a friend asked me to do her taxes i do mine online so there really isn;t anything involved but putting the info in .she said she would pay me but i don't know how much to charge her.
any ideas or what would be a reasonable amount
2007-01-04 11:31:35 · 5 answers · asked by lynnepeterpan 4 in Business & Finance ➔ Taxes ➔ United States
The law states that a PAID preparer MUST sign the return as such. Other than CA or WA states, there are no limits as to who can be a paid tax preparer. And yes, the paid preparer has a share of the liability if the return is prepared incorrectly.
Worse, whether you are paid or not, if you aid and abet another taxpayer in falsley filing a return, you may be subject to criminal as well as civil penalties. Witness the SC man who helped his friends file returns with "slavery reparations" credits. (there is no such thing). The judge threw the man in jail for 3 years after he claimed he didn't know there wasn't a law about it; he had heard from a friend you could claim this false credit.
My advice: help your friend for free (that's what friends are for), or charge only the amount it actually costs for the software and filing (if it's not already free). Then you aren't on the hook as a "paid" preparer.
Enrolled Agent / Tax Specialist
2007-01-05 01:44:30 · answer #1 · answered by WealthBuilder 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would charge her $25 - $50. I charge my friends anywhere between nothing to $125.
Don't worry about it being illegal or taking liability. You're only preparing the return, you're not signing it. Ultimately, the person signing the return has the full responsibility to be sure the return is accurate.
2007-01-04 23:57:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Once you accept money for doing taxes, you own the liability if there is something wrong with it.
My suggestion is to have her take you our for a nice dinner instead. Much better for the friendship too.
Best wishes.
2007-01-04 21:49:37 · answer #3 · answered by JQT 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Charge her 20 bucks and call it a day. That will cover your time, your computer usage, your internet time, and give you some.
Make sure she is there to witness it so that if questions come up she can answer them.
2007-01-04 21:34:00 · answer #4 · answered by ~Just A Girl~ 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your not licensed I think it would be illegal.
2007-01-04 19:35:20 · answer #5 · answered by Johnny 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋