@Jsetoyant wrote:
My brother asked me to file his tax return as he is incarcerated. Would I need to set up a Turbo Tax account for him to start on his filing?
Does he have computer access? If so, he can file himself.
If not, there are 3 ways you can prepare a return for him. The two "official" ways are listed first, but both require his signature.
1. Prepare a return for him, print it, bring it to him for his signature. (I suppose you could mail it to him if the mails are secure.). Once he signs, he or you mails the return to the IRS. If he has no taxable income, he won't be filing a state tax return, just a federal return.
2. Print and mail or bring him a form 2848, power of attorney. He signs it, and mails it back to you. You print his return, sign your own name on the return and write "POA" next to it, and include the form 2848 when you mail the return. Form 2848 is what you would call a "limited" power of attorney. It only gives you authority to file his tax return and to deal with the IRS if they have any issues, it does not give you POA over any other aspect of his life. https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-2848
Now, because paper filed tax returns are so backlogged this year, you may want to e-file. There is no official way for you to e-file for him, since he must "sign" his return electronically himself, and if he doesn't have computer access, he can't do that. However, if you created an account in his name, and prepared and signed the return in his name, the IRS probably won't care or find out, unless someone complains. So option 3 would be,
3. Make a new turbotax online account in his name. Prepare and file a return. You may need to create $1 of "other income" or fake bank interest if he does not have any other income, because you can't e-file a return with zero income. To sign, you need a 5 digit e-file PIN. This will either be the PIN he selected the first year he e-filed, or it will be his income from last year's tax return. If he did not file a 2019 tax return, try zero as the PIN. If the IRS rejects the e-file attempt due to an incorrect PIN, you will probably have to print a return and have him sign, using method 1 or 2.
In all cases, you should use an address where you want a check mailed—if he trusts you, this should probably be your address and not the prison address. If he still has an outside bank account, you can do direct deposit, but if not, you will have to get a check in the mail, and then take it to him to endorse so you can cash it.
