6252 prior year info

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
July 10, 2020
1 reply
12 views

A client has 2 installment sales, one from 2005 and another from 2013. He no longer has those tax returns. This is the first year the question of prior year info has been asked. The computer will not allow them not to be answered.

What do I do?

Lacerte Tax

This topic has been closed for replies.

George4Tacks

Level 15

Put your client on extension and have them request a copy of the two returns need to complete the return. Remind them they they need all records leading up to the installment sale to establish basis and all sales escrows.

Answers are easy. Questions are hard!

BobKamman

Level 15

IRS is not going to have copies going back that far. What that means, of course, is that your word is as good as theirs. Back into the numbers with an educated guess, and move on. They didn't give much thought to the consequences of requesting ancient history, and neither should you.

George4Tacks

Level 15

Actually you may be surprised at what they have. I order copies of old returns in 2015 and they sent copies back as far as 1964. It was the size and shape of an IBM card.

If you need more help in getting the numbers here is a photo of my old office ceiling. Often clients would look up when I asked questions like "What did you give to the church last year?" and I decided one day to help them get divine inspiration.

Answers are easy. Questions are hard!

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