Filing Taxes for Incarcerated Friend

[willrgriff87]

My friend is incarcerated and asked me to file his federal taxes so he could receive his stimulus payments.  I did so before really doing any research and created a new account on turbotax and successfully completed the process.

I listed my home address as his so that his check would be sent to me and then I could send it to him.  I received a letter from the IRS essentially asking for additional information, which is understandable considering he's been incarcerated for many years and hasn't filed taxes for a while seeing as he didn't have any income.  At that point I reached a dead end on how to help him.

So after doing a little bit of research I found out about form 2848, sent it to him to fill out and received it back.

I have a few questions:

-What do I do w/ the completed form 2848 since I already filed his taxes on TurboTax?

-On Part II of form 2848, it lists options on my relationship to the taxpayer (ie. family member, employee, attorney etc).  But I don't think any of these  qualify as I'm just his friend.  I think I would write in the choice for 'unenrolled return preparer'?

-I read in a previous answer that when sending checks, the IRS does not included the inmate's ID # on the envelope (which is required) so most checks get returned to sender.  Is there a way they could send ME the check (maybe form 56?) or maybe when I submit the form 2848 I include his inmate ID in his address like normal so they'll include it?

Thank you!

[macuser_22]

The IRS will send the check to the address you put on the top part of the1040  form.

[willrgriff87]

Any help with the other questions?

[macuser_22]

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@willrgriff87 wrote:

Any help with the other questions?

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Read the 2848 instructions.  A non-family member does not qualify.

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i2848.pdf

Only those persons  listed in part II on page 8 qualify and an "Unenrolled Return Preparer" must have a PTIN (Preparer Tax Identification Number) that is issued by the IRS to tax preparers.

Page 6 says:

Authority to sign your return.

Treasury Regulations section 1.6012-1(a)(5) permits another person to sign an income tax return for you only in these circumstances:

(a) Disease or injury,

(b) Continuous absence from the United States (including absence from Puerto Rico) for a period of at least 60 days prior to the date required by law for filing the return, or

(c) Specific permission is requested of and granted by the IRS for other good cause.The IRS may grant authority to sign your income tax return to (1) your representative, or (2) an agent (a person other than your representative).

You should just mail (or take the tax return)  to your friend for a real signature.   If he can sign a 2848 form then he can sign a tax return just as easy.