Jump to content
ATX Community

Ridiculous amendment?


elfling

Recommended Posts

Is there such a thing as an amendment threshhold?

This situation seems absolutely ridiculous. A client discovered two quite small ($24.10 & $17.11) dividend statements from 2006. Running a 1040X creates a balance due of $2. Seems almost silly to file it. Client has not received any correspondence from IRS.

It's true that to be totally accurate, an amendment should be filed. But is it sensible?

What say some of you?

Elfing

Link to comment
Share on other sites

>>Seems almost silly to file it.<<

According to Circular 230, you are supposed to advise the client of his need to file the return (little) and the potential penalty for failing (none). Don't forget to mention your fee (lots). Then follow the client's instructions.

There are various reasons why a client might file even if not required at all, so don't be surprised if he doesn't agree that amending is silly.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is there such a thing as an amendment threshhold?

This situation seems absolutely ridiculous. A client discovered two quite small ($24.10 & $17.11) dividend statements from 2006. Running a 1040X creates a balance due of $2. Seems almost silly to file it. Client has not received any correspondence from IRS.

It's true that to be totally accurate, an amendment should be filed. But is it sensible?

What say some of you?

Elfing

Pragmatically, wait for the CP2000. It already hasn't come with this February's batch. If it ever does, consent to the change. MUCH less of a hassle than amending for such a trivial amount. TaxCPANY

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is there such a thing as an amendment threshhold?

This situation seems absolutely ridiculous. A client discovered two quite small ($24.10 & $17.11) dividend statements from 2006. Running a 1040X creates a balance due of $2. Seems almost silly to file it. Client has not received any correspondence from IRS.

It's true that to be totally accurate, an amendment should be filed. But is it sensible?

What say some of you?

Elfing

Pragmatically, wait for the CP2000. It already hasn't come with this February's batch. If it ever does, consent to the change. MUCH less of a hassle than amending for such a trivial amount. TaxCPANY

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I always tell my client... The IRS will catch it FOR SURE but the auditor will read your return, then he will decide if he needs to send you a letter. If the auditor feels that he will spend more on postage and handling, he will not send you anything. You do not tell your client, "maybe the IRS will not catch it". If you do that, the next time your client will leave out a 1099misc expecting that the IRS will not catch it.

Last time, a TP came to my office with his previous 3 year returns and a letter from IRS. The IRS was questioning the Itemized deductions. On the return they made $53 and the itemized deductions were $35 in mortgage interest, RE taxes and 2106s. I checked all years I was surprised that every year they made about $100K. I asked them why they made so little that year and they said "we always make about the same amount of income". I checked W-2s carefully and a W-2 for $45K was left out. The IRS was asking for a $3K payment and I told this new client, if I amend, I will include the other income and I will not use any 2106s. The client agred and we added the additional W-2. I was surprised that the auditor didn't match their W-2s.

At the end they owed 6K.

Another one, a client told me that he left out $142.60 from dividends. I said... I will charge you $100 to amend or you wait for the IRS to send you a letter next year and you will owe them about $55. He said, I am going to wait. Next year the IRS send him a letter demanding more than $3K because he left out $14260 (fourteen hundred two hundred sixty).

So, I guess you should amend.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There is a limit on what the IRS will send a CP2000 out for. Stock sales, almost always because they don't know the basis. a piddly little 1099-int like described above will not cause a CP2000. However, if they leave off something that WILL trigger one, the cp2000 will have every dollar in interest that wasnt' there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...