouble until this can be straightened out. The IRS really frowns on tax scammers and the world is full of them. Verify that a refund has not already been sent out to someone that was intended for your friend... I did not intend to take issue with you or offend you. Good luck and I hope that you are able to help.
KATHERINE
GASTONIA,#3Author of original report
Mon, June 16, 2003
BUT I HAVE BEEN DOING TAXES SINCE 1989... THIS WAS NOT ME WHO GOT RIPPED OFF.. I WAS JUST TRYING TO HELP AN OLD LADY THAT IS A FRIEND OF MINE...I KNOW HOW TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO GET TAXES DONE...BUT IF YOU GIVE YOUR TAXES TO SOMEONE TO FILE FOR YOU ARENT THEY SUPPOSE TO GIVE YOU COPIES BACK WITH YOUR SIGNATURE ON THEM THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO KEEP YOUR PAPERS ARE THEY???THIS WAS DONE BEFORE THE TAXES WAS EVEN FILED !!!!ARENT THEY SUPPOSE TO GO OVER EVERYTHING WITH YOU ON YOUR TAXES SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THEM???THAT WAS NOT EVEN DONE !!THAT IS WHAT I DO WHEN I DO TAXES AND I GIVE THEM BACK TO YOU ON THE SAME DAY.....WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT??? YOUR RIGHT IT IS OUR THE TAX PAYERS RESPONSIBILITY TO GET OUR OWN TAXES DONE... BUT NOT TO GET RIPPED OFF BEFORE OUR TAXES ARE EVEN FILED... YOU KNOW THOSE TAXES STILL HAVENT BEEN FILED!!!
Robin
Waldron,#4Consumer Suggestion
Wed, May 28, 2003
I can see that you are really upset with this "accountant", but you are forgetting that YOU are ultiimately resonsible for your own tax returns. It is every taxpayer's responsibility to verify all info on the forms and make sure it is correct before signing the forms. If there are errors, the taxpayer, not the preparer, takes the fall (unless there has been gross fraud on the part of the preparer). That does not seem to be the case here. Never take original documents to your preparer; use copies. Only your W-2's should be originals. Make it a point to find out if copies of your returns are kept in your preparer's office, a real help should your house be destroyed. Always get paper documents (unless your return is VERY simple; then use e-file if you like). Take the documents home and look them over carefully. Check for mistakes. Sign them and mail them YOURSELF. I hate to say this, but in the world of the IRS, YOU are at fault for not making sure that your returns are filed. You are taking a big chance trusting anyone but yourself in this case.
Robin
Waldron,#5Consumer Suggestion
Wed, May 28, 2003
I can see that you are really upset with this "accountant", but you are forgetting that YOU are ultiimately resonsible for your own tax returns. It is every taxpayer's responsibility to verify all info on the forms and make sure it is correct before signing the forms. If there are errors, the taxpayer, not the preparer, takes the fall (unless there has been gross fraud on the part of the preparer). That does not seem to be the case here. Never take original documents to your preparer; use copies. Only your W-2's should be originals. Make it a point to find out if copies of your returns are kept in your preparer's office, a real help should your house be destroyed. Always get paper documents (unless your return is VERY simple; then use e-file if you like). Take the documents home and look them over carefully. Check for mistakes. Sign them and mail them YOURSELF. I hate to say this, but in the world of the IRS, YOU are at fault for not making sure that your returns are filed. You are taking a big chance trusting anyone but yourself in this case.
Robin
Waldron,#6Consumer Suggestion
Wed, May 28, 2003
I can see that you are really upset with this "accountant", but you are forgetting that YOU are ultiimately resonsible for your own tax returns. It is every taxpayer's responsibility to verify all info on the forms and make sure it is correct before signing the forms. If there are errors, the taxpayer, not the preparer, takes the fall (unless there has been gross fraud on the part of the preparer). That does not seem to be the case here. Never take original documents to your preparer; use copies. Only your W-2's should be originals. Make it a point to find out if copies of your returns are kept in your preparer's office, a real help should your house be destroyed. Always get paper documents (unless your return is VERY simple; then use e-file if you like). Take the documents home and look them over carefully. Check for mistakes. Sign them and mail them YOURSELF. I hate to say this, but in the world of the IRS, YOU are at fault for not making sure that your returns are filed. You are taking a big chance trusting anyone but yourself in this case.
Robin
Waldron,#7Consumer Suggestion
Wed, May 28, 2003
I can see that you are really upset with this "accountant", but you are forgetting that YOU are ultiimately resonsible for your own tax returns. It is every taxpayer's responsibility to verify all info on the forms and make sure it is correct before signing the forms. If there are errors, the taxpayer, not the preparer, takes the fall (unless there has been gross fraud on the part of the preparer). That does not seem to be the case here. Never take original documents to your preparer; use copies. Only your W-2's should be originals. Make it a point to find out if copies of your returns are kept in your preparer's office, a real help should your house be destroyed. Always get paper documents (unless your return is VERY simple; then use e-file if you like). Take the documents home and look them over carefully. Check for mistakes. Sign them and mail them YOURSELF. I hate to say this, but in the world of the IRS, YOU are at fault for not making sure that your returns are filed. You are taking a big chance trusting anyone but yourself in this case.