It's tax season, let the madness begin.

[Sapphire Silk]

I find it hard to believe that someone with only $3K in income could expect $10K in refunds even with the EITC. I don't see the IRS giving people a refund for three times what they actually earned.

[mhkohne]

I'm not saying this is right or anything, but I agree -- one of the last people on this freaking PLANET you wanna tell about your secret off the books jobs to, is the person that does your taxes. Then again, this guy was an idiot to begin with.

I'm wondering if he was as stupid as he appeared - could he have been deliberately scotching his wife's plans for tax fraud? After all, one or twice is stupid - 4 times sounds deliberate.

[fireheart]

Yep. Ain't many speakers of Pennsylvania Dutch left.

About 249,000.

[AmethystSquirrel]

I live in Pennsylvania. We're our own nation now? Wow...LOL! Seriously though, what idiot says they're going to try to scam the gov't right in front of a tax professional?

Yup Bright Star. You are in a new country! Technically you ARE a commonwealth (yes I know there is no difference)

[AccountingDrone]

I have to believe that the IRS has something that would check the sanity of a family of that size living on $3,000/year. I mean if that doesn't trip their radars, I don't know what would. And why would a customer expect a person to lie to the IRS. Of all of the Federal entities, the IRS would be the last one I'd want to lie to.

Depends, some of the 'off the grid' 'Mother Earth News' types could manage it if they owned their own property outright. If yo are not paying a mortgage, nor have heavy electric/utility/cable tv package bills and go with a prepaid cell phone, grow your own foods and are frugal with anything you have to spend actual cash upon it can be done. All you *have* to pay normally can be taxes. Property tax, car registration, auto insurance. You do need to be healthy =)

It really was not until this past century that there was a heavy cash economy for non-city dwellers. My amish side of the family did not make lots of cash, and didn't lose the farm in the depression. They made most of their money selling the milk to a local processor for the cash to pay taxes with. They raised almost everything else except for coffee, sugar, salt and fabric/notions for making clothing. I would ask Mom but she has alzheimers, but I would also guess that they sold/traded any excess farmed goodies like eggs and such also.

[Shalom]

I would ask Mom but she has alzheimers, but I would also guess that they sold/traded any excess farmed goodies like eggs and such also.

You never know, she might still remember stuff from her childhood, depending on how far advanced her Alzheimer's is. My great-grandmother (who died in 1982 aged 97+) could be talking to my mother on the phone and have to ask four times during the conversation to be reminded who she was talking to, but she could remember 50 years ago like yesterday.

[AtDIelement]

As a member of the country of Pennsylvania, I declare cheesesteaks as our national food...

[manybellsdown]

I find it hard to believe that someone with only $3K in income could expect $10K in refunds even with the EITC. I don't see the IRS giving people a refund for three times what they actually earned.

When I was a single mom, I used to get significant refunds from the EITC, but it was more on the order of twice the TAXES I'd paid that year, not my income. And every time I thought I'd done something wrong and was going to get audited.

[SailorMan]

Yikes!!! I was born in Pittsburgh!!! Do I have to become a naturalised citizen now???

[taxguykarl]

I find it hard to believe that someone with only $3K in income could expect $10K in refunds even with the EITC. I don't see the IRS giving people a refund for three times what they actually earned.

You're right about that, Panacea. The EITC for that income is:
No Kids $231
1 Kid $1,029
2 Kids $1,210
3 Kids $1,361

The irony is that had they claimed this under-the-table income, their EITC would be considerably higher as that would put them closer to the optimal range. Their credit would be considerably higher (less the self-employment taxes, of course).

See the tables for yourself (pages 52-68).

[AccountingDrone]

You never know, she might still remember stuff from her childhood, depending on how far advanced her Alzheimer's is. My great-grandmother (who died in 1982 aged 97+) could be talking to my mother on the phone and have to ask four times during the conversation to be reminded who she was talking to, but she could remember 50 years ago like yesterday.

She worked in the engineering department of an aircraft company, and when there was a documentary on TV about one project she had worked on at the end of WW2, she didn't even remember working there at all. She is at the sit in front of the TV and fall asleep most of the time stage =( My brother keeps her on her meds, feeds her and makes sure she bathes and changes her clothes so she can stay at home, but it is fast approaching time for us to placer her where she can have nursing care every day as he still has to work =(

[Seshat]

That's a shame, AD. My sympathy and respect to you and your brother.

[Ironclad Alibi]

As a member of the country of Pennsylvania, I declare cheesesteaks as our national food...

Cheesesteaks? I first read that as cheesecakes. Oh well, I like them both.

[fireheart]

I'm wondering how long it'll be before the OP gets another person trying to claim pot growing and selling as their business or someone who tries to claim their truck nuts as a deductible.

(by the way, if anyone's familiar with those "My Family" stickers that people put on their cars, there's one going around called "Making My Family", which features two stick people going at it doggy style )

[XCashier]

AS: So, you're saying you're breaking the law?
DH: Why yes, I sure am!
MW: DAMMIT! Now we have to move to another country, or the second state in the union, whatever the hell it is!

Oy, the Stupid is strong with these two. And they had kids. The Dumbocalypse has begun!