Pay per return and efiling-can you efile only?

as a tax preparer wouldnt it be a good idea to have printed copy of the the return, as well as having a copy of the authorization documents for efiling? Murphy's law says that your computer will crash at the worst possible moment.

Yes of course, and I always do this on my copy before printing a customer copy to check for errors.

BUt I have a couple clients that are literally 1 or 2 W-2's and that's it. Since I am just startgin out, its easiest to do them manually on a downloaded form and print that out. Every dollar counts right now.

SO back to my question- can you efile without printing??

Is the charge per return based on e-filing or preparing and saving a return? If it is based on either, then wouldn't you still get charged PPR?

You can prepare and save as many returns as you wish; you just can't print them or create PDF files or e-file them without incurring a PPR charge.

So I have the same question as beengel -- can you e-file without actually printing a return and thus incur ONLY the charge for e-filing?

beengel, have you contacted ProSeries support about this?

If you cannot afford to print a return then you must be a dufus. Go do tax returns in China

Thank you for your support estott. Comments such as yours help us understand who the dufusses are in the online community!

You are required to give the client a copy, so that would be printed even if you e-file.

If you are doing the tax return manually, just make a copies and let the t/p mail it.

So, beengel, you want the benefits of using tax software without paying for it? Sounds pretty shady to me. Do you sign all the returns you prepare?

Gosh, I just do not understand where your are coming from.

I am just starting out this year on my own, working from home. I have about 20 customers. (Had about 5 last year. I use pay per return software. I have a couple clients who have high school students with one w2 that need to file. I can't see charging them that much, and am simply am looking at all possible ways to assist them while keeping their charges and my costs low. Yes I sign returns, and I am NOT shady in any respect.

Reading my orginal post probably framed this, and there is simply no need to read anything additional into it, as it just is not needed.

My goals may not be yours, but that does not make me shady!

I'm not sure why this is such a difficult question to answer, nor am I sure why anyone would infer that beengel is acting improperly.

Danielwolf, I think your comment that beengel intends to use software without paying for it is misplaced. At the very least she must have paid the upfront cost of $100, and she also knows that a PPR charge for e-filing is assessed.

Understand that I do not intend to offend anyone by my comments, but I certainly appreciate the desire of someone attempting to establish herself on her own needing to conserve costs!

THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF IT GO AHEAD AND TRY IT
THE BOX WILL COME UP FOR YOU TO PAY IF IT YOU CAN'T DO IT. JUST TRY TO E-FILE IT AND SEE HOW MUCH THE CHARGES ARE.

Let me tell you a story, I have been a tax professional for over 26 years among other professions I decided to venture in. When I started out at home in 1997 because I decided to take care of my ailing father, I started out with Turbo Tax that would cost $20 to $40 depending on which one I would purchase. I would erase the "self prepared" comment and completed it with my information. Whether this was shady or not is not relevant. What is to me is that the return is prepared with professional knowledge and that you are familiar with the tax laws because the programs do give you the whole picture to every tax issue.

As my business grew, I started to use pay-per-return to save money. This is essential when you have limited resources to invest in your business. Most of my money went towards paying personal bills since I was not any longer employed. I was always honest with my clients. I had them reimburse me for the pay-per-return fees in addition to my tax preparation fees. My fees were and still is modest compared to the years of experience and knowledge I possess in the tax laws. I have an MBA in Taxation and 9 years of experience in the Tax Department of the international firm KPMG. I was their expatriate tax expert which just means I specialized in individual taxes for U.S. citzens who worked abroad and foreign nationals who were working in the U.S. If you are honest with clients, about your fee structure they will pay you for the pay-per return fees if they feel they are getting quality tax return preparation services.

About three years ago, I started purchasing the ProSeries Basic Edition in addition to the pay-per-return edition. That's because the overal cost of the pay-per-return fees were three times more compared to the cost of the Basic Edition. My tax return processing fees were reduced according. At the end, I am saving my clients fees. I used the pay-per-return for business clients that must file a business tax return or clients that require a W-7 or 1040NR. Since my business tax and accounting clientele have increased, next year I intend to purchase the Express Edition.

What I am saying is as your business grows, you upgrade the program. It is being sensible not shady. If at this point of time, not printing the return saves you money, GO FOR IT. Just remember download the files to a CD in case your computer crashes. Which over the years, I have gone through 3 crashes and what has saved me is that I download my client files to a CD.

Thank you for sharing. I had not thought about using Basic.

I do print copies for all my clients and follow the rules faithfully. For these really simple, one wage w-2's for students, I am using the PDF 1040 from the IRS site. I just thought efiling would be a good service add on.

Again. thanks!

Beengel, sorry for my April breakdown, but I spent two days on my sickbed and couldn't work, so maybe my brain was fried. I too started out using pay per return, but if I had to pay a fee for e-filing, which is only to benefit the client, then I see no reason NOT to charge the client for that fee. If they do not want to pay it, then they can wait for their refund. It is a small price to pay for faster and better service.

I do not charge e-filing fees anymore.

I started out 15 years ago with two clients and $400 worth of billings. I did per diem for several years while I accumulated more clients, and I bought a small client list of 110 tax returns 13 years ago. I now prepare over 250 1040s and 50 business returns, together with bookkeeping and consulting. It takes time and effort but it will be worth it.

I agree that e-filing your clients' returns will be a great add-on, and preparing them off of PDFs is a good idea, but perhaps you can use IRS free file or HR Block's e-filing program. Otherwise, someone needs to pay for the e-service.