copies of returns

[gman]

How many years of tax returns are preparers required to keep ?

3-?

[New York Enrolled Agent]

How many years of tax returns are preparers required to keep ?

3-?

Actually, you do not need to keep copies at all. But, you must follow §6107(b)

(b) Copy or list to be retained by tax return preparer.
Any person who is a tax return preparer with respect to a return or claim for refund shall, for the period ending 3 years after the close of the return period—

(1) retain a completed copy of such return or claim, or retain, on a list, the name and taxpayer identification number of the taxpayer for whom such return or claim was prepared, and

(2) make such copy or list available for inspection upon request by the Secretary

[Bees Knees]

ProSeries allows me to make a PDF copy of every return. I now keep paper copies for three years and don't ever plan on deleting PDF or other electronic backup data. Hard drive space is cheap, and if I ever need something from many years ago, I can get it.

[ChEAr$]

Why go to all that trouble,

ProSeries allows me to make a PDF copy of every return. I now keep paper copies for three years and don't ever plan on deleting PDF or other electronic backup data. Hard drive space is cheap, and if I ever need something from many years ago, I can get it.

when your software already has client files anyway?
Of course I do backup all files just in case. And I have original program disks in
case... well,you know.

[thomtax]

Software copies

when your software already has client files anyway?
Of course I do backup all files just in case. And I have original program disks in
case... well,you know.

The question that you need to be concerned with is that with the way Microsoft does new operating systems, will your earlier programs even run on the new operating systems?

LT

[Bees Knees]

The question that you need to be concerned with is that with the way Microsoft does new operating systems, will your earlier programs even run on the new operating systems?

LT

Exactly. I buy a new computer. I don't want to load the last 10 years worth of tax programs just so that I can look at a client file from 8 years ago on the off chance I might need it.

I will always be able to read a PDF file, even 20 years from now when we are using Microsoft Windows Jupiter Edition 2028.

[Davc]

If you'er in a state with licensing requirements, state rules may be different.

[DonPriebe]

Right ...

I will always be able to read a PDF file, even 20 years from now when we are using Microsoft Windows Jupiter Edition 2028.

I recall a study we did just before I retired, as to which format and media we should use to save important documents so that we would always be able to work with them no matter how much the computer equipment changed. The answer of course was ...

punched cards.

[Bees Knees]

Which brings up another point…

I now scan W-2s, 1099s, mortgage interest, etc. instead of making copies on the copy machine. I am not completely paperless, but I am paperless with client supporting documents.

My scanner wants to default to some program that came with the scanner. If I allow it to create scans using that file format and the scanner dies, I either have to buy a new scanner that uses the same program (in other words, the same brand of scanner), or I make sure my computer with that scanner program never dies.

Instead, I save the scanned images as either PDF files or JPEG files. Those are standard file formats that just about any computer can read.

The point is, if you are saving documents for the long term, make sure you save your files in a format that can still be read long after you have switched computers, or switched scanners, or switched cameras, etc.

[DTS]

So...

to show I'm the only neanderthal on the planet, the only way to save to PDF is with Adobe?

Dennis

[Bees Knees]

No, many programs give you the option to save a document as a PDF file. ProSeries is one example. My version of Microsoft Word can do it. My scanner program can do it. And many programs other than Adobe can read PDF files.

[DTS]

Pdf

When I try to save a document as a type in Word, I'm not given the option of .pdf. What do I need or what do I need to do to save as a .pdf?

Dennis

[Bees Knees]

I'm not sure what program added that feature to my Word Program. A number of them will do it. Doing a quick Google Search produced this website:

http://smartpdfcreator.com/?gclid=CMa1lMvQgI8CFRa_WAodrCxY3w

[Bees Knees]

I should also give credit to Adobe Acrobat. There are a number of upgrades from the Adobe Reader program that you can purchase to create PDF files. Before searching the web for other software that creates PDFs, why not first check out the original.

http://www.adobe.com/

[taxmandan]

Saving in pdf format

My scanner can save in pdf format. For Word docs, etc. I use a print file that "prints" in the pdf format. It's found at www.pdf995.com it can be used for free, but to eliminate the ads, it's only about ten bucks to buy, and it is really easy to use.