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Subject Author Date
Massachusetts efile letter Bill B 11-24-2006
Posted by Bill B on November 24, 2006, 11:34 pm
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 I've just received a DOR form letter stating that I paper
file too many returns. Has anyone else received this?

I reviewed my last season and I efiled 81%. Is this really
unusually high as they say in the letter?

The last two weeks of the season I do not efile if the
taxpayer and spouse are not in my office to sign. 9 weeks
efile most returns out of 11 weeks comes out to 81%.

What does everyone else do for signatures when it comes down
to the last minute? Is Massachusetts going to get more
aggressive on these bully tactics? The letter is pretty
threatening.

<< ======================================================= >>
<< 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 (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>

Posted by Harlan Lunsford on November 26, 2006, 10:54 am
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 Bill B wrote:

> I've just received a DOR form letter stating that I paper
> file too many returns. Has anyone else received this?
>
> I reviewed my last season and I efiled 81%. Is this really
> unusually high as they say in the letter?
>
> The last two weeks of the season I do not efile if the
> taxpayer and spouse are not in my office to sign. 9 weeks
> efile most returns out of 11 weeks comes out to 81%.
>
> What does everyone else do for signatures when it comes down
> to the last minute? Is Massachusetts going to get more
> aggressive on these bully tactics? The letter is pretty
> threatening.

I have no direct experience with the state Taxachussets, but
the states I have heard of pushing efiling state their
requirements in numbers and not percentages. For example
Alabama started out several years ago saying that if a
preparer filed more than 100, they would for the coming tax
season be required to efile. Next year I think it was 50
and then 25. Not that it mattered to me, since by that time
I only filed several returns on paper, those not qualifying
for federal efiling.

Check with the state for their requirement. If they have no
requirement, how can they use bullying tactics, or much less
threaten?

ChEAr$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

<< ======================================================= >>
<< 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 (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>

Posted by Bill B on November 27, 2006, 8:08 am
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> Check with the state for their requirement. If they have no
> requirement, how can they use bullying tactics, or much less
> threaten?

They came out with a requirement two years ago in the form
of TIR 04-30 (modified by TIR 05-22). The wording is vague,
"The Department may require practitioners subject to the
Electronic Filing Mandate of TIR 04-30 who have a high
percentage of paper filers to retain documentation of their
clients' preference for paper filing." I now have a special
form EFO that has to be signed anytime someone paper files a
return from my office. I did not receive the letter last
year, which is odd because my filing practices have not
changed and I filed the same numbers of efile vs. paper
returns each year.

I am meeting with the state this week and I'll let you know
what they say about this. I am curious as to how others
handle last minute filings if the client is not present to
review their copy and sign the proper documents so you can
efile their return. I've found that last minute filers are
not the easiest to get information from and getting most of
them to return the signature form before April 15 is pretty
much impossible.

I may be making a mountain out of a molehill here, but this
letter bothers me because I am a big fan of efile and
thought I efiled a large percent of returns.

Bill B
in Taxachusetts (yes you can call it that again)

<< ======================================================= >>
<< 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 (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>

Posted by Harlan Lunsford on November 28, 2006, 1:03 am
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Bill B wrote:
(snipped....._

> I may be making a mountain out of a molehill here, but this
> letter bothers me because I am a big fan of efile and
> thought I efiled a large percent of returns.

I see now on their web site the 100 return minimum
requirement. And of course to keep record of those opting
out.

Actually since returns (with IRS at least) may be
electronically filed up through October 15th, surely all
taxpayers can sign the form for efiling. Unless a client is
vehemently opposed to efiling, all my returns qualifying are
filed that way which gives me an Ivory soap record: 99.4%
pure.

Keep on keeping on getting clients attuned to the new way of
doing business. After all, you CAN teach an old dog new
tricks. (You and me included! grin)

ChEAr$,
Harlan

p.s. the few communications I've ever had with Taxachusetts
Dept of Revenue have all been poorly written, addressing
taxpayer as if he should know better than try "that" with
"them".

<< ======================================================= >>
<< 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 (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>

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