makbo wrote:ATSMAN wrote:gives me a bottle or two of beer while he prepares the return and I make occasional critical comments based on what I see on the screen.
IMHO you are a paid preparer not probono
But you yourself said, "
I think it might be considered as a tax voyeurism ". I should correct a fact in my original statement -- since my friend no longer drinks alcohol, I actually bring my own beer to his house.
Even if I agreed that I was a paid preparer in this situation (which I don't), there is no place in the software he uses to enter a PTIN and sign as a paid preparer, and even if there was, I don't have his password and therefore cannot enter or change a single thing on his return.
We have little time before busy tax season for some fun!
If I was to give my friend some help, I expect him to buy the beer or at least offer to buy!
You are correct that the end usert type software like Turbo Tax or Tax Act has no place to put a PTIN. As a matter of fact I know a fellow who will do the entire tax return on TT or TaxAct, get paid and then they have the taxpayer mail it to IRS and State. He is very popular at the local watering hole and I lost a few clients to him