Electronic Age

[Lion]

I have that question on a one-page set of questions that I have clients check yes/no and sign. It includes the bought-out-of-state-for-use-in-state question and questions about digital assets and foreign bank accounts/trusts and health insurance and whatever's new & different that year (such as Advanced CTC payments in 2021). Everything else is handled by their original tax documents and a telephone/electronic interview. I'm no longer taking new clients, so I have the history of my clients to compare.

[kathyc2]

An example is electronic filing of Alabama personal tax returns (Form 40). The preparer/filer must swear out on a checkbox that the taxpayer has not imported anything into Alabama for which Use Tax has not been paid. If the preparer doesn't check the box, Alabama has forced Drake to program an exception that e-filing would not be allowed.
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Asking client if they had purchases subject to use tax should be part of your information gathering whether you need to answer the question on the return or not.

[Snaggletooth]

Ah yes, Electronic Filing, adding multiple requirements.

I think we were seduced into believe this would make things easier. Now that they know we can reprogram our software on the turn of a dime, they can throw hundreds of tax changes at us every year, and even during the middle of tax season. Software companies like Drake jump through the hoops, sometimes overnight, so the govt can be happy and continue to make changes. And people like us are supposed to stay on top of the situation.

Perhaps the worst experiences are with State Websites. SITs and SUTAs all of a sudden make paper filing unacceptable by law or regulations. Once electronic filing is required, then there is no accountability required of the states to maintain accessible websites. I think it is safe to say that these websites are designed for the host and not the user. And if e-filing doesn't work, the user has to figure out the problems because there are no more paper forms. With my particular practice, I have to file taxes in multiple states, and yes, each state has its own website upon which you must learn to navigate.

An example is electronic filing of Alabama personal tax returns (Form 40). The preparer/filer must swear out on a checkbox that the taxpayer has not imported anything into Alabama for which Use Tax has not been paid. If the preparer doesn't check the box, Alabama has forced Drake to program an exception that e-filing would not be allowed.

Am I whining? I guess so. Am I clinging to old-fashioned ways? I guess so. But I wonder if I am the only one who believe we, like lemmings, are rushing into controlled waters before we realize we should be kicking and screaming. Remember, in the information age, whoever controls the information will control everything.