GeneInAlabama

Thanks John for the information. I backed out of the trip because I was planning on using trade dollars (I am a member of a barter club) for the trip. I found out that once I booked the trip using trade dollars, I cannot cancel for any reason, and would lose the entire amount I paid. That was just too much money to risk when so many things could happen to prevent me from going at that particular time. I guess I'll just have to figure out what plan B is. Gene

Since they have DECIDED to continue the ATX tax software, that tells me that they were undecided before.

I'm thinking seriously about making a trip to Barbados after tax season. Does anyone who has been to Barbados have an opinion about the place. I have never been to any of the islands and not familiar with what to expect. I plan to fly down and spend 7 nights there. Any information will be appreciated. Gene

We don't need it now. We have this one.

If she didn't sign the joint return, she can properly file her return as MFS. It will result in an automatic audit, but she can straighten it out then and he can pay the price for forging her name to the return. Of course she won't get her refund until that is cleared up which may be a year or two, but at least that is better than not getting it at all.

Corporate extensions are due 3-17-08.

PapaJoe, I believe I remember seeing one time that you are in Alabama. If you are and prepare sales tax reports with Alatax, STACS, or St Claire County, I have prepared forms that are almost exactly like their forms on Excel. I have been using them for over a year and have had no problem with them. They probably don't even know it's not their own form. You can just enter the date, gross sales, and deductions in one place and everything carries over and calculates for you. All you have to do is print it out. If you or anyone else that prepares Alabama sales tax forms using those forms will private message me, I'll be glad to email you a copy. Gene

When I was an auditor way back in the 70's, our OFFICE policy was that we would allow $52.00 without documentation (a dollar bill in the collection plate every Sunday). Each office is different and a dollar was a whole lot more then than it is now. The point is that $100 would PROBABLY be accepted depending on the office, the auditor, or the circumstances. Gene

The government is giving the rebates so that we will go out and buy more goods that are made in other countries. Most of those rebates are going overseas. How is that helping America? Gene

This sounds scary. Do you suppose that some of our returns might be double filed? Gene

Maribeth, I checked my Efile manager and none of mine have an entry in that column. I don't guess that is anything that we need to be concerned about. Gene

I'd like to see THAT!!! But somehow, I just don't believe they would do that.

I had noticed that sometimes when I check or uncheck forms to be printed, the menu would change, but I didn't know why. Now I know. Thanks Catherine. There are a lot of big and little things we can learn from this board. Gene

I like the program. I have been using it since 1993 and I can say that each year, including this year, it has gotten better. What I do not like is the way CCH has done about not following through with what they promise and changing things that they promise. I have had very few problems with the program and have only had to call tech support 2 or 3 times since 1993. Thankfully none this year. I don't prepare a lot of returns, and whenever I have a problem, I usually try to work it out myself. I am a little hard of hearing so I hate telephones. Calling tech support is always the very last choice for me. This board is a tremendous help and when I have a problem, I come here first. I don't do bank products so if ACKS are 2 or 3 days late coming in, it's no problem to me. If Mel gets his program up and running by next year, I have already determined that I will try that next year. If not, I'll wait and see. I think just about everyone here likes the program or they wouldn't be here, they just don't like the problems they are having and if they can't be fixed then it will be time to move on. Gene

I wonder if there will BE a rebate until the tax is paid, even if the rebate would be more than the tax owed. Just wondering. The IRS doesn't always do things that make sense. I imagine that a lot of people are planning on using the rebate to pay their taxes. The purpose of the rebate is to get people to spend more money to stimulate the economy, but the government does do a pretty good job of spending our money for us. Gene

When I worked for the IRS way back in the 70's, we would take into consideration that things do happen. If a taxpayer appeared to be completely straight forward we would accept whatever they could provide if it was within reason. I don't think you will have any problem with the facts you have presented. I wouldn't send copies of the old schedule C's, but I would send a copy of the fire report and send an explanation of how you came up with the figures. Good luck. Gene

Medlin will do the W2s without ANY additional input. It won't work with the uni-forms, but the 4-up forms that Medlin will print to look good and I don't think the recipients could care less how the W2 looks. Gene

I have been using Medlin for several years and like it very much. Entry is fast and if you make a wrong entry, it is VERY easy to correct. The only problem I have is I have one client that has employees working in multiple jurisdictions where a local tax is required. I have to calculate the local tax manually on those employees. I used Quick Books before using Medlin and entry was a little slow and if you made a mistake, it was a pain to correct it. Quick Books may be better now. Before that I used Great Plains and entry on that was cumbersome and to correct an error was very difficult, but the program could be adapted to almost any situation. I haven't heard of Great Plains in years. I don't know if they are still in business.

I can't figure out why two people would work 365 days a year and wear out two cars and not receive anything for it. After paying for supplies and car expenses, there is no way that they could make any profit at all with $27,000 gross and $10,000 expenses and drive 71,000 miles. I know a lot of people run paper routes and there is very little money in it, but for a route that large, there must be more than $27,000 gross.

Seems to me that if they maintain a home somewhere, it wouldn't matter how nice the truck is. Would a salesman's meal deduction be affected if he stayed at an Embassy Suites instead of a Motel 6?

Good thing we've got global warming.

To qualify for meals taxpayer must be away from home for a period of time where it is normal to require sleep. Gene

If they are employees, she needs to give them W-2s. 1099s are for independent contractors.

Form 8863 IS available with ATX. I have a return ready with a form 8863 in it. We just can't create an efile with it until Feb 11th, and as someone mentioned, if we send it in the mail before then, IRS won't process it. Gene

Alabama state returns are totally separate from the federal return. Many people have to file a federal return but not an Alabama state return, Many have to file an Alabama state return but not a federal return. And if you itemize on one, you do not have to itemize on the other. The standared deduction on the Alabama return is so low that almost everyone itemizes. Gene