Taxpayer asks:
Can lawyers, students studying for their bar check into others tax returns and see how much they received back from their taxes for any given year?
Taxgirl says:
As I understand it, you’re asking whether you can snoop around and see how much other people paid or received in taxes…
Um, no. A big no. Tax returns are not public record unless voluntarily disclosed to the public for purposes of, say, running for office.
Even a tax pro representing a client cannot have access to taxpayer records without the express written consent of the taxpayer via form 2848 (IRS form of Power of Attorney). In some cases, a non-IRS Power of Attorney may be accepted.
Those eligible to sign a form 2848 are:
- Attorney
- Certified Public Accountant
- Enrolled Agent
- Officer of a corporation
- Certain Full-Time Employees (for example, Comptroller or Accountant)
- Family Member (spouse, parent, child or sibling).
- Enrolled Actuary
- Unenrolled Return Preparer
- Enrolled Retirement Plan Agent
The only exceptions on the form 2848 for students are those participating in LITCs and STCPs.
And just because I used to be a law student and I know how you think, an attorney is defined as “a member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of any state, possession, territory, commonwealth, or of the District of Columbia” – so law students sitting for the bar do not qualify.
Like any good lawyer, I need to add a disclaimer: Unfortunately, it is impossible to give comprehensive tax advice over the internet, no matter how well researched or written. Before relying on any information given on this site, contact a tax professional to discuss your particular situation.
Have a question? Ask the taxgirl! – Now on Facebook!
Office Depot will provide free copies (up to 25 single-sided pages) of 2008 tax returns for taxpayers this season. The promotion, which runs from March 22 to April 15, 2009, is available at the Design, Print, & Ship Depot center at Office Depot retail store locations nationwide.
“Office Depot is thrilled to once again help our customers take care of business by not only providing free copies of their 2008 tax returns, but also equipping these customers with smart tax solutions that will help them complete their taxes this year quickly and accurately,” said George Hill, Senior Vice President of Office Depot’s Design, Print, and Ship Depot.
For more information, please visit your local Office Depot retail store location or www.officedepot.com.
(Hat Tip: Kristen)
Nope, I didn’t make that statistic up. The IRS claims that 98 million taxpayers – or about 70% – are eligible to e-file their 2008 federal tax returns for free through their FreeFile program.
It works like this: twenty vendors have partnered with the IRS to provide free e-filing services for taxpayers who meet certain criteria. If not otherwise specified here on the IRS site, your adjusted gross income (AGI) must be $56,000 or less.
(Psst – tres compañías tienen capacidades españolas!)
And this year, the IRS is throwing you another bone. They’re offering a free e-file option for all taxpayers, regardless of your income level. Can you tell that they really, really want you to e-file?
If you file a form 1040, 1040A or 1040-EZ and want to e-file without buying tax prep software, the IRS offers a new service called FreeFile Fillable Forms. This program allows you to use fill-in forms and file online. The forms include “basic calculation capability” but that’s basically all of the guidance that you get. Unlike software programs that walk you through the process, you have to know what you’re doing (in other words, if your return is terribly complicated, save yourself the agita and hire some help). But if you can manage it, this is full on fill-in forms with the option to file electronically for free. Yeah, for free. One more time, for free.
So stop complaining about fees and the cost of stamps! You have options. For free.
To access either program, FreeFile or FreeFile Fillable Forms, click on over to the IRS web site.
(Free!)
The IRS has announced the opening of an expanded IRS e-file program for 2008 federal tax returns.
IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman is encouraging taxpayers to take advantage of the e-file program, noting that, “Filing electronically with direct deposit can get refunds to taxpayers in as few as 10 days.” That’s right: 10 days. Don’t be fooled by tax loan schemes who claim that it will take months for you to get a refund.
In contrast, if you owe money to the feds, you can e-file early and wait to pay the tax due by the deadline. Why pay Uncle Sam early if you don’t have to?
How popular is the e-file program these days? In 2008, nearly 90 million tax returns were filed electronically, representing 58% of return filed. That’s a pretty significant increase from 1986, the year the plan was introduced, when only about 25,000 returns were e-filed.
Most taxpayers who e-file still rely on a tax professional to prepare their returns. In 2008, only a third of e-filed returns were filed from home computers.
It’s important to understand that the IRS does not charge a fee to e-file your tax return. However, tax professionals and tax software may charge a processing or service fee.
Are you planning to e-file this year? If you’re planning to file from home, don’t forget to click over to this previous post for a chance to win free tax software from TurboTax and taxgirl!
