MD 1099Gs unreadable

[Abby Normal]

MD doesn't want to print anything anymore and have been encouraging everyone for years to download their 1099G for tax refunds. I know the majority of my client would either fail to download it or not know how to download it. MD is punishing us for not downloading by using the world's crappiest inkjet printer. The 'amount applied' was always a tiny font anyway, but these things are unreadable. Usually the numbers match what we have on last year's return, but still, these things are unreadable! The image below is zoomed about 200% from the actual postcard.

[FDNY]

Come to think of it, I believe NY is only online now.  A sign of the times, save here, they need to spend it somewhere else.  If we ran our businesses like this we would be out of business because quality goes down.  But it's the government, there's no competition, unless the voters speak up.  Good luck with that.  

[Lion EA]

Yeah, NY and CT

[Jack from Ohio]

Have the client get their teenage child or grandchild to download in the proper format and how to print in the proper format.  This is NOT a NY & CT problem.  It is a client that lacks enough basic computer skill to accomplish this simple task correctly.

The average 6th grade and above student can do these things.  Many children even younger.

I stopped giving computer training 3 years ago, unless the client will pay a $100 retainer up front for an hour of hands (phone) on training.  Each hour after that is $75.

Funny how kids and grandkids work so much cheaper.

[Terry D EA]

I will second what Jack says. It is amazing what these kids today know. Look how things have changed. Younger folks used to come to us for advice and help with something simply because of our past experience. Now, its the other way around.

[Lion EA]

NY and CT don't mail any more, just online.  But, they print out just fine.  I prefer to download and store on my computer in the client file.

[Abby Normal]

Most clients would simply forget to do it, and I can't do it for them. It's important to have because clients often fail to provide me with notices of changes from the state and that can change both the amount of the refund and the amount applied.

I suppose I could add instructions to the organizer about where to download the 1099G, but you have to setup an account with MD to even elect to receive it electronically. That means remembering a password or resetting your password.

I would hope that if it is mandated, they would make the process easier. Or make it so that their preparer could download it?

How do these other states handle it?

As for getting a youngster to help them, some have no kids, or no kids nearby or they are in assisted living with no computer access.

[SaraEA]

A couple of seasons ago I had two clients come in with 1099Gs from states they had never set foot in.  As the IRS filters got stronger, the thieves apparently started targeting states.  I wrote to the commissioner of DRS in CT and told him that these clients would never have know their identities were compromised if these states hadn't sent those postcards.  I implored him to switch back to mailed paper statements.  He personally responded and said he heard me; he would wait until he saw his budget for the following year to see if he could add the expense.  The state has budget problems and it never happened.

Now we're stuck with the states individually trying to protect themselves.  Well, they are working together in the summit, and I have noticed that when one state picks up a new scam I hear about it both from my state and IRS.  Four states are requiring driver license info.  (Anyone know for sure which ones?  NY and GA, and where else?)  Today I asked a NY couple for their license data and they could not find a document number.  I emailed them the link to NY that shows where it is.  Still couldn't find it, because nothing matched the spots on the examples.  They are both highly educated but ended up sending me copies of both sides of their licenses. I saw something that was not labeled document number, and it was more letters than numbers, and used that.  Geez, if people with advanced degrees can't figure it out, why don't they just ask for DNA samples?

[Lynn EA USTCP in Louisiana]

Other states requiring DL info are CO and AL. 

[Lion EA]

I think VA was the first a year ago.  And, some others suggest it, such as RI.  I figure with NY requiring and RI urging, that CT will get to it by next year and am alerting my clients.

[Gail in Virginia]

VA asks for DL info, but it is not required.  However, if you put it on the return and make a mistake, they will kick the return out and require proof at that point.