I received a bill for over $1500 due to some error that the person who prepared my taxes made. She has disappeared and is nowhere to be found. She also made a similar error on my brother's girlfriend. What can I do now? Is there a way to avoid paying this huge amount due to an error I did not make?
2007-09-18 15:25:15 · 9 answers · asked by EVELYN A 3 in Business & Finance ➔ Taxes ➔ United States
Sorry to tell you, but ultimate responsibility for your tax return lies with you. You signed the return (or the e-file authorization) and it is your return. Now if the tax preparer missed a deduction or credit or reported income incorrectly for you, you can file a 1040X to amend the original return. But if they didn't include something that the IRS then picked up on and sent you a notice saying that you didn't include some income or something, then there's nothing that you can do put pay the amount that the IRS is asking about. If the tax preparer is a CPA, you could notify the CPA society for your state about the tax preparer, but that's about it.
2007-09-18 16:47:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You alone are responsible for the accuracy of your tax return. Your signature on the return (or the e-file transmittal documents) certifies that you have reviewed the return and that it is true and accurate.
You would have owed the tax anyway so there's no way around that. Since you had the money for longer than you should have there's no way around the interest charges. The IRS might abate some or all of the penalties if you ask so it's certainly worth asking for that. If you can locate the preparer you might have a case to have them pay the penalties -- good ones will do that voluntarily -- if you sued her in small claims court however the legal liability for all of the charges is strictly yours.
2007-09-19 03:58:06 · answer #2 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even if the preparer could be found, it's still your taxes and you have to pay. IRS will accept a payment plan. Interest will accrue but it isn't too high.
Come tax time, IRS will keep any refund and apply it to your balance due.
2007-09-18 23:04:02 · answer #3 · answered by bdancer222 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have an EA or CPA look at your return and the notice to be sure it's correct. 85% of all CP-2000 (balance due) notices the IRS sends are wrong. I answer 50 or so a year and have seen maybe one totally correct notice in 8 years.
2007-09-19 15:28:17 · answer #4 · answered by daoco 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The same thing happened to me. What I did was find another accountant and she went through the taxes again to find out if there were any more errors. I had to still go through the audit but paid alot less than I would have without her.
2007-09-18 22:35:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pay the bill. You owed it all along. The person making the mistake doesn't owe you anything unless you contracted otherwise before she did the job for you.
You owe the money and you'll have to pay it. You can set up monthly payments with the IRS.
2007-09-18 23:58:31 · answer #6 · answered by Let me steer you 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
contact an attorney that deals with the IRS and taxes.
2007-09-18 22:37:19 · answer #7 · answered by sophieb 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You have to pay..it doesn't matter who did your taxes..you are responsible...welcome to fair taxation.
2007-09-18 22:33:11 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
YOU AE RESPONSIBLE AS FAR AS I KNOW. REMEMBER JACKSON AND HEWITT GOT IN LOTS OF TROUBLE CHANGING POPLES TAXES, THEY GOT IN TROUBLE BUT SO DID THE INNOCENT CLIENTS THAT HAD NO IDEA, YOU SHOULD TRUST THE PERSON YOU HAVE DO YOUR TAXES
2007-09-18 22:55:14 · answer #9 · answered by amartin929 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋