Efile on the last day

[NotEasy]

You efile a tax return for your client on 10/15/2008 and then you start your vacation on the next day. Two weeks later when you are back from vacation, you find the tax return has been rejected due to an efile technical error. You fix the error and re-efile it on Oct 30. Would the tax return be considered late?

[Lion]

Think So

Too busy to look it up, but I think it would be late. Don't you have only about five days to resubmit rejected returns? Or, is it longer? I remember either 20 October or 20 days! Better take your laptop along with you....

[veritas]

From IRS site

Too busy to look it up, but I think it would be late. Don't you have only about five days to resubmit rejected returns? Or, is it longer? I remember either 20 October or 20 days! Better take your laptop along with you....

http://www.irs.gov/taxpros/providers/article/0,,id=174255,00.html

[David1980]

Yes, late. Get your acknowledgments before you leave for vacation.

Also, you cannot efile on Oct 30th. So instead of doing a "reefile" of that return Oct 30th, you need to get out your stamps and mail the thing snailmail. You can re-efile through October 20th sometime (depends on software when the last drain is.)

You might also consider contacting your software company to determine when the return must be at the file center by in order to be timely filed. Drake I believe for example is 11:45PM October 15th. (Of course you could get it all done by 5PM and go home and not worry about it. )

[erchess]

Ok what am I missing?

Is this a "What if" scenario? My calendar says that it is Tuesday the 14th of October today. So in my opinion OP can't leave on that vacation without either getting the IRS and perhaps State Acks or taking with him whatever is necessary to keep tabs on the situation and either fix any errors from the road or return to fix them. For me it would be very simple since the only business computer I have is a laptop. If OP has an office with an internet enabled computer that he could sit in front of to do the work, and if he also has an internet capable laptop then there are ways to connect the two. The only fly in the ointment is that for this purpose he would probably want to take the trouble to use the laptop where its screen is not seen by anyone and where the connection is wired.

[NotEasy]

Is this a "What if" scenario? My calendar says that it is Tuesday the 14th of October today. So in my opinion OP can't leave on that vacation without either getting the IRS and perhaps State Acks or taking with him whatever is necessary to keep tabs on the situation and either fix any errors from the road or return to fix them. For me it would be very simple since the only business computer I have is a laptop. If OP has an office with an internet enabled computer that he could sit in front of to do the work, and if he also has an internet capable laptop then there are ways to connect the two. The only fly in the ointment is that for this purpose he would probably want to take the trouble to use the laptop where its screen is not seen by anyone and where the connection is wired.

First of all, I won't be able to finish the tax return before 10/15. To cut a long story short, I am still waiting for more information from the client. There is a good chance that I will only be able to efile the tax return but won't have the chance to wait for the acknowledgments to come back.

Also, I am not sure if I can use a laptop. The agreement says I can only install the tax program in one computer. So I am not sure if I am supposed to install the program in my laptop too. Therefore, I don't think I am going to do that.

[David1980]

Another alternative is to remote into your desktop using a service like logmein.com (free) or other method to remote control your work computer. Then you could log in to your normal computer from the laptop without breach of any licensing agreements. You just need to make sure to leave the work computer on, and be sure to test the connection from the laptop somewhere other than your office to make sure there are no problems with a firewall. All before you leave of course.

OR, just mail the return and forget about efiling. A paper filed return won't get an efile rejection.

[wv112]

Don't efile the return. Let the client take it to the post office and send it certified mail.

Then go on your vacation with a smile and no worries.

Hope you have a great time.

[erchess]

Yes

I think mailing in (which I generally discourage) is the way out in this scenario. Come to think of it tomorrow is the last day to efile so if it won't be ready then for whatever reason then there's no choice but to go paper.

[Black Bart]

Well...

...Also, I am not sure if I can use a laptop. The agreement says I can only install the tax program in one computer. So I am not sure if I am supposed to install the program in my laptop too...

if the program will let you load it onto another computer and the company doesn't know/care, then DON'T TELL THEM about it (I've got two Dells -- it works for me).

______________________
"Mark, the great trouble with you is...you will not submerge your principles in order to get yourself elected. You must learn that there are times when a man...is compelled to rise above his principles." -- Senator Ashurst of Arizona:1920 senatorial campaign advice to colleague Mark Smith

[S T]

Computers

My software allows me to load on more than one computer such as destop and portable however, I can not network computers without additional fees and have more than one user.

Since it seems the t/p can not furnish you with the info timely to process prior to 10/15, then I would have the t/p paper file the return, and have t/p be responsible for the timely filing.

Due to different issues with the IRS Service Centers since last Friday, I am having a terrible time receiving transmissions and acknowledgements. Transmissions have been delayed at Fresno, Austin and Philadelphia (for me), Martinsburg and Memphis have been down since Sunday and hopefully were back up early Tuesday. Not good timing on the IRS' part. Doesn't seem to be a Software/Efile provider issue, as Quick Alerts have been issued the last few days.

Today and the 15th the transmissions are going to be way overburdened, and I am not sure that I would like to take that chance.

Sandy

[taxea]

Efile on the last day

If my memory serves me correct the IRS will accept documentation that you attempted to efile prior to midnight on the 15th if it is their computers that cause the return not to get there.

I actually have it made. I wait until midnite CA time and then efile any returns I have. Nobody but little ole me and anyone else in Hawaii doing any filing by that time.

Here's a tip: If you expect that your client will be due a refund, or if he paid any tax owed by 4/15...there is no urgency to get it filed by the extension deadline. He can do a manual filing after you get back from vacation.
If it appears he will owe....email or fax him a voucher to put with his check (payment is late anyway). He can send the payment in without the return.taxea

[S T]

Well could be an issue

If t/p owes, and doesn't file by 10/15/08 won't t/p receive a late file penalty as well as lat payment penalty?

Also, if t/p doesn't file by 10/15/08 and could be eligible for the stimulus rebate, t/p would then have to wait until the 2008 filings in 2009.

I still say at this point, paper file, let the t/p be responsible for mailing, seems to be the safest for the tax preparer.

[taxea]

Efile on the last day

If client didn't make sufficient estimated payments or didn't have sufficient withholding and did not pay what "will be due" by 4/15..he is going to have late payment penalties anyway.
The extension is only for getting the paperwork in. It is not an extension to pay taxes due.

I do loads of extra work for my clients, especially answering questions all year long, that I don't charge them for. But, when it comes to the responsibility of getting the returns in on time I look at it this way:

The client is suppose to be an adult and is responsible for filing his/her return on time. I can only do so much. I have made it clear to my clients that I will not file a return that I know to be incomplete just to get it in on time. I do not stress when the client does not get documents to me. They are responsible for this part of the relationship so, I refuse to "own" their lack of responsibility.

Whenever someone says to me, "Oh, tax season you must be really stressed." My reply is, "I am very busy right now but, I don't stress, that's the client's job". taxea

[Gene V]

Another alternative is to remote into your desktop using a service like logmein.com (free) or other method to remote control your work computer. Then you could log in to your normal computer from the laptop without breach of any licensing agreements. You just need to make sure to leave the work computer on, and be sure to test the connection from the laptop somewhere other than your office to make sure there are no problems with a firewall. All before you leave of course.

OR, just mail the return and forget about efiling. A paper filed return won't get an efile rejection.

Thanks for the tip on the logmein program--I just try it--works great.
I might sign up for the logmein pro--still debating.