Stimulus phone number/website?

[Black Bart]

Anybody happen to know if there is or will be some IRS place to click or call and find out whether somebody got a stimulus payment last year -- and, if so, how much?

[taxea]

I believe that the stimulus payment site at the IRS already provides that info.taxea

[JohnH]

According to the Digital Daily, the lookup was not supposed to be available after Dec 28, 2008. Apparently somebody at IRS didn't get the memo, because it still works today. In any event, I'm assuming that they will have some means of verifying the amount before tax season gets into full swing.

[David1980]

If I try the link it says it is unavailable until Jan. 5th.

Er, this is a bit more conclusive.

Likewise, you can figure and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2008 Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ. Two interactive online tools will be available to help you with the calculation: The Recovery Rebate Credit Calculator and How Much Was My 2008 Stimulus Payment?

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=186065,00.html?portlet=6

[taxea]

Stimulus phone number/website?

Far as I am concerned it is the client's responsibility to provide me with the letter from the IRS that came with their check. If they want me to research it it will cost them $25. for internet research.taxea

[erchess]

taxea

What do you do when they say "I don't have the letter but I got so much and only that. I'm willing to put that in writing over my signature. I want my return prepared that way and I'm not going to pay you to do research and verify what I am telling you. And by the way no you don't get to see my records for anything but only my written summary and the documents that I was given such as W2s and 1099s."?

The reason I ask is that over the years that has been the attitude of over half my clients and I started in the business with first one firm and then another and both were willing to take that attitude from a client. In fact I would say that they encouraged it.

[Lion]

That's why I'm out on my own

Well, first of all, I didn't have to prepare returns for those clients, even if they stayed within the firm. But, I eventually had enough of the big corporation and left. One of the reasons was so I don't have to service clients with attitude. You should do what feels right for you. I personally don't audit my clients' records. However, I ask lots of questions. If something doesn't ring true, I request backup documentation.

With the rebate a few years back, I'd check my clients on-line before they came in. By checking the clients for the next day before I left my computer for the night before, I was prepared with minimal time lost. Build it into your fees, just the way you include proofreading time without separately stating it on your invoices.

[JohnH]

For many of my clients, I already have the info. If they called or emailed asking about the rebate, if I had time I'd often check the web site and email the results page to them, or tell them the results while they were on the phone. Then I'd print a copy and place it in their file for reference in 2009. If there was a problem or if follow-up was needed, I'd suggest that they call the number listed on the "Where's My Rebate" page.

I will do the follow-up for those in 2009 who don't remember how much of a rebate they received, and I will probably charge for it, but the cost will be folded into the overall fee rather than a separate line item. For those who qualify for the full or additional rebate on their 2008 form, I plan to charge for that calculation.

[Redneck]

Link

Here is a link to what probably will be where you would go to find out your rebate, but it's not available until Jan 5, 2009.

http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=185471,00.html

[Lion]

Thanx

Thank you for that link. I just bookmarked it to start using 5 January 2009. I think I'll post it on my company web site also.

[erchess]

Wrong Stimulus Amount

Does anyone know what will happen to an E-filed return that has the wrong stimulus payment amount listed? Will it matter whether the return gives a figure that is more or less than the IRS Figure? Also does anyone have any idea what percentage of the time the IRS Figure will actually be incorrect? (I realize that if money was taken out of the check for some reason then the client will wrongly perceive that the IRS figure is incorrect but that is not what I am talking about.)

I would be particularly interested in whether there has been IRS guidance as to what constitutes due diligence with respect to a client's stimulus amount. My overall philosophy is that since I am not an auditor I do not ask clients to prove to me what they tell me except to the extent necessary for me to stay out of trouble. Newly this year I am going to ask them to give me the important numbers in some written form and if they give me something such as my organizer that they have prepared I will ask that they sign it. I will be scanning all this into my computer.

[ecb34691]

Several years ago with the additional child tax credit (remember?) IRS didn't reject, just had a reject code to "warn the ERO" and made the adjustment on the refund, etc.

Since the IRS look up takes about 30 seconds, I can't see adding an additional $25 for internet research to the cost of the return. That makes his hourly rate at $3,000/hr.

[taxea]

I can't prepare the return without the information so contact the IRS and have them provide you with documentation of what you received. I have a license to protect,certain items on the return require paper documentation, this is one of them.

Or you have the option of having your return filed elsewhere and possibly be subject to an audit in the future. Just let me know what you decide.

That is my response. taxea

[JohnH]

Sounds like you're getting ready to do a little house cleaning on your client list.

[Brad Imsdahl]

The 2008 WebCD has a direct link from the Home Page to the IRS site that tells you what your client got for a stimulus payment. You are there in just two clicks. I just tested it to see how long it takes. From my desktop, the time it takes to click on the WebCD icon to the time it takes to see the stimulus payment amount takes 22 seconds.

I do not plan on even talking about this with my clients. Every return I do, I will simply use the WebCD link to get the amount IRS says they got and enter it into the program. 22 seconds is not worth wasting any time with the client, nor is it worth making it a big deal with the client acting like we will have to charge them extra to look it up for them.