Return for person in Jail

[TAX]

Client, taxpayer is at home and has W-2.
Tax payer has one child.
Spouse is in jail.

Can they find joint return? Shoud I file as HH.

It is even moe inportant from Rebate point of view to file jointly.

Please help.

Thanks!

[BOB W]

I had one this year and I filed them jointly. Wife was going to visit him and have spouse sign ELF form. I got it back and E-Filed the return...............

[Bonnie]

In past years I have had this come up. The local jails in our area have someone there who can do a power of attorney for the inmates. I have either had them bring a power of attorney with them to efile or done a paper return that they take with them and can take to the jail, get it signed and then mail it in. Unless I know them very well, I don't let them take the 8879 out for signatures. Some would take it, sign it themselves and bring back without the spouse ever seeing it.

Bonnie

[BOB W]

In past years I have had this come up. The local jails in our area have someone there who can do a power of attorney for the inmates. I have either had them bring a power of attorney with them to efile or done a paper return that they take with them and can take to the jail, get it signed and then mail it in. Unless I know them very well, I don't let them take the 8879 out for signatures. Some would take it, sign it themselves and bring back without the spouse ever seeing it.

Bonnie

I don't know of any requirement that us preparers have to witness client signatures. Back in the paper return days, they would get the mail-out return and that was that>>>NOT MY PROBLEM with who signed them...............................and I don't see it any different now. I've got enough responsibilites without policing client signatures. NOT MY JOB.................