Income Taxes (yes, I know I'm late on this!)

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genileuqcaj@aol.com - 14 Apr 2006 06:06 GMT

I stopped working at the end of 2004 to be able to better look after my
parents. The only paycheck I got in 2005 was for unpaid vacation time
which I know I still have to fill out a 1040 for. When I do my taxes
for 2005, what should I put for "occupation"? My career was one that
is currently in high demand, and if I had been laid off, would have no
difficulty in finding another job. I'm a little afraid to list
"caregiver" because of what my career is (and the fact that the auditor
can look up past forms and see this in-demand career listed). I'm also
afraid because of my age (mid 30's), and that caregiving typically
doesn't affect someone my age. I'm afriad the IRS will think I'm
involved in some sort of illicit activity. Is "caregiver" an
acceptable occupation in the IRS' mind? Thanks for any help!!

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Liz (Aust) - 14 Apr 2006 11:26 GMT

Hi genileuqcaj
I am not from the US but do know about auditors and this should not
worry you, but why not put in a statement with your return that
explains that you are currently not working because you are caring for
your parents.

Surely that is acceptable? I would not think that it would be a rare
situation at all. Their only concern would be in whether you are not
declaring income and IF they queried it you would have to show how you
have supported yourself, whether it be savings, family money etc.

Hope this helps
Liz

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A R Pickett - 14 Apr 2006 14:02 GMT

I'm a tax accountant by training and experience in the US

What you put on your tax return as "occupation" has absolutely no bearing on
anything except some statistical analysis unrelated to tax revenue,
collection, or law enforcement of any kind

Put whatever you want or leave it blank

Caregiver is accurate
So is "retired"
So is "unemployed"
or the occupation you were in before you began to care for your parents is
also accurate.

Hope this helps

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> I stopped working at the end of 2004 to be able to better look after my
> parents. The only paycheck I got in 2005 was for unpaid vacation time
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> involved in some sort of illicit activity. Is "caregiver" an
> acceptable occupation in the IRS' mind? Thanks for any help!!

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Dennis P. Harris - 15 Apr 2006 22:50 GMT

> I'm afriad the IRS will think I'm
> involved in some sort of illicit activity.

I'll bet that no human being will even look at your tax return
except to key in a few numbers. You are worrying about something
that simply does not matter.

As a matter of fact, if you only got paid for some leave owed to
you, you probably didn't even make enough that you have to file a
return (around $8,300 for a single person IIRC. Check the tax
table in the instructions for your return and you may find that
you don't even have to do any paperwork.

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A R Pickett - 16 Apr 2006 05:10 GMT

Dennis wrote in part - > As a matter of fact, if you only got paid for some
leave owed to

> you, you probably didn't even make enough that you have to file a
> return (around $8,300 for a single person IIRC. Check the tax
> table in the instructions for your return and you may find that
> you don't even have to do any paperwork.

Correct - however if anyone (1) has tax compute to zero and/or (2) has tax
withheld or would qualify for the earned income credit {which is
extraordinarily complicated and too much to explain in a newsgroup}that
person, no matter what their occupation, should file a return to receive the
refund due them.

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