Page 178 - Demo

Page Twelve, PHOENIXHelpFor Tax PayersIt's that time of year again.People are counting theirdeductions instead of theirblessings, drugstores are stockingup on headache remedies, and theDepartment of Consumer Affairs isworrying about dishonest orslipshod income tax services.%u201cEvery year we get scores ofcomplaints from people who haveto pay extra because certain taxservices engage in deceptive advertising or inefficient businesspractices,%u201d said former Commissioner Bess Myerson. %u201cAdvertisers that conceal hiddencharges in small print or don%u2019tmention them at all can add to yourfinancial burden. And tax serviceswho don%u2019t fill out your formscorrectly can get you in a peck oftrouble when your return ischecked by the Internal RevenueService.%u201dThe Dept, of Consumer Affairsoffers the following suggestions toanyone w-ho plans to deal with anincome tax preparation firm:(1.) Read the company%u2019s adcarefully and make sure you understand what type of service theyprovide. Will they actually fill outyour forms or just charge you aconsultation fee?(2.) Watch out for ads that statethe company charges %u201c$5 and up.%u201dConsumer Protection LawRegulation 3 requires income taxservices to list in all ads theaverage price, not just theminimum, that a client can expectto pay.(3.) Watch out for ads that stateTreat YourArtificial Flowersto a Face-lift..W e%u2019ll takea pinch of thisand a dash of thatAnd turn whatyou now owninto somethingyou thought you couldn%u2019t afford..But can!A void BogusTax PreparersJohn Jay students get free tax help.%u201c$2 per tax return.%u201d This feeprobably only covers the cost offilling out the New York State shortform, a simple postcard requiringlittle information. This type of adviolates Consumer Protection LawRegulation 15 which states that anadvertisement for a service orproduct must clearly reveal anylimitations or exclusions in theoffer.(4.) Report any illegal ads to theDepartment of Consumer Affairs,80 Lafayette Street, New York,N.Y. 10013.(5.) Once the company understands the type of help youneed, ask them to give you awritten statement of the completecost of their service.(6.) Ask the preparer to identifyhimself and his qualificationsbefore you accept his services.(7.) Find out if the preparerassumes any responsibility for theaccuracy of your return If he does,ask for a written guaranty.(8.) Insist that the tax preparersign your returns.(9.) Get a written receipt for allmoney paid to a tax service.BY DEBRA PINCUSBogus tax preparers are doingthe public a great disservice. Theydeliberately put down falsestatements to fulfill their promiseof delivering a larger refund thanthe next guy. This is a commongimmick to attract more clients...and it works.%u201cProfessional tax preparerswork out of storefronts, drugstores, real estate agencies andsometimes their own home. Theyare not necessarily accountants or%u201c professionals.%u201d %u201c Anyone whoputs up a sign can be a taxpreparer because there is nolegislation requiring a license,%u201dthe Internal Revenue Serviceadvises.%u201cPeople are being taken advantage of by %u2018fly-by-night%u2019businesses,%u201d said an agent close tothe Intelligence Division of theIRS, %u201cbut falsifying tax returns is afelony offense for the client as wellas the tax preparer. Thenegligence penalty is 5 per cent ofwhat one owes.%u201cOn March 13, the federal GrandJury indicted a Carroll Gardensresident on 14 accounts for aidingand assisting the preparation offalse tax returns,%u201d the IRSrevealed. Anthony Giardina, of 103Douglas St., is liable for amaximum of three years and $5,000on each account.The Brooklyn IRS Audit Divisionfound additional assessments lastyear amounting to $1,000,750 inBrooklyn, Queens, Nassau andSuffolk alone. %u201cThe governmentrefunded taxpayers money to nondiscerning recipients who falsifiedtheir statements,%u201d the IRS said.Many non-English speakingpeoples have trouble understanding tax forms and go totax preparers for assistance.Naively trusting and thinking thatthere is no place else to turn, theypay to have these taxes preparedonly to be audited and assessed fortaxes due.February, March and April arethe three biggest months for filingtax returns. During this period, theInternal Revenue Service inBrooklyn is making investigationsto disclose illegitim ate taxpreparers. A special division of theIRS is also auditing returns filedtwo and three years ago. The usualadjustment is $200, but many arepaying $500-$600.It is a civil responsibility to fileaccurate tax returns and a penaltyis charged for those who don%u2019t, IRSsays. The agency urges everybodyto be selective when consulting a%u201cprofessional%u201d tax preparer. Theyalso will prepare your returns forfree at one of the neighborhoodoffices. The main office is locatedat 35 Tillary St., or call for information at 596-3770, for the officenearest you.Theatre Of Deaf Children At BAMThe Little Theatre of the Deafwill present its latest program forthe Children%u2019s Theatre series at theBrooklyn Academy of Music onApril 1 and April 8 at 1 pm.Using the same combination ofvisual language, mime and thespoken word that has won itsparent organization, The NationalTheatre of the Deaf, worldwidepraise, the company of four deafactors and one hearing actor areable to bring new clarity and insight to traditional works ofliterature and to give an excitingnew dimension to improvisation.This season%u2019s production hasbeen created by the company andis directed by Bernard Brass.David Hays, Remy Charlip and J.Ranelli. It is a four-sectionprogram designed for both hearingand deaf audiences.Part One introduces visuallanguage by explaining some of themore picturesque signs and thengiving children an opportunity tosee the visible alphabet come tolife. In Part Two, short poems arecreated by the audience and actors, and then a mystery story.This is followed by a dramatizationof Shel Silverstein%u2019s touching fable,%u201cThe Giving Tree.%u201d The performance concludes with actoraudience improvisational fun. Thebrightly colored costumes havebeen designed by Fred Voelpel.CREATIVITY....on every photographic and creative assignment...weflock for and execute^_ft he extraordinary ...wextra emphasis on leavingthe ordinary tothe potters%u2019 workshop114 Montague St.tel 624-4817\Spring classes start April 16thS IS K S %u2019