Last year, we jumped through hoops filing a few useless tax returns with zero income, just so people could get stimulus money.
Should we do that again this year??
Should we do that again this year??
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I am ONLY doing RRC Worksheet for existing clients. I get a ton of calls from people that are not clients to help them "find" their stimulus money and I simply don't engage. 20 miles from my office is a volunteer tax clinic and I tell them to call that location.Taxes after all are the dues that we pay for the privileges of membership in an organized society. - FDR -
For those who are not seniors, ""jumping through hoops" refers to the historical practice of having trained circus animals jump through hoops for entertainment.Originally posted by Snaggletooth View Post
Now my question for the OP is, if filing a tax return with zero income is what you consider to be "jumping through hoops", how do you deal with the challenge of filing a tax return with actual income and deductions to report? Is it a Sisyphean task?
If the person with no income (who probably didn't suffer any economic loss due to COVID, just like those on so-called "fixed incomes") doesn't want to avail themselves of the several free DIY options, then why not offer to provide a service for a fee? They will either decide it is worth it to them to pay you what you ask, or not, shouldn't take more than a few minutes of your time to get to that decision.
"You said it, they'll never know the difference. Come on, we'll paint our way out!" - Moe HowardComment
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The OP was referring to taxpayers who have to pay us to file a useless return to get their money. Useless as in a tax return that otherwise would never need filing. The OP was not lamenting the fact that he/she might have extra business. Useless refers to the act of the government using tax returns to do something that has nothing to do with taxes.Originally posted by Rapid Robert View Post
It would be like the government deciding to refund money you paid to the grocery store for whatever reason and deciding you need to file a useless tax return for no reason other than to get the money.Comment
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Imagine if they decided to issue covid vaccines via tax returns. You get a free vaccine, but you need to file a tax return to get your appointment. Would we be allowed to call that a useless tax return without receiving a lecture about business revenue possibilities?Comment
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Originally posted by Scarecrow View PostStraw man arguments. And I didn't say anything about whether or not the returns, or the filing of the returns, were useless. So it's not clear who you are arguing with. But now that you've brought it up, I'd say the returns are not useless if they result in getting a chunk of free money -- they sound pretty useful.Originally posted by jerome View Post
I didn't "lecture" anyone. The question asked was, "Should we do that again this year??" I gave a straight-forward, sincere answer, which neither of you two did. Now I would add, if you did it (filed the returns) last year, implied by the "again" part of the question, then why would the answer be any different this year?Originally posted by jerome View Post
"You said it, they'll never know the difference. Come on, we'll paint our way out!" - Moe HowardComment
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Hmm, so in your professional opinion, the Recovery Rebate TAX credit has nothing to do with taxes? Okaaaaay.Originally posted by Scarecrow View Post
What do you suggest? That they just put a stack of signed checks with the payee field blank at every local library, for people to just come and help themselves?
"You said it, they'll never know the difference. Come on, we'll paint our way out!" - Moe HowardComment
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Hmmm... someone can't take sarcasm. You can dish it out, but can't take it. OKComment
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Not long ago, someone dug out an old post of mine from 2015, which raised complaints about members who respond with bickering and sometimes animosity. If you ask a sincere question and one of these members responds, it often prevents anyone with helpful verbage from wanting to enter the conversation, and the question never gets an answer. Just responses from persons who bloviate and might not have anything better to do than to drone on, thinking their contributions are lighting up the room. The result is questions go unanswered, and people have sought out other forums for answers.
Regardless of what anyone thinks about hoops, taxes, people, or anything else discussed (at least Scarecrow understands what I am talking about), if you follow the thread you will realize the original question is still unanswered.Comment
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If no return was filed for 2019 or 2020 and they want their stimulus now, then you need to file a 2020 year return. If 2019 or 2020 was filled, wait to see if they get their check. It might take awhile. If no stimulus is received even though one or both years were filed, then the 2021 return must be filed next spring to get the rebate credit.Originally posted by Snaggletooth View Post
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Thank you Mr. Scarecrow....Comment
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I wonder why it took Scarecrow three posts before answering your "original question" if it was so simple and clear? Other than Scarecrow, apparently no one else "understands what I am talking about". Like I said back in post #6, why would the answer be any different this year than what you did last year?Originally posted by Snaggletooth View Post
The quality of the answer is generally proportional to the clarity of the question.
"You said it, they'll never know the difference. Come on, we'll paint our way out!" - Moe HowardComment
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