I donÂt want to start a fight but I believe that efiling is "the way to go". IMHO, the fewer people that handle my return, the better. When you mail a return to the IRS, the first thing that happens is the information from your return is input into IRSÂs computers. If someone hacks into IRS computers, your information is there along with everyone elseÂs; plus you have exposed yourself to 2 additional potential problems. First, your return is handled by the Post Office. While I would like to believe that everyone in the Post Office is honest, I suspect that there might be a few dishonest folks who would love to get their hands on your return. Second, when you mail your return in and it is input into IRS computers, there is always a chance that the person inputting your information will make a mistake. They might transpose numbers, enter numbers on the wrong lines or even put information on the wrong Form or Schedule. One of the biggest messes I ever had to deal with in my time as a tax preparer was an instance of someone at the IRS putting information on the wrong form. It took well over a year to convince the IRS that they had made the error when entering the return into their computers. I do suspect that more and more forms are being scanned directly into IRSÂs computers so they are working to eliminate the potential for input errors. I worry about identity theft, but believe that efiling is better than mailing a return to the IRS. Efile your return, have your refund direct deposited in your bank account and you will have your refund in 8 to 15 days. Works for me.

This is a copy and paste from the TaxAct website. We'll know in a few days if we get it. (direct deposit) Transmitted & Accepted (by 11:00 am) between... .....................................Direct Deposit Sent ..........................................................Paper Check Mailed Jan 14 and Jan 20, 2011 Jan 28, 2011 Feb 4, 2011 Jan 20 and Jan 27, 2011 Feb 4, 2011 Feb 11, 2011 Jan 27 and Feb 3, 2011 Feb 11, 2011 Feb 18, 2011 Feb 3 and Feb 10, 2011 Feb 18, 2011 Feb 25, 2011 Feb 10 and Feb 17, 2011 Feb 25, 2011 Mar 4, 2011 Feb 17 and Feb 24, 2011 Mar 4, 2011 Mar 11, 2011 Feb 24 and Mar 3, 2011 Mar 11, 2011 Mar 18, 2011 Mar 3 and Mar 10, 2011 Mar 18, 2011 Mar 25, 2011 Mar 10 and Mar 17, 2011 Mar 25, 2011 Apr 1, 2011 Mar 17 and Mar 24, 2011 Apr 1, 2011 Apr 8, 2011 Mar 24 and Mar 31, 2011 Apr 8, 2011 Apr 15, 2011 Mar 31 and Apr 7, 2011 Apr 15, 2011 Apr 22, 2011 Apr 7 and Apr 14, 2011 Apr 22, 2011 Apr 29, 2011 Apr 14 and Apr 21, 2011 Apr 29, 2011 May 6, 2011 Apr 21 and Apr 28, 2011 May 6, 2011 May 13, 2011 Apr 28 and May 5, 2011 May 13, 2011 May 20, 2011 May 5 and May 12, 2011 May 20, 2011 May 27, 2011 May 12 and May 19, 2011 May 27, 2011 June 3, 2011 May 19 and May 26, 2011 Jun 3, 2011 Jun 10, 2011 May 26 and Jun 2, 2011 Jun 10, 2011 Jun 17, 2011 Jun 2 and Jun 9, 2011 Jun 17, 2011 Jun 24, 2011 Jun 9 and Jun 16, 2011 Jun 24, 2011 Jul 1, 2011 Jun 16 and Jun 23, 2011 Jul 1, 2011 Jul 8, 2011 Jun 23 and Jun 30, 2011 Jul 8, 2011 Jul 15, 2011 Jun 30 and Jul 7, 2011 Jul 15, 2011 Jul 22, 2011 Jul 7 and Jul 14, 2011 Jul 22, 2011 Jul 29, 2011 Jul 14 and Jul 21, 2011 Jul 29, 2011 Aug 5, 2011 Jul 21 and Jul 28, 2011 Aug 5, 2011 Aug 12, 2011 Jul 28 and Aug 4, 2011 Aug 12, 2011 Aug 19, 2011 Aug 4 and Aug 11, 2011 Aug 19, 2011 Aug 26, 2011 Aug 11 and Aug 18, 2011 Aug 26, 2011 Sep 2, 2011 Aug 18 and Aug 25, 2011 Sep 2, 2011 Sep 9, 2011 Aug 25 and Sep 1, 2011 Sep 9, 2011 Sep 16, 2011 Sep 1 and Sep 8, 2011 Sep 16, 2011 Sep 23, 2011 Sep 8 and Sep 15, 2011 Sep 23, 2011 Sep 30, 2011 Sep 15 and Sep 22, 2011 Sep 30, 2011 Oct 7, 2011 Sep 22 and Sep 29, 2011 Oct 7, 2011 Oct 14, 2011 Sep 29 and Oct 6, 2011 Oct 14, 2011 Oct 21, 2011 Oct 6 and Oct 13, 2011 Oct 21, 2011 Oct 28, 2011 Oct 13 and Oct 20, 2011 Oct 28, 2011

Another reason to work things so that there are no refunds, especially large ones ... ... originally, to avoid making interest-free loans to the government(s), via the IRS, needy though they are, being darn near broke. More recently, it appears ... to avoid scammers being able to make off with a substantial bundle ... of *your* money! There seems to be somewhat of an epidemic of the "Integitry-being-obscured-by-Dollar-signs"disease (and it's O.K. to substitute any other currency of your choice). What's this of being required to report refunds as income ... it was your income in the first place, that was reported last year, and too much of it forwarded to the IRS, back then, no? So it's actually your income that was previously reported and included in tax calculations earlier, right? Surely you shouldn't be required to pay tax again on the same dollar of income! ole joyfuelled ... who hopes to be able to pay no, or only a smidgeon, of income tax

chloecat, OP posts a link from the Intuit website. Does that mean that's how she's preparing the return? Maybe, maybe not. That source is as likely to pop up (or more likely even) as any other from a key word search. These are very basic questions, so much so that many tax lawyers (and many CPAs) would have to look up to answer. This CPA (moi!) would need to look it up because the numbers and amounts matter and change from year to year. I never spent much time on individual returns anyhow but guessing or assuming are never a good idea and I try not to answer questions when I don't have all the facts. As to whether this parent provided more than half the support, that depends on what was done with the money the kids earned, how much the parent provided, whether the person is divorced and many have a dependent sharing agreement embedded in that, yada yada. (Sorry Rose, you too have jumped to a conclusion that may or may not be correct). You all should be sure your returns are prepared in compliance with the law to reflect the minimum tax liability you legally owe. Not to avoid audits.