Why do people keep giving really wrong information regarding taxes?

Question

I keep seeing answers where people advise MARRIED people that are separated to file as single or head of household. That's wrong and against tax law. Are people just ignorant or do they think they know tax law when they don't have a clue?

Answer 1

because everyone's a tax guru....lol
ive seen so much false information given out on this website, and i wish that uninformed people would not answer questions involving tax law.

it doesnt help the person asking the question, and most likely theyre not going to get the 10 points!

they should follow some words of wisdom: "when in doubt -- dont answer!!"

Answer 2

I certainly agree that there is a lot of completely wrong info given to tax questions here.

But as to the specific example you mention, there is one situation where a person who is still married can file as head of household (but not as single). See instructions for 1040, page 17: If the person lived apart from their spouse for the last six months of the tax year, files a separate return from their spouse, and the home was the main home of a child who is either a dependent or could be claimed as a dependent except that the other parent claims them under the rule for Children of Separated and Divorced Parents. If they don't qualify for this, then you're right, they'd have to file jointly or as married filing separately.

So sometimes that advice is correct. But I agree with you that there is a large amount of totally wrong advice given on Yahoo Answers to tax questions, and that the worst advice seems to be on questions of filing status (especially re head of household) and on who can be claimed as a dependent.

I have been a tax preparer for a number of years. But I've still learned a few things here from the small number of regular contributors who have a very good grasp on tax law and give regular reliable answers. But nobody knows everything about tax law, so even these people slip up once in awhile. But unfortunately, a lot of people with very little knowledge of tax law feel obliged to answer questions with what they THINK is right.

Answer 3

Because taxes are complicated. And many people:

a) know what applies to themselves and assume it applies to everyone

b) get confused by the nomenclature, and "misspeak" (possibly they'd catch it if they looked it over afterward...but I bet lots never look at the questions they answered again)

c) Are just misinformed themselves.

d) used to know the answer - but the tax rules changed on them, and they haven't been keeping up over the years.

And maybe they don't have all the information.

For instance - a married person, who is separated from thier spouse, has a dependent child, and the spouse did not live with them during the last six months of the year...can indeed file "Head of household". That's the other rub. There are SO MANY exceptions, rules, exemptions...it's hard to give accurate tax advise without knowing EVERYTHING about a person's situation...and that's not going to happen here.

(And if that "last six months of the year" stipulation has changed recently - my apologies...)