Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!ucbvax!BRL.ARPA!abc From: abc@BRL.ARPA (Brint Cooper) Newsgroups: mod.legal Subject: Re: Tax preparing software Message-ID: <8606180330.AA03527@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> Date: Mon, 16-Jun-86 13:05:47 EDT Article-I.D.: ucbvax.8606180330.AA03527 Posted: Mon Jun 16 13:05:47 1986 Date-Received: Thu, 19-Jun-86 19:31:05 EDT Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Organization: The ARPA Internet Lines: 25 Approved: info-law@brl.arpa 1LT Dennis G. Rears (FSAC) writes: " I would assume that the author of any program that a person can reasonable rely on professional advice (law, tax, investment, etc) could be liable for any damages that results from the reliance on that advice. I would also think that most disclaimers would be held as worthless. The question in this ruling is "Does a third party have any recourse for possible damages?". As far as the ruling goes (I have not read it or seen it) I wonder if the IRS makes a distinction between a program that actually gives tax advice as opposed to guiding a person into filling out a tax form. " I wonder why a computer program is any different from a published book in this regard. (I certainly hope that the lawyers don't distort the logic of this question.) If a book gives bad advice, is the author liable for damages? Can the IRS come after a book that gives bad or illegal advice? Probably not. Why the program and not the book? Why is not the taxpayer liable for his own return? Brint