New Form 8867

[Redneck]

New question #1 on new form 8867.

"Preparer's name and PTIN. Did the preparer who is signing this return also determine the taxpayer's eligibility for EIC? YES or NO.

How would you answer this question?

[Snaggletooth]

I think yes

...I mean, who else is there? Especially when you consider it is the preparer's responsibility to fill out 8867 and almost every question is a gatekeeper that must be answered a certain way, or the EIC is snipped off to fall into the flames of a burning hell. [...with apologies to Jonathan Edwards...]

Would love to hear from others who might make a case for someone OTHER than the preparer to be the determining party...

[JG EA]

I can't think of any unless you had two preparers work on the same return. You know one doing the work and the other signing it.

[taxea]

if the TP qualifies for EIC and the preparer did the due diligence then yes.
if the TP qualifies for EIC and the preparer did not do the due diligence then no
if no one on the return qualifies for EIC then no

How hard was that?

[LCP]

New question #1 on new form 8867.

"Preparer's name and PTIN. Did the preparer who is signing this return also determine the taxpayer's eligibility for EIC? YES or NO.

How would you answer this question?

All I see on the form is "Enter preparer's name and PTIN"

[DaveO]

About one more EIC form and I'm just going to leave it blank and let the IRS figure the credit.

[ChEAr$]

About one more EIC form and I'm just going to leave it blank and let the IRS figure the credit.

I kinda think your tax software will catch that before the return gets transmitted to IRS.

[RitaB]

I kinda think

I kinda think your tax software will catch that before the return gets transmitted to IRS.

I kinda think our software will miss it and everybody EXCEPT the people fraudulently claiming EIC will wind up in the Cross-Bar Motel.

[joanmcq]

My software gives me an error message if I haven't completed the 8867.

I think it's the cheats that will miss it.

[taxea]

See my post in 8867 signature

[LCP]

All I see on the form is "Enter preparer's name and PTIN"

Again....... perhaps more clearly, I don't see a new question #1.

[Earl]

Filing return for relative. No paid for return. Software will require Form 8867 to allow EIC.

Efiling return only. Return prepared by taxpayer. Have to input information into tax program to allow efiling. Again have to complete Form 8867.

In either of these two cases does Line 1 on Form 8867 have to be completed, assuming that the Form 8867 is transmitted by software company. I understand that form is to be completed only by a paid preparer but am unsure what will be transmitted by software.

[oceanlovin'ea]

software

Maybe your software is asking you that question. The question as you stated it is not on the form.

Linda, EA

[Dusty2004]

Proseries

Again....... perhaps more clearly, I don't see a new question #1.

This is a question in Pro Series. An attempt on their part to help their preparers apply the rules correctly.

Dusty

[BP.]

Again....... perhaps more clearly, I don't see a new question #1.

Check the form and the instructions.

There's a new line #1 field: "Enter preparer's name and PTIN."

Sounds simple, but the instructions give a qualifier, so probably some softwares are taking that into account and asking a "worksheet" kind of question so the correct information is entered. Maybe that is what some posters are referring to.

Here's from the revised instructions for form 8867 line #1:

"Enter the name and PTIN of the preparer who determines the taxpayer's eligibility for, or the amount of, the EIC, even if that preparer is not the signing preparer."