dishonest tax preparers - Judge Judy

[oceanlovin'ea]

Davc

You are funny! Of course, I meant that the person only knew one person who had an account at that bank.

Linda. EA

[taxmom34]

I saw that episode of judge judy too. and wondered how the IRS put all these refunds of other people into the defendant's child's savings account.

[solomon]

I had problems registering, and spoke to a rep. I told them that the problem might have been with my address for tax filing, being different from my home office address at my guesthouse. She told me that it was only about whether or not the 64.25 had been paid, they didn't consider anything else!!!!!! So that told me that registration is probably just a money thing, and won't weed out the dishonest people!!!!!!!!!

My reference to registration was becoming a registered tax preparer by taking the future competency test - as well as a couple other posts. That is, applying for a PTIN is not synonymous with a registered tax preparer.

[Super Mom]

I don't think that licensing the tax preparers will weed out the dishonest ones. Do you?

I had problems registering, and spoke to a rep. I told them that the problem might have been with my address for tax filing, being different from my home office address at my guesthouse. She told me that it was only about whether or not the 64.25 had been paid, they didn't consider anything else!!!!!! So that told me that registration is probably just a money thing, and won't weed out the dishonest people!!!!!!!!!

[DTS]

My wife was watching this episode and called me in to see it. After some prodding from the judge, the defendent confessed it was her sister was the one who prepared the return for the plaintiff. Quite a close-knit little group they have going.

[Davc]

The only person who had an account at that bank was the "friend" who prepared the taxes.

That must be a very small bank.

[dtlee]

It may weed out the unethical preparers who do not know how to cheat efficiently.
It will be a windfall for the more knowledgeable ones who are the most efficient cheaters.

I think you make a very good point (and clever too).

[taxxcpa]

Registration advantage

Registration might increase competency a bit in some cases, but will do nothing for honesty.

It may weed out the unethical preparers who do not know how to cheat efficiently.
It will be a windfall for the more knowledgeable ones who are the most efficient cheaters.

[solomon]

I told my husband that is why tax preparer registration is so necessary.

Linda, EA

Registration might increase competency a bit in some cases, but will do nothing for honesty.

[FEDUKE404]

Potential problem

My tax organizer mandates the client enter their routing and checking acct # for any refund. Over the past yrs I have had to go back to a few of my tax clients tax organizers showing them what they entered.

"Mandate"? I wish I could use that on some of my clients.

While I see your point, having the client enter the RTN/DAN information can in and of itself create problems.

1) Many banks have a different RTN on their deposit slips as opposed to the one that counts....that on the check itself.
2) Clients may "know" their account number, but if there are leading/trailing zeroes not properly included on the tax form then there is going to be a problem. This issue can be especially problematic for those who choose to use a savings account for the refund deposit. My credit union has a 9-digit minimum for a savings account and a 11-digit minimum for a checking account.

Simple solution?: Client provides (photocopy of) a valid check, and I handle that responsibililty! It also gives me a chance to be sure that "Joe's" refund is not somehow or other being sent to "Bob's" account. For returning clients, I will also accept "the same bank account that I used last year."

While tax organizers can be beneficial (I would say perhaps 40% of my clients use them) there is somewhat of a narrow line for me to walk between being efficient and taking the extra time to do a little more than mere data entry.

FE

[AZ-Tax]

Tax organizer mandates refund direct deposit info

My tax organizer mandates the client enter their routing and checking acct # for any refund. Over the past yrs I have had to go back to a few of my tax clients tax organizers showing them what they entered.

[FEDUKE404]

Sad but true

That was priceless, should have been posted under the EITC thread

Sandy

Agreed, and a fine example of what goes on all the time.

Judge Judy did not quite pick up on the fact that the girl friend basically "loaned" her grandchild to someone else as a deduction/EITC vehicle. He merely claimed the extra deduction, without coming anywhere near the IRS rules for doing such. The EITC was just gravy for him (her).

I doubt if the guy's tax return was signed by the preparer, who was obviously complicit in the entire ruse. One would think all kinds of problems could occur along the lines of getting refund (bank account) that was not yours, etc.

But.........I bet everyone will keep all of the money with little harmful effects.

FE

[S T]

Gene -You Tube Link

That was priceless, should have been posted under the EITC thread

for what it is worth, Thank Goodness for the Judge Judy's !

Sandy

[Gene V]

Here's another good one.


Hhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNo2I1NgSkc

That was good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNo2I1NgSkc

[veritas]

I would have enjoyed seeing that episode

Here's another good one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNo2I1NgSkc