may owe taxes this year (rant)

[Andara Bledin]

My info is at least a decade out of date, but:
1) Nope. As far as I know, if you can pass the class, you were in.

2) They didn't keep track of who came back. You had to take (and pay for) the class every year.

3) Nobody watched anybody, really. The preparers would do whatever the location manager would let them, and then all of the grueling work (like making sure things were done correctly) was dumped on the checkers, who had to pass the same class, but didn't make any of the commission. I can't tell you how often my mom would come home to bitch about a few of the preparers at her location who couldn't even use an adding machine. her biggest rants were about the one woman who was charging triple the base rate and who did about twice as many different forms as necessary for the extra fees.

^-.-^

[taxguykarl]

OMG! If that is typical of their franchises today, I can see how that sort of thing could happen. It's almost a wonder that it doesn't happen more often. OTOH, that would explain why I get an ex-Green Square customer every other week.

[Rosakala]

Oh we have and will deny someone a payment plan if they are planning on paying too little or they should be able to liquidate assests to pay. (that last bit typically falls under the people who make way too much freaking money but won't pay)

There are certain criteria that must be met, which I am sad to say I actually cannot say, but the majority of people I've run into tend to overestimate the smallest amount we'll accept for them.

And we are actually looking into regulating paid prepares to prevent those sort of instances taxguykarl. Nothing has been set in stone, but you've probably heard rumors of it by now. Some paid preparers do know their stuff. Others just want their money and do whatever is necessary to get it. Sadly I tend to deal with the repercussions from the people who went to the last type and I feel bad when its some little old lady who just doesn't understand.

[MadMike]

My last retail job took the correct amount of federal and local taxes, but for some reason did not take out any state taxes. Yeah, I should have paid better attention, but I was young and didn't really know about these things.

Thankfully, I had only been there about six months, and I didn't make a whole lot of money there, so I didn't owe that much.

[taxguykarl]

Oh we have and will deny someone a payment plan if they are planning on paying too little or they should be able to liquidate assests to pay. (that last bit typically falls under the people who make way too much freaking money but won't pay)

There are certain criteria that must be met, which I am sad to say I actually cannot say...

Best I can tell the criteria seems to be: The plan pays off the balance within the next couple of years.

More than once I've helped clients adjust their W-4 withholding and gave a deduction shopping list (as well as a value guide to clean closets) so that they get a refund the next year, which is of course automatically applied to any outstanding balance.

And we are actually looking into regulating paid prepares to prevent those sort of instances taxguykarl. Nothing has been set in stone, but you've probably heard rumors of it by now. Some paid preparers do know their stuff. Others just want their money and do whatever is necessary to get it.

By 'we' I presume you mean the IRS. Yes, I've read the press releases. This is unlikely to be an inconvenience as our FO already requires continuing ed to get re-hired for the next season. If I can apply that continuing ed to satify the upcoming regs, fine by me.