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Happy Valentines! A Gift of Tax Filing For Your Sweetheart
By Stacie Clifford Kitts, CPA
Feb. 14 is the magic filing date.
Well, I guess the IRS finally figured it out and reprogrammed their computer system to accommodate the new tax changes.. If you file Schedule A that is you itemize, or you will take the hirer education tuition and fees deduction on Form 8917, or even the educator expenses deduction, you will be able to file your tax return (hopefully) starting on Valentines Day. How romantic, a gift of tax filing for your sweetheart.
Read on for more info:
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service plans a Feb. 14 start date for processing tax returns delayed by last month’s tax law changes. The IRS reminded taxpayers affected by the delay they can begin preparing their tax returns immediately because many software providers are ready now to accept these returns.
Beginning Feb. 14, the IRS will start processing both paper and e-filed returns claiming itemized deductions on Schedule A, the higher education tuition and fees deduction on Form 8917 and the educator expenses deduction. Based on filings last year, about nine million tax returns claimed any of these deductions on returns received by the IRS before Feb. 14.
People using e-file for these delayed forms can get a head start because many major software providers have announced they will accept these impacted returns immediately. The software providers will hold onto the returns and then electronically submit them after the IRS systems open on Feb. 14 for the delayed forms.
Taxpayers using commercial software can check with their providers for specific instructions. Those who use a paid tax preparer should check with their preparer, who also may be holding returns until the updates are complete.
Most other returns, including those claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), education tax credits, child tax credit and other popular tax breaks, can be filed as normal, immediately.
The IRS needed the extra time to update its systems to accommodate the tax law changes without disrupting other operations tied to the filing season. The delay followed the Dec. 17 enactment of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, which extended a number of expiring provisions including the state and local sales tax deduction, higher education tuition and fees deduction and educator expenses deduction.
Related Articles
- Filing Valentine from the IRS (dontmesswithtaxes.typepad.com)
- Taxpayers who itemize can start filing returns on Feb. 14 (usatoday.com)
- Some Tax Payers Will Need to File Their 1040 Later Rather Than Sooner This Coming Filing Season (staciesmoretaxtips.wordpress.com)
- Valentine’s Day marks start of tax season for many (sfgate.com)
- When can you file your 2010 tax return? (mnn.com)
HERE’S A LESSON IN QUESTIONABLE CUSTOMER SERVICE – DON’T MESS WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS A BLOG THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY READ
By Stacie Clifford Kitts CPA
I just can’t help myself. I need to tell you because you are not going to believe what I am doing right now.
If you are familiar with popular tax and write-up software companies, i.e. you’re a CPA or tax professional, then you might recognize the number that’s showing on my phone in this picture.
Let me break down what you are looking at.
The 800 number showing on the screen represents the “customer service” number for my tax software provider. The bottom right hand number represents the time that has passed since I have been on the phone trying to resolve an issue with the software.
Now the first hour of time that is depicted reflects the time I spent with a technician who was trying to get my custom letterhead to work properly. The idea of adding your letterhead to the software is to save time. That is, when I print a tax return, the transmittal letter and filing instructions will print on my letterhead eliminating a processing step. Yeah for everyone because the less time I spend on a return theoretically the more savings I can pass onto my clients. Very cool – if it worked!
Anyway, the tech was very nice and told me he would call me back tomorrow when he had more time to figure out why it wasn’t working.
This is when I made my fatal mistake and asked to be transferred to a different department so I could resolve yet another problem with the software. The person who took this call was unable to assist me and asked if she could put me on hold to research the issue. As of the writing of this blog, I have been on hold for over 65 additional minutes (a total of 2 hours and 5 minutes of time on the phone with you know who).
What do you think? Is my friendly customer service rep who had no idea how to answer my question heading home, or maybe she’s already home getting ready for bed spending time with her family – while I languish on hold like a spurned desperate lover hoping someone will come back to the phone and resolve my problem.
That’s right loyal readers, she forgot about me. ***Ugh*** I feel like such a loser. 😦
Stacie's Tax Stuff 