NY needs money too!

[DonPriebe]

Gov. Patterson has proposed two new revenue measures ...

A $100 per year fee for paid preparers (don't know if this will be licensing with tests or just plain send in the cash), and

A $10 per return fee for paper filed NY returns

They have already shut down the out-of-state toll-free number for tax questions, stopped printing the comprehensive booklet that contained personal tax forms and instructions, stopped printing the tax return envelopes (oversize, since our simple form runs four pages plus a page for every two W2s), raised the price of the tax forms CD from $5.00 to $20.00, and turned off the "Where's My Refund" phone line until after April 15.

Note to Californians - Several years ago when NY didn't have the cash to pay for tax refunds, they didn't issue vouchers or any of that nonsense. They simply delayed the refunds utill they had the money.

[Bees Knees]

A $100 per year fee for paid preparers (don't know if this will be licensing with tests or just plain send in the cash)

The government ought to be paying us a fee for doing their job.

They are dependent upon tax professionals to figure out and enforce the maze of complex rules they impose on the public. Without our help, what kind of budget would they need to ensure everyone paid the correct tax?

[joanmcq]

I just got through with an AL audit for 2005 & 2006. apparently AL ran out of money after Katrina, and just sent audit notices instead of refunds. Then didn't actually get to (at least this client's audit) until 2008!

[WhiteOleander]

I just got through with an AL audit for 2005 & 2006. apparently AL ran out of money after Katrina, and just sent audit notices instead of refunds. Then didn't actually get to (at least this client's audit) until 2008!

Question is, are they making any money? Or just driving people crazy and spending extra funds for the audits?

[joanmcq]

They did reduce their refunds quite a bit. Excess EBE, reduced the casualty loss, some Sch C expenses. Taxpayer did find more mortgage interest...SBA disaster loss loan secured by the house, & a boat loan he didn't include. But just a ton of paper; both files + the excess are about 3 or 4 inches of paper.

[equinecpa]

Gov. Patterson has proposed two new revenue measures ...

A $100 per year fee for paid preparers (don't know if this will be licensing with tests or just plain send in the cash), and

A $10 per return fee for paper filed NY returns

They have already shut down the out-of-state toll-free number for tax questions, stopped printing the comprehensive booklet that contained personal tax forms and instructions, stopped printing the tax return envelopes (oversize, since our simple form runs four pages plus a page for every two W2s), raised the price of the tax forms CD from $5.00 to $20.00, and turned off the "Where's My Refund" phone line until after April 15.
.

As if it is not hard enough already to deal with NY Department of Taxation. I have a long outstanding issue that I've been trying to get resolved but am having an IMPOSSIBLE time with the NY State Dept of Taxation and getting through to the right person.

Endless wait times on hold only to be transferred to a line that doesn't get picked up, direct dial and guess what "we're not accepting calls at this time" . Just wonderful.