Why do people who are clueless about tax law answer questions in the tax categories on Y! Answers?

Answer 1

I think because they can. People have a tendency to share their own experiences on certain subjects. There are clearly many questions I will not answer on this board because they require way too much additional information.

I think it is up to the individuals who use this board to do the following:

1. If your asking a question look at who is consistiently answering. Try to provide as much info as possible.

2. If you really do know what you're doing, as it is easy enough for me to see who knows what they are talking about, rate the answers. Give them a thumbs up if they're good, thumbs down if they are not.

3. If the correct answer is given, give it a thumbs up instead of retyping the same answer.

4. If you think someone has given a correct answer, but there is something you can add, do it. But note who the person is that gave the correct answer.

This really could be a good forum for people to get good basic tax advice for free. I'd rather see someone do it right. Lord knows the IRS forms and instructions can be innundating these days.

Answer 2

I've been wondering that myself. I don't think anyone knows or gives the right answer absolutely 100% of the time, but there are a number of people here who are quite knowledgeable, and a questioner who gets a similar answer from a few of those people can likely rely on the answer. But I sure hope that questioners don't rely on just any answer they get here, since so many are just plain wrong!

Additionally, somebody has been giving a large number of "thumbs downs" to correct answers from the experts that ARE on the forum, so that can't even be used any more to figure out what to rely on.

It's very unfortunate that this excellent forum is sometimes abused so badly by uninformed or malicious people. It's pretty obvious that good info on tax law is badly needed.

Answer 3

I think people want to be helpful. That's why we have Yahoo! Answers in the first place. I do think that people can make mistakes in answering questions by not reading the WHOLE question or misunderstanding the question. Also, a lot of people like to hear themselves talk and want to feel important. I know a gut that has to know everything and "corrects" you even though the information he is spouting is categorically incorrect.

Hopefully people will be generous with with their ratings. If it is an inaccurate answer give it a thumbs down and if it is a good answer give it a thumbs up. I think most of the ones that know what they are talking about are the ones that answer most of the time. Sometimes they can give incorrect information, like I did the other day (which I corrected), but generally they have the sources to back it up.

Enough of my soap box.

Answer 4

It could be the quantity thing for some people. Or just based on what they have been led to believe is true.
There are a lot of "tax people" who have been in or around the business for years who really give bad advice to their clients and mess up their tax lives, or do not care.
As a preparer, I have amended many tax returns prepared for individuals by CPA's. I have had to troubleshoot returns screwed up by people working for the same company I worked for .
I realize I can make mistakes, but I am Good at taxes and in good standing with the IRS normally advice from me costs about 25.00 per hour.
I get a lot of thumbs down on my sound answers and I know there are other pros on here who give sound advice, some are with the IRS, and they get thumbs downs (?)

Answer 5

People THINK they know the answer. That's why we tax pro's are guaranteed to have clients as long as there are tax laws, no matter how simple.

-- A Darn Good Tax Advisor

Answer 6

overlook the "i bypass to record you to the IRS" rubbish. The IRS can no longer talk with you approximately anybody's tax return different than your man or woman. confident, all your earnings as an worker are meant to be suggested on style W2. If he's no longer the main elementary guy interior the worldwide, evaluate this. He gets to jot down off expenses for workers and different workers on condition that he matters W2s or 1099s. he's sitting down together with his tax preparer who says "You owe $x volume of greenbacks." He would not choose to pay that. "Gosh, I in simple terms remembered, I paid So-And-So a super bunch of money. How plenty distinction will that make on my tax bill?" Then he sends you a 1099 it fairly is for extra advantageous than what replaced into actually earned. it is not uncommon between human beings in corporation who've a unfastened relationship with the actuality. Your difficulty is that no longer in simple terms replaced into there no longer something withheld from the 1099 quantities, you'll be in charge for earnings tax PLUS approximately 15% self-employment tax. once you're on a W2 you have 7.sixty 5% withheld for social protection and Medicare, and your corporation fits that for a finished of 15.3%. while you're self-employed (as in 1099-MISC) you owe self-employment tax of the two aspects of that pie. in the journey that your corporation refuses to suitable the style, you could report style 8919, Uncollected Social protection and Medicare Tax on Wages in case you have been actually an worker. With style 8919 you will pay in simple terms the employees share of ss and Medicare. you will additionally positioned down guidance related to the issuing corporation and the IRS could then pursue the corporation to get well the different a million/2 of the ss and Medicare tax. record in simple terms what you fairly earned. connect a assertion on your return conserving that the style replaced into in blunders and steps you took to have it corrected. understand which you owe each and all of the tax due. If an corporation did no longer withhold the tax, no remember how plenty that's, you're in charge for it.

Answer 7

The ones that don't have a clue are the ones crying why haven't I gotten my refund yet. They follow their own advise and when the IRS pulls their return for review they can't understand why.

They are answering strickly for points, not caring whether they give bad adivse. They go around thumbs downing the correct responses in hopes of getting selected for best answer. To them its just another game.

Answer 8

The more questions answered, the higher your Yahoo rating.

It seems when the Y! Answers program was created, the "quantity vs. quality" question didn't come up.

Answer 9

Maybe they are just trying to share their experience. I don't have all the answers, but if my experience can help someone else, I share it.