mcb39 Posted January 2, 2015 Report Posted January 2, 2015 Yikes! There will be no paper copy of the Pub 17 this year. Bad news for me as I like to carry this with me and reference as needed. There is such a huge lack of available assistance from the IRS this year, it is like being thrown into the deep end of the pool and told to "sink or swim". They already told us at classes to expect little or no telephone assistance from them. 3 Quote
JMovichEA Posted January 2, 2015 Report Posted January 2, 2015 Download and print it. If you have a duplex printer, that would work even better. Quote
mcb39 Posted January 2, 2015 Author Report Posted January 2, 2015 I have it downloaded to the desktop; but it is nearly 300 pages; which does not make printing it user friendly. 1 Quote
Jack from Ohio Posted January 3, 2015 Report Posted January 3, 2015 I have it downloaded to the desktop; but it is nearly 300 pages; which does not make printing it user friendly. Does your printer print Duplex? Go get a ream of 3 hole paper. 150 double side pages will fit in a 1/2 inch binder. Quote
SaraEA Posted January 3, 2015 Report Posted January 3, 2015 I too am greatly disappointed that Pub 17 will not be available in print this year. I always keep a copy on my desk. When a client seems uncomfortable when I say he can or can't do something, I pull out the pub and read the rules. This is the one place where they seem to be in plain English so the clients can understand the veracity of what I told them. Also very well indexed so it's easy to find what you want, and you can put stickies on the pages you use a lot. I will not print out 300 pages. Just like I won't print out my bank statements. Why spend my dime and time when I'm the customer? My taxes help pay the IRS budget; they should jump when I ask. 4 Quote
mcb39 Posted January 3, 2015 Author Report Posted January 3, 2015 Does your printer print Duplex? Go get a ream of 3 hole paper. 150 double side pages will fit in a 1/2 inch binder. It's the principal of the thing. They keep wanting us to do more and then take away our tools. Nearly the entire RTRP Test was based on Pub 17. For what it cost me to take that test, they could furnish me with a printed copy of "the bible". I'm getting pretty disillusioned. Would you believe I had to print out my own AFSP certificate? 3 Quote
Jack from Ohio Posted January 3, 2015 Report Posted January 3, 2015 It's the principal of the thing. They keep wanting us to do more and then take away our tools. Nearly the entire RTRP Test was based on Pub 17. For what it cost me to take that test, they could furnish me with a printed copy of "the bible". I'm getting pretty disillusioned. Would you believe I had to print out my own AFSP certificate? I printed mine too. Send me a PM?? I have a couple questions about after tax season. Quote
RitaB Posted January 3, 2015 Report Posted January 3, 2015 Would you believe I had to print out my own AFSP certificate? Yeah, and is that 5 x 7 dinky, or what? I feel like Rodney Dangerfield. 2 Quote
mcb39 Posted January 3, 2015 Author Report Posted January 3, 2015 Yup....5 X 7 dinky. But, I put it in an awesome frame. 2 Quote
mcb39 Posted January 3, 2015 Author Report Posted January 3, 2015 Buy a tablet. I have two tablets. I am, however, not smart enough to know how to download Pub 17 to an Android tablet. Quote
ADGFINANCIAL Posted January 3, 2015 Report Posted January 3, 2015 A better idea get "The Tax Book" 1-866-919-5277Your a professional. Quote
Randall Posted January 3, 2015 Report Posted January 3, 2015 Been going paperless for a few years now. I print a pdf of certain pubs and leave them handy on my desktop during tax season. Quote
Christian Posted January 3, 2015 Report Posted January 3, 2015 I download it and print out sections as needed. Incidentally, Marilyn I put my RTRP certificate in a large frame and now it's worthless. Guess who ain't hiding it ? 3 Quote
TaxMan60601 Posted January 3, 2015 Report Posted January 3, 2015 Veery disappointed too. I ordered publications some time ago to find out there will be no Pub 17 on paper. I also downloaded it but will not print it at all, since such papers ends lost somewhere on my desk .... and I have to print them again. no way Quote
Jack from Ohio Posted January 3, 2015 Report Posted January 3, 2015 Veery disappointed too. I ordered publications some time ago to find out there will be no Pub 17 on paper. I also downloaded it but will not print it at all, since such papers ends lost somewhere on my desk .... and I have to print them again. no way Three hole paper, duplex printing, cheap 1" binder. Quote
TaxMan60601 Posted January 4, 2015 Report Posted January 4, 2015 Three hole paper, duplex printing, cheap 1" binder. Ha-ha-ha Okay, Jack. Thanks - i could give it a try, but that is not the point you know. "It's the principal of the thing." Sometimes I don't like their way of "cutting losses" Or I may try with Tax Books. Happy New Year to all! Quote
Jack from Ohio Posted January 4, 2015 Report Posted January 4, 2015 It's the principal of the thing... .... "It's the principal of the thing... And just how does not making the tool useable change anything about the way the IRS will do what they do?? Quote
mcb39 Posted January 4, 2015 Author Report Posted January 4, 2015 I download it and print out sections as needed. Incidentally, Marilyn I put my RTRP certificate in a large frame and now it's worthless. Guess who ain't hiding it ? Funny! So did I. It is right up there on the wall with the letter of completion and the AFSP; all in matching and very impressive looking frames. As for the Pub 17; it has nothing in it regarding the ACA. It refers you to Pub 5187. Go figure. I do have other sources of reference. Quote
mcb39 Posted January 4, 2015 Author Report Posted January 4, 2015 And just how does not making the tool useable change anything about the way the IRS will do what they do?? After looking at it on my tablet, it is hardly worth the effort. I doubt that it has changed since the 2013 copy. I have other sources of reference as well as printouts on the ACA. The ironic thing here is that the IRS has always preached "PUB 17" as the final word. As I said before, they almost entirely based the RTRP test on the Pub 17. That test cost me $95 and a 200 mile trip. How do I print that and put it in a binder? You know that I am only kidding, Jack, but it only proves what most of us already know: the IRS will do what they do! As far as they are concerned, we are only here to do their bidding. 2 Quote
kcjenkins Posted January 5, 2015 Report Posted January 5, 2015 So true. They sure don't care what we want! I suspect that for the cost of that Star Trek parody they produced, they could print all the Pub 17s that would be requested, don't you? 4 Quote
Gail in Virginia Posted January 5, 2015 Report Posted January 5, 2015 I like Pub 17, probably as a holdover from when I took the HRB course in the '70s. But it is not considered authoritative for a position taken on a tax return, so it probably is time that I learned to rely more on other sources. There are just so many changes this year - did we really have to have this one at the same time? 3 Quote
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