Re: "Tax Filing Woes Worsening Due to Complex Laws"

In article <cqetg.41334$gv2.40145@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Paul Thomas, CPA <paulthomascpapc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Form 1040EZ is basically 12 lines long. Please! It includes one line for
wages, one line for interest (less than $1500) and one line for unemployment
compensation. That's it as far as income goes. Even a non-English speaking
illegal immigrant can complete it faster than 12 hours.


Yes, but when I do 1040EZ's for my VITA clients, it takes me
longer to complete the client's Name, Address & SSN (and VITA
Site ID Number) than to complete the rest of the form!





But the website has this:
"Today, taxpayers must wade through 142 pages of instructions for the
standard 1040 form and schedules, up from 128 pages last year"


Makes you wonder how old Andy's computer really is when it can't even access
the current web page.


FYI:

The 2005 Form 1040 instructions are only 84 pages thick (82 pages on the IRS
website @ http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040.pdf), and that includes a
whole lot of miscellaneous administratia (15 pages up front and 7 pages in
back).



I'm guessing the higher number includes some built-in schedules
instructions.





Also, the forms and instructions haven't gotten longer at all.
"Taxpayers Must Cope with Longer Forms and Instructions"

They are still printed on 8 1/2 x 11 paper.


Now here we disagree.





IRS forms are still 8 x 11, not 8 1/2 x 11




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Art Kamlet ArtKamlet @ AOL.com Columbus OH K2PZH
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