|
Posted by Benjamin Yazersky CPA on February 13, 2008, 9:33 pm
Please log in for more thread options >
> > > How can I determine how much I have already paid for last yrs.
> > > estimated taxes?
>
> > Something's wrong with the question. People who make
> > estimated tax payments have a record of the payments they've
> > made, so you must be asking about something else. Can you
> > clarify exactly what you're trying to find out [...]?
>
> It is not uncommon for disorganized people to lose track of
> what checks they have written. This is especially true for
> children of elderly parents. The latter fail to keep records,
> and the children are forced to play catch-up when they take
> control of their parents' finances.
>
> Of course, getting copies of the statements from the bank(s)
> is the right answer.
>
> But here's a tongue-in-cheek answer for the future.
>
> Under-report the estimated tax payments on the tax return
> each year. This will cause you to over-compute the tax
> liability and either overpay taxes due or under-report the
> refund.
>
> Eventually, the IRS (and state tax authority) will send you
> an additional refund. But also, the IRS (at least) will send
> you a notice the following year to inform you of the total
> amount of estimated taxes paid in the just-ended tax year.
>
> I discovered that this year, as a result of a lot of confusion
> caused by the CPA who (incorrectly) prepared my mother's
> tax returns last year.
>
> --
It is important to keep track of the checks (or in these days
electronic payments) one makes.
You need to be able to go through your own records and be able to
produce this info.
Actually, some states allow taxpayers to obtain their tax info online.
But the IRS just isn't there quite yet. I've heard it could be in the
pipeline in a few years or so.
However, underreporting your estimated tax payments to generate a
refund is just dumb & dumber.
It generally causes much more problems than it can solve.
Relying on the IRS and the state tax dept to get it right is wishful
dreaming.
I can't tell you how many times I have had to deal with the IRS and
state tax dept's because they didn't get the tax payments properly
applied to the tax return. I've also seen states just let the
overpayment just sit in suspense until the taxpayer figures it out and
inquires about it. And by then the statute of limitations has expired
and the govt doesn't issue the refund. YOU LOSE!
___________________________________
<<< Benjamin Yazersky, CPA [NJ & NY] >>>
-----> real address on hobokeni or hobokenx <-----
"This written advice was not intended or written to be used, and it
cannot
be used by any taxpayer, for the purpose of avoiding penalties that
may be
imposed on the taxpayer."
(The foregoing legend has been affixed pursuant to U.S. Treasury
Regulations
governing tax practice.)
The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity
to
which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged
material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of,
or
taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or
entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you
received
this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from
any
computer.
--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>
| 
Yahoo! 
Google 
Windows Live 
del.icio.us 
digg 
Netscape 
XML Sitemap