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1040 Occupation
Old 01-22-2013, 05:57 PM   #1
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1040 Occupation

What do you put for occupation on your 1040 form, especially as an underaged retiree? I'll still put "teacher" this April, but wondering what is appropriate next year. Does the IRS raise its eyebrows when a early-50s fellow puts "retired" in that field?

Can't think of what else I'd put, though.
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Old 01-22-2013, 06:14 PM   #2
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The info is for statistical purposes. If you are no longer working and and not looking for work, you can put retired.
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Old 01-22-2013, 06:20 PM   #3
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"Worker" (since I'm not retired yet)
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Old 01-22-2013, 06:30 PM   #4
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Why not "investment advisor"? You are your only client
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Old 01-22-2013, 06:33 PM   #5
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I plan to put "Retired"
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Old 01-22-2013, 06:36 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mattbaxx View Post
What do you put for occupation on your 1040 form, especially as an underaged retiree? I'll still put "teacher" this April, but wondering what is appropriate next year. Does the IRS raise its eyebrows when a early-50s fellow puts "retired" in that field?

Can't think of what else I'd put, though.
What do you mean, under-aged retiree?

We have put retired, ever since we retired.
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Old 01-22-2013, 06:39 PM   #7
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Just put retired... I am a retired CPA. Don't put investment advisor.

ALSO, put your status as of 12/31/2012. Since you pulled the plug on or before that date, put retired.
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Old 01-22-2013, 07:23 PM   #8
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I will put "Federal Employee" this year. My next one and all in the future will say "Retired".
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Old 01-22-2013, 07:34 PM   #9
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I always planned on putting down investment manager as my profession on linkedin when I pull the plug. But this thread make me want to put down Jedi Master.
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Old 01-22-2013, 07:41 PM   #10
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I will simply put "NONE". I don't want the words occupation and retired intersecting in any way.
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Old 01-22-2013, 07:42 PM   #11
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I put "retired oceanographer". That pretty much says it all, for me. I am not working, and I am SO not looking for w*rk.
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Old 01-22-2013, 07:54 PM   #12
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I put "retired." Probably better as the IRS might frown on the change in income.
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Old 01-22-2013, 07:54 PM   #13
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As an ex-submariner, I choose "FLOB".
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Old 01-22-2013, 08:03 PM   #14
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Unfortunately, the rest of the world is less willing to celebrate our retirement than we are.

Putting "retired" on application forms can make it harder to get visas to visit some countries (including to the US) or be granted bank credit or given access to some investment products (YMMV depending on where you live).

I will use either "company director" (for visa applications and most things) or "professional investor" for dealings with banks in Hong Kong.
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Old 01-22-2013, 08:44 PM   #15
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Sex therapist.
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Old 01-22-2013, 09:10 PM   #16
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I put Retired the first year that I was retired on 12/31. Can't see that it makes any difference to the IRS what goes in that field other than for statistics.
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Old 01-22-2013, 09:17 PM   #17
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I always thought that in addition to statistical interests, the IRS could be checking to see if your salary was in line with your occupation. For example, if one listed "part time convenience store cashier" and yet the W-2 indicated $650,000 annual salary, they might want to call the taxpayer in for an audit.

So, in 2009 I listed my occupation as "oceanographer" because I didn't retire until November 9th. From 2010 on, I have listed it as "retired oceanographer".
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Old 01-22-2013, 10:04 PM   #18
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I always thought that in addition to statistical interests, the IRS could be checking to see if your salary was in line with your occupation. For example, if one listed "part time convenience store cashier" and yet the W-2 indicated $650,000 annual salary, they might want to call the taxpayer in for an audit.

So, in 2009 I listed my occupation as "oceanographer" because I didn't retire until November 9th. From 2010 on, I have listed it as "retired oceanographer".
...and where was your W2 from?


Surely it is the companies listed on the W2s that are significant, rather the letters you type into the occupation field.
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Old 01-22-2013, 10:22 PM   #19
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I proudly write "Retired" on it. I did that even on my 2008 return which had an income which spiked to over $300k (due to the company stock liquidation). That complex 2008 return also included a statement describing the multiple 1099-R forms I received and the variety of ways those funds were taxed, so there was surely a degree of consistency there.
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Old 01-23-2013, 05:59 AM   #20
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My actual job title is Chief Economist of Braumeister Holdings, but there isn't a lot of room on the form, so I just put "Retired" instead.
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