Where to input my name if I helped my friend prepare tax return without compensation

[Justin202203]

Hi,

Where to input my name if I helped my friend prepare tax return without compensation? And I dont have PTIN.

Thank you very much.

[rjs]

You do not enter your name if you were not paid to prepare the tax return. And if you do get paid to prepare a tax return, you cannot use TurboTax.

[Justin202203]

@rjs So his tax return will just show "self prepared", is that correct?

And I won't get paid, I dont have PTIN either. Thank you.

[Opus 17]

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@Justin202203 wrote:

@rjs So his tax return will just show "self prepared", is that correct?

And I won't get paid, I dont have PTIN either. Thank you.

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Yes, self-prepared is the only option with the consumer level versions of Turbotax. 

[Justin202203]

@rjs @Opus 17  Can you help to explain that if I get paid for preparing someone else's tax return, why I couldn't use Turbotax ? Thank you.

[VolvoGirl]

Turbo Tax is only for self prepared returns.  Even if you are helping someone it is still self prepared.

You can not use the Online versions or the personal Desktop Software to prepare returns for clients.  Intuit has 2 products for tax preparers. They are Lacerte and ProSeries.  ProSeries is the least expensive. You can install ProSeries and Turbo Tax on the same computer.

Intuit (the company that makes TurboTax) has three tax software product lines for professional preparers: ProSeries, Lacerte, and ProConnect. You can find information about all three product lines at the following link. For a small number of returns you will probably find ProSeries to be the most suitable choice.

Intuit Products for Tax Professionals,

Professional Tax Preparation Software (Online & Desktop) | Intuit Accountants

Or do you need to enter a 3rd Party Designee that can talk to the IRS?  You can only enter a 3rd Party Designee in the Desktop installed program using Forms Mode.  Not in the Online version.  There is no question and answer steps for it.  It's on the Federal Information Worksheet, near the end of Part VI, at the bottom of page 2.

[VolvoGirl]

Desktop End User License Agreement

https://turbotax.intuit.com/corp/license/desktop.jsp

Scroll way down under Additional Terms and Conditions

        Section B. #1.  Supplemental License Grant and Restrictions.

              f.  Additional Restrictions

Online Terms of Service

https://turbotax.intuit.com/corp/license/online.jsp

Scroll way down to  Additional Terms and Conditions

Section B Term

1. LICENSE GRANT AND RESTRICTIONS

1.3 No Professional Use. You may not use the Services to prepare tax returns, schedules or worksheets on a professional or commercial basis (i.e., for a preparer's or other fee or consideration).

[rjs]

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@Justin202203 wrote:

@rjs @Opus 17  Can you help to explain that if I get paid for preparing someone else's tax return, why I couldn't use Turbotax ? Thank you.

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@Justin202203 

There are two main reasons that you cannot use TurboTax if you get paid to prepare a tax return.

1. It's a violation of the TurboTax license agreement. See the excerpt from the license agreement that VolvoGirl posted just above.

2. There is no way to enter the paid preparer information that the IRS requires at the very bottom of Form 1040 or at the end of page 3 of Form 1040-SR.

TurboTax also lacks other features that most paid preparers use.

If you do get paid to prepare a tax return, the IRS requires that you have a PTIN and enter it in the paid preparer section of Form 1040 or 1040-SR. The IRS is on the lookout for "ghost preparers" who don't enter the paid preparer information, including the PTIN.

[Justin202203]

@rjs @VolvoGirl @Opus 17  Thank you all for your help.