The Tax Preparation Blog

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Question: how do i become an independent tax preparer who can work out of home?

i was wondering if anyone knew what i would need to to to prepare taxes out of my home for other people?? i need to work from home due to my son being disabled and i being his only care and we are expecting our 2nd child soon. i did my own on turbotax this year and was thinking about taking some classes at h&r block. any suggestions? where do i start??

Answer: Dear D: Look at H&R Block.com for schools starting in June or July. Also goggle Gleim or Kaplan for schools. After you do taxes for a couple years you may want to study and become an Enrolled Agent or even a CPA and then start your own practice. In the meantime look at www.irs.gov and order some Pubs. (free) from the IRS and start reading. Pub 17 is a good start.

This advice was prepared based on our understanding of the tax law in effect at the time it was written as it applies to the facts that you provided. Click on my profile to read more. Errol Quinn Enrolled Agent Master Tax Advisor

Treasury launches debit card pilot program for tax refunds

Low-income taxpayers who don’t have bank accounts will be able to get their tax refunds this year on prepaid debit cards supplied by the government, the Treasury Department said Thursday.The department plans to send letters to 600,000 households next week, asking them to take part in a pilot program to put their tax refunds on the debit cards, which can be used to get money from ATM machines …

MRONLINETAX – Online Tax Preparation MADE EASY

Question: I am hoping to attend college in Toronto, CA. I am doing lots of research and planning & have some questions.?

My folks live in the US. Right now I live with them and have all of my possessions at their house.

They are willing to mail some of my items to me since I can’t take everything I would like to have at school with me when I first go there.

Which categories of items would be easiest and quickest to get through customs via the mail from the US to Canada?

We thought it would be easiest to send like items together to simplify and expedite the process. Here are the categories we’ve come up with so far:

books
family photos
video tapes
clothing
camping gear
extra bedding and towels
tax preparation paperwork – receipts, etc.
computer printer
camera gear – several cameras – still and video

Please feel free to suggest any other categories that I should consider.

Thanks for your input:)

Answer: It doesn’t really matter, all customs stuff in my experience is just about the same (except possibly for stuff like prescription medication and food).

You should not mail camera equipment, the post office will not take care of it as well as you will, the lenses could be broken. Same with your printer, and the photos (if they are framed with glass). If you decide to mail it, make sure it is packaged *very* well, lots of padding.

Clothes, camping gear, towels, sheets, photos, books, you can mail it all separately, but the heavier and bulkier it is, the more you pay.

Unless you are going winter camping, you probably won’t need any camping gear.

Regarding everything you mentioned, remember: if you mail it to yourself, you can sometimes pay duties and customs fees, it might be cheaper to just rent a u-haul truck and drive it over yourself.

Do not mail the tax documents, bring them yourself. If you must mail them, insure them, and send it by courier.

Baytex Announces Heavy Oil Acquisition

CALGARY, ALBERTA–(Marketwire – Jan. 14, 2011) – Baytex Energy Corp. (TSX:BTE) (NYSE:BTE) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement to acquire heavy oil assets located in the Seal area of northern Alberta and the Lloydminster area of western Saskatchewan. The assets are being acquired through a combination of a corporate acquisition of a private company and an asset …

Serge Portnoy, CA 416-736-9677

Pennsylvania’s Electronic Income Tax Filing Systems Now Available

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The more than 6.1 million Pennsylvania taxpayers who file annual state personal income tax returns may now begin filing electronically for the 2010 tax year.

Tax Tips: Tax Package Mailings End (ASL, Captions & Voice Over)

Question: Tax Calculation/Diane?

Hi sorry diane, im in ontario. I saw a previous posting you gave with this site but when I calculated it, it showed much more so not sure if I did it right!

Will the 9600 still be the same if we are temporary residents which we are. Have been here 18mths but still dont have landed immigrant status

Not very good on this site either!
Thanks

You didn’t say what province you live in. For your husband’s income, taxes would have ranged from $6315 in Nunavut to $9274 in Quebec.

Here’s a calculator you can use to see how much taxes would be, with NO deductions, for your province:

http://www.ey.com/global/Content.nsf/Can…

He will pay less than that calculator shows because of the dependents, and if you live in a province that offers provincial tax credits for rent or property tax (most don’t). So I think he’s fine.

All of your taxes paid will be returned, because you made less than $960

Answer: minor point to clarify. Think Diane made an innocent typo

The tax credits for your two children apply if they were born after 1990, not 1980.

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