Post Tax Season Data Crunching.....?

[Lion]

Thank you

Thank you to MAJ and DTLee and to all responders for this discussion. I especially appreciate access to the NY Tax Experts site (I'm in Fairfield County, CT, with a fair number of NY commuter clients; my favorite group is the NY/CT-ATP that meets off I-84).

[Gary2]

I thank the people who filled in with more of the issues around 7216, and apologize for the terseness of my earlier post.

My take on the use part of 7216 is that the intent is really "use for selling, advertising, marketing, market research, self-promotion, etc." They don't want preparers exploiting their position to do hard sells of IRAs, etc. However the explicit wording is simply use, implying any conceivable use that's unrelated to the preparation of the tax return in question, notwithstanding the intent. Various exceptions and clarifications help, but still the result is that the use prohibition is stricter than most reasonable people would expect, and dramatically different from other industries.

[oceanlovin'ea]

Maj

I have Adobe Reader 8.1.0.

When I do what you suggested, I do not get the option you mentioned.
I get these choices:
Open Link in New Tab
Open Link in New Window
Bookmark this link
Save Link As
Send Link
Copy Link Location

Dtlee: the one I was interested in was the IRC Sect. 7216 Handout. If you could just email it to me that would be great.

Thanks

Linda EA

[MilTaxEA]

Use "save link as".

[MAJ]

Am I Serious??? AM I SERIOUS??

Doug -
I'm 15 1/2 years old - Can't wait to get my permit!!
I didn't get this involved in Computers and Taxes by not reading! Geez!!

LOL - Of course I am serious...
Hey - I took a quick peak at the NYTaxExperts site and made a mental (no comments) note to go back and look - It looks interesting -- I only prepare a few NY returns (Yes, less than 10).

Thanks again...

You do understand that part.
If you are serious about reading up on §7216, I have some items on the bottom of this page that you are free to use:

http://nytaxexperts.org/Documents.aspx

[dtlee]

Doug -
I'm 15 1/2 years old - Can't wait to get my permit!!
I didn't get this involved in Computers and Taxes by not reading! Geez!!

LOL - Of course I am serious...
Hey - I took a quick peak at the NYTaxExperts site and made a mental (no comments) note to go back and look - It looks interesting -- I only prepare a few NY returns (Yes, less than 10).

Thanks again...

Matt,

It was a semi-serious question, but it touches on a sore point with me.

There was a time when I did not mind spending countless hours learning about taxes and trying to understand the rules for AMT or passive losses or depreciation or Qualifying Children or the education tax benefits. These hours benefitted my clients and improved the service I could provide to them.

However, in recent years, an increasing portion of my time has been spent reading about "more likely than not" rules, EIC due diligence, Disclosure Rules, Covered Opinions, and Consent to Use or Disclose client information. While these rules benefit me in terms of performing my role within the law, they do nothing to augment the tax knowledge my clients expect of me. I would much rather be talking with Burton about avoiding the Kiddie Tax and getting the refundable AOC by dropping a credit or two at college than debating why you might be able to send Seasons Greeting Cards but not Birthday Cards to clients under §7216. (I cannot imagine a tax preparer being charged with felony possession of a birthday card with intent to mail.)

Likewise, if I were looking for a tax preparer, I would not look for an expert in EIC Due Diliegence or §7216. I would look for an expert in taxes.

Just my 2¢. Thanks for the opportunity to vent.

[FEDUKE404]

Opening 7216

I have Adobe Reader 8.1.0.

When I do what you suggested, I do not get the option you mentioned.
I get these choices:
Open Link in New Tab
Open Link in New Window
Bookmark this link
Save Link As
Send Link
Copy Link Location

Dtlee: the one I was interested in was the IRC Sect. 7216 Handout. If you could just email it to me that would be great.

Thanks

Linda EA

Linda,

Did you try double-clicking on the link? I just did so (using "From the NYSSEA 2009 Convention - IRC Section 7216 Handout") and a large 90-page document opened. I could then view/print/save as PDF.

I'm using Adobe Reader 10.0.1 which should be current.

If that does not work for you, send me a PM with details and a workable email address and I will send you whichever item(s) you want as a PDF file.

FE

[oceanlovin'ea]

found consent form

I actually had a consent form that I had made copies of in my drawer but I guess I was thinking this was what I needed to have them sign if they wanted information sent to someone else. Sometimes the noggin is a little thick.

Anyway, a new client came in today to pick up their return. I asked them to sign the consent form and explained the purpose of it and they were glad to sign it.

So now I just have to remember to have all clients sign one. Do you have them sign one each year or just make it so that it is for an indefinite period?

Linda, EA

[appelman]

The day I feel the need...

to get a signed consent form before I send a client an organizer for next year is the day I get out of this business!

[FEDUKE404]

Second that motion

(need) to get a signed consent form before I send a client an organizer for next year is the day I get out of this business!

Ditto!!

FE