天美麻豆

LaraClarc wrote:

As far as I know the tax season "opens" on January 31 and I plan to be finished with my return by then and send it to them on the first days of February

Free file opens, tomorrow January 17.

Be advised, the IRS website is horrible. I would seriously consult a tax professional like HR Block. The tax law is overly complicated and recently I was audited myself and I am not even close to 40 years old.

MiaCulpa wrote:

The system is not especially difficult.聽 Simply follow the instructions on the form/online.聽 They will let you know if you make a mistake.聽 Few people are shot for making a simple mistake.聽 Lately.

MiaCulpa,

This probably does not apply to everyone. I can ask 20 Americans and 20 foreign nationals if they have has issues with the IRS tax returns and filing instructions. I would say 35/40 would have had problems. Especially if you do no speak fluent English. Tax requirements are different from everyone. Ironically after responding on this thread I got a letter from Uncle Sam saying I did not file for 2011/2012, even though I did. Does that sound easy? Sounds overly convoluted to me, considering I e-files both years.

usmc_mv wrote:

Ironically after responding on this thread I got a letter from Uncle Sam saying I did not file for 2011/2012, even though I did. Does that sound easy? Sounds overly convoluted to me, considering I e-files both years.

That happens often enough to people I know filed because I am the ERO, received paperwork saying it was successfully filed and then an IRS notice 6 months later.聽 Unfortunately it often takes persistence and two or three letters to straighten it out, which can be very intimidating to those not well versed in English and/or tax laws.

mugtech wrote:

usmc_mv wrote:

Ironically after responding on this thread I got a letter from Uncle Sam saying I did not file for 2011/2012, even though I did. Does that sound easy? Sounds overly convoluted to me, considering I e-files both years.

That happens often enough to people I know filed because I am the ERO, received paperwork saying it was successfully filed and then an IRS notice 6 months later.聽 Unfortunately it often takes persistence and two or three letters to straighten it out, which can be very intimidating to those not well versed in English and/or tax laws.

Darn, I work for the Department of Justice and the director can't pay his own taxes. [Moderated: Off topic]

MiaCulpa wrote:

Once again, are all these hateful responses really necessary?聽 How do they assist the topic at hand?

It is not hateful to point out how wrong it is to think that if you attempt to file your taxes online and make an error it will be fixed for you.聽 Every year I meet new tax clients who e-filed the previous year, and first thing I do is review previous years tax returns for errors.聽 Often I find one or more errors which cost the tax payers hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars.聽 Fortunately one can file an amended tax return within 3 years of the original due date of the return to receive a refund of the overpaid taxes.聽 The tax program does not know if you have deductions and credits you could have taken, what portion of your annuity distribution is taxable in your state etc etc.聽 To tell someone that if they e-file all errors will be corrected is a gross oversimplification of the process and gives them a false sense of security when they are about to cross a field full of financial land mines.聽 Most people do not know enough about taxes to say whether or not the IRS website is easy to use.聽 Sorry if you find the truth hateful.

LaraClarc wrote:

Can you guys advise me can I claim any expenses or not?

It is best to meet someone in person and allow for a dialog that will hopefully reveal what is required and what can be done.聽 Speaking in vague generalities is dangerous and not productive.