jwrevagent wrote:
If you were pissed off at me, I don't think I would want you anywhere near my hair! But I remember back when society was not quite so crazy, I was a tax preparer working for an accountant-I was an enrolled agent enrolled to practice before the Internal Revenue Service which meant that I could represent taxpayers for whom I prepared a return at audit or conference. Anyway, a gentleman came in one afternoon, having made an appointment for his return to be prepared, and when I started, I asked the usual questions, like name address SS number. He handed me 5 social security cards with 5 different numbers on them-all with the same name, and I refused to go any further, because it was illegal to file his return given the information I was given. He became enraged and said I was required to do the return, and he would sue and the usual threats and nonsense. I told him that I was not allowed to knowingly prepare a fraudulent return, and he would have to go elsewhere. I could also report this to the IRS. So, there are times when you not only can but should refuse to provide a service-even though you would normally provide that service for profit. It is also, I believe, but am not sure about this, illegal to have more than one SS number for use as ID or benefits or whatever. FYI, I have prepared tax returns for people who are engaged in illegal activity, such as prostitution, or some gambling, as long as they reported all the income from even the illegal activities. If they did not, and I had done my due diligence in determining that most likely all income was reported, that was all that is necessary. I was not required to go into their private business, or check their bank accounts-had no authority to do that, but using common sense as to probable life style and income, there was no problem. I did always warn clients that it was foolish of them to try to hide income or assets in case of audit. If some one claimed poverty but drove up in a new Mercedes, and had expensive jewelry and custom made suits or something, I would certainly question that. It is possible to have little reportable income and yet be very wealthy and live in luxury, but most people do not. So while the profit motive is a strong one for providing service, I preferred to stay out of any prison. BTW, the IRS is under confidentiality constraints-or at least it was back then-so that any illegal activity shown on a tax return could not be shared with law enforcement either Federal, State, or Local. That is why the tax laws included the requirement to include ill gotten gains-it is how they got Al Capone, after all-tax evasion, right?
If you were pissed off at me, I don't think I woul... (
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That's right. He was a thug, criminal and killer but the only thing they could get him on was tax evasion, but at least they did get him.
Guess I don't have to worry. I drive an 8 year old car with over 100,000 miles on it and live in a doublewide. On the other hand I have EVERYTHING I need, food, a woman who loves me, a safe place to sleep and five dogs to protect me. What else could anyone need, particularly one who is close to 80 years old?