Comments on: Bush’s IRS Wants to Make Your Tax Returns Public http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 04:14:05 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Jim Crow Laws Employment Law Us Supreme Court http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/comment-page-2/#comment-4558012 Jim Crow Laws Employment Law Us Supreme Court Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:05:11 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/#comment-4558012 <strong>Jim Crow Laws Employment Law Us Supreme Court</strong> I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view Jim Crow Laws Employment Law Us Supreme Court

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]]> By: Latasha http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/comment-page-2/#comment-4461494 Latasha Tue, 25 Mar 2008 06:18:57 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/#comment-4461494 <strong>Latasha</strong> Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. Latasha

Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.

]]> By: make cash http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/comment-page-2/#comment-4451496 make cash Mon, 24 Mar 2008 08:21:54 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/#comment-4451496 <strong>make cash</strong> Good job, I enjoyed that. make cash

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]]> By: Valerie http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/comment-page-2/#comment-4440916 Valerie Sun, 23 Mar 2008 18:19:22 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/#comment-4440916 <strong>Valerie</strong> When you do the right thing, enjoy it! When you take positive actions, enjoy them. After all, they are leading you toward positive results. Pat yourself on the back. Truly enjoy the fact that you're making positive progress, and the negative temptatio... Valerie

When you do the right thing, enjoy it! When you take positive actions, enjoy them. After all, they are leading you toward positive results. Pat yourself on the back. Truly enjoy the fact that you’re making positive progress, and the negative temptatio…

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]]> By: tax cpa http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/comment-page-2/#comment-4327094 tax cpa Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:18:05 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/#comment-4327094 <strong>tax cpa</strong> Interestingly, this was on CNN last week. tax cpa

Interestingly, this was on CNN last week.

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I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view

]]> By: Liz Zitzow EA http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/comment-page-2/#comment-508532 Liz Zitzow EA Mon, 17 Apr 2006 07:22:06 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/#comment-508532 I agree that the regulation is too widely encompassing, and can be abused. The real reason for the regulation was to let taxpayers know if their return is being prepared outside the US, or if information from the return is being provided to anyone other the IRS. The three reasons why are: 1) Many returns are now processed in other countries (India's most common), with the clients none the wiser. The IRS wants Americans who pay for an American firm to prepare their US taxes to know if their returns are, indeed, staying within America or not. 2) In a typical client's case, the information is passed on to the tax-preparation software company as part of e-filing. Over half the returns filed in the USA are efiled, which means quite a significant number are already being processed outside the firm you hired to do your returns. 3) Another large percentage are done by chain return companies (H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt, TurboTax online, etc.), and the marketing and development departments at the head offices of these companies use your return statistics to determine what improvements to make to their services next year (a good thing) and what new services to provide (an ominous thing). Some companies offer mortgage products, investment and IRA products, and a host of other products, and they are sold to you based on the results of your return. The key thing the IRS was looking at in passing this law is making it obvious to the taxpayer what has already been going on behind the scenes. By being able to opt out, the IRS hopes to protect you from shameless marketing techniques. It's also hoping that the old "American jobs for American people" sentiment will kick in, and fewer returns will be processed outside the US. Unfortunately, by making the law all-encompassing, firms such as mine (located outside the US) will have to have every client sign a lengthy disclosure to inform the client that the work is being done abroad, as if my London address wasn't a big tip-off. The regulations require that signature is "opt in" rather than "opt out", so if you don't sign, they can't mess with your stats. I would encourage everyone who hires a paid preparation firm or uses an online tax preparation programme to read all disclosures very carefully before signing. This particular disclosure is required by law to be on a separate piece of 8 1/2 x 11 paper in the same size font as the majority of the company documents, so it should be obvious when you get to it. I would never opt in without removing the clause allowing distribution of data to third party marketing sources; but you should allow your tax preparer to share data with the tax software to enable e-filing. This regulation hasn't been finalized yet. You can lobby your congressmen and the Senate Tax Committee to make this regulation fairer, or stricter. Myself, I haven't lost any clients yet with my disclosure that explains we want to be able to send information related to their US tax returns to their UK accountants and our e-file provider. --liz@BritishAmericanTax.com I agree that the regulation is too widely encompassing, and can be abused. The real reason for the regulation was to let taxpayers know if their return is being prepared outside the US, or if information from the return is being provided to anyone other the IRS. The three reasons why are:

1) Many returns are now processed in other countries (India’s most common), with the clients none the wiser. The IRS wants Americans who pay for an American firm to prepare their US taxes to know if their returns are, indeed, staying within America or not.

2) In a typical client’s case, the information is passed on to the tax-preparation software company as part of e-filing. Over half the returns filed in the USA are efiled, which means quite a significant number are already being processed outside the firm you hired to do your returns.

3) Another large percentage are done by chain return companies (H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt, TurboTax online, etc.), and the marketing and development departments at the head offices of these companies use your return statistics to determine what improvements to make to their services next year (a good thing) and what new services to provide (an ominous thing). Some companies offer mortgage products, investment and IRA products, and a host of other products, and they are sold to you based on the results of your return.

The key thing the IRS was looking at in passing this law is making it obvious to the taxpayer what has already been going on behind the scenes. By being able to opt out, the IRS hopes to protect you from shameless marketing techniques. It’s also hoping that the old “American jobs for American people” sentiment will kick in, and fewer returns will be processed outside the US. Unfortunately, by making the law all-encompassing, firms such as mine (located outside the US) will have to have every client sign a lengthy disclosure to inform the client that the work is being done abroad, as if my London address wasn’t a big tip-off.

The regulations require that signature is “opt in” rather than “opt out”, so if you don’t sign, they can’t mess with your stats. I would encourage everyone who hires a paid preparation firm or uses an online tax preparation programme to read all disclosures very carefully before signing. This particular disclosure is required by law to be on a separate piece of 8 1/2 x 11 paper in the same size font as the majority of the company documents, so it should be obvious when you get to it. I would never opt in without removing the clause allowing distribution of data to third party marketing sources; but you should allow your tax preparer to share data with the tax software to enable e-filing.

This regulation hasn’t been finalized yet. You can lobby your congressmen and the Senate Tax Committee to make this regulation fairer, or stricter. Myself, I haven’t lost any clients yet with my disclosure that explains we want to be able to send information related to their US tax returns to their UK accountants and our e-file provider.

–liz@BritishAmericanTax.com

]]> By: Cyra Brown http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/comment-page-2/#comment-484647 Cyra Brown Fri, 24 Mar 2006 02:28:59 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/#comment-484647 I saw my CPA today. He is also a friend of mine, and so I said to him, "you aren't planning to sell my tax return, are you?" He had no idea what I was talking about. So I told him about this post, it was the first time he'd heard about it . So I wrote down this website for him and told him to check it out for himself. I must admit, I got a charge out of being able to tell him about it, before he heard about it somewhere else. So, thank you, TP, for always being "on it"! Oh- he assured me he would not sell my return. ;) I saw my CPA today. He is also a friend of mine, and so I said to him, “you aren’t planning to sell my tax return, are you?” He had no idea what I was talking about. So I told him about this post, it was the first time he’d heard about it . So I wrote down this website for him and told him to check it out for himself. I must admit, I got a charge out of being able to tell him about it, before he heard about it somewhere else. So, thank you, TP, for always being “on it”! Oh- he assured me he would not sell my return. ;)

]]> By: Marie http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/comment-page-2/#comment-484525 Marie Fri, 24 Mar 2006 00:17:43 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/#comment-484525 There was just a news item on CNN about a two year old victim of identity theft -- the sale of tax returns and all of the associated data won't exacerbate that will it? This is will rank as one of the dumbest ideas from the government. There was just a news item on CNN about a two year old victim of identity theft — the sale of tax returns and all of the associated data won’t exacerbate that will it?
This is will rank as one of the dumbest ideas from the government.

]]> By: Ho Chi Minh http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/comment-page-2/#comment-484405 Ho Chi Minh Thu, 23 Mar 2006 22:55:00 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/#comment-484405 Bush now endorses government-sponsored identity theft. Our tax returns with name, address, SSN and our incomes for sale. <strong>PEOPLE, WAKE UP!!! CALL YOUR SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN(WOMEN) AND DON'T JUST TELL THEM NO, BUT GODDAMN HELL NO!!!!</strong> Bush now endorses government-sponsored identity theft. Our tax returns with name, address, SSN and our incomes for sale. PEOPLE, WAKE UP!!! CALL YOUR SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN(WOMEN) AND DON’T JUST TELL THEM NO, BUT GODDAMN HELL NO!!!!

]]> By: Jack http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/comment-page-2/#comment-484213 Jack Thu, 23 Mar 2006 20:53:44 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/#comment-484213 Solution: Do your own taxes. Problem: Solved. It is my theory if more people did their own taxes, the tax law would change fast and become simplified. Besides it is our government, our laws which we live under, shouldn't we understand them? Isn't it ironic that H&R Block couldn't even do their own taxes. Our Governor several years ago said our state taxes would be simplified, so you could do them on an index card. That must have been an election year, because they have only gotten worse and there is no talk now of simplification. Our state government sold our information from another agency, until a Representative found out by accident it was occuring without anyone's knowledge. Now you can sign a form to opt-out, but that is only for individual requests. If someone wants more than n-number, they can get it if they have the dough. Solution: Do your own taxes.

Problem: Solved.

It is my theory if more people did their own taxes, the tax law would change fast and become simplified. Besides it is our government, our laws which we live under, shouldn’t we understand them?

Isn’t it ironic that H&R Block couldn’t even do their own taxes.

Our Governor several years ago said our state taxes would be simplified, so you could do them on an index card. That must have been an election year, because they have only gotten worse and there is no talk now of simplification. Our state government sold our information from another agency, until a Representative found out by accident it was occuring without anyone’s knowledge. Now you can sign a form to opt-out, but that is only for individual requests. If someone wants more than n-number, they can get it if they have the dough.

]]> By: Mary http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/comment-page-1/#comment-484129 Mary Thu, 23 Mar 2006 20:05:05 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/#comment-484129 Man am I ever glad I do my OWN tax returns. Fuckers. Man am I ever glad I do my OWN tax returns. Fuckers.

]]> By: Zimzone http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/comment-page-1/#comment-484123 Zimzone Thu, 23 Mar 2006 20:02:31 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/#comment-484123 <em>Speaking of numers... <strong>BUSH, your number is up!</strong></em> Speaking of numers…
BUSH, your number is up!

]]> By: Mary Poppin http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/comment-page-1/#comment-484045 Mary Poppin Thu, 23 Mar 2006 19:20:57 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/#comment-484045 Nothing surprises me about this administration. CORRUPT!! CORRUPT!! CORRUPT!!! Nothing surprises me about this administration. CORRUPT!! CORRUPT!! CORRUPT!!!

]]> By: troll http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/comment-page-1/#comment-484030 troll Thu, 23 Mar 2006 19:12:56 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/#comment-484030 Wrong thread sorry Wrong thread sorry

]]> By: troll http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/comment-page-1/#comment-484029 troll Thu, 23 Mar 2006 19:12:08 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/23/bushs-irs-wants-to-make-your-tax-returns-public/#comment-484029 I dont know the answer to those questions but we all know how many bombs went off. I think if we deserve to know about the reports of James Hansen on global warming we also have a right to know the answers to these questions. Its a matter of consistency, we demand the whole truth from President Bush shouldn't we demand the same from the media? I dont know the answer to those questions but we all know how many bombs went off. I think if we deserve to know about the reports of James Hansen on global warming we also have a right to know the answers to these questions. Its a matter of consistency, we demand the whole truth from President Bush shouldn’t we demand the same from the media?

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