Margaret CPA in OH

Congratulations, Ray! I do believe you are the winner and deserving of all the appropriate benefits, etc. that accompany this achievement. I am so green with envy but at least that fits the seasonal colors. And do let us know when you receive that first ack - we await breathlessly :spaz:

Crank, I completely agree about the hardest test ever. I tried without a study course and didn't make it. After my intensive review, I did pass all 4 in November 1993. Of course, my earlier attempt was literally on my knees in May 1989, 2 months before major back surgery. I had to request permission to bring a cushion to kneel on for 2 1/2 days because the back was killing me. And I vividly recall having to write everything by hand in what never seemed to be enough time. Ahhh, CPA, aka 'Can't Pass Again!'

You might want to look at www.cmifixedassets.com I have been using the 'free' version for many years (none of my clients have more than 50 assets. I pay an annual maintenance fee for updates and have placed perhaps 3 calls over the years for assistance. I don't now see that free plus annual maintenance is an option but probably still worth a look. I like it, I like the reports and the tech support when needed is great.

Just beautiful! I'll have to show my husband the competition for his celtic harp. He's playing 4 different venues this week alone. I think it must be a real challenge to set up all those glasses and tune. Thanks for sharing, Catherine.

Catherine, thank you for this disturbing information and subsequent suggestions and thoughts. I think you have given your best by bringing the complexity of this recent calamity and ongoing financial shenanigans (what else could they be?) to us for more careful consideration for ourselves and clients. My husband has a degree in economics from Wharton and rails often about the wisdom of great rewards to those who produce nothing but only move money around and devise ways to 'earn' money by such things as credit default swaps - win-win for them, lose-lose for many others. When the politicians and regulators are in collusion with bankers and money 'managers,' what hope is there for the likes of us being manipulated by them? So this will be sobering reading over the next several days when my focus should be on more seasonal issues. I guess we all should try to keep some perspective as best we can. Thanks again, Catherine, and enjoy your holidays and new bathroom!

My PTIN is from the first year also and has 2 leading zeroes. I am and was then a CPA and the number did not change last or this year. It may just be speculation as to the meaning, or lack thereof, relative to the numbering scheme. Maybe IRS doesn't even know!

So Dear Jack, please give us all a great gift and share this wonderful knowledge. Eventually we will all be faced with this very issue and would be eternally grateful to you and 'the most knowledgeable tech ATX has." Perhaps you could provide it as a link or attachment accessible to those who need/want it. Be a true Santa Baby!

I don't know at least in part because you didn't describe the error. The best place to begin is to check the knowledge base using your best descriptors. Next best maybe describe more fully the error message and hope someone chimes it who has seen it and addressed it before. Good luck!

Yes, I agree that a price increase for all who have Schedule D is definitely in order. I haven't completed my packets and engagement letters yet (usually mail out January 2) so maybe I'll create an insert describing the additional requirements - and commensurate time and skill - to properly report these. I especially like the automatice extension, Catherine. And you might even get to enjoy your new bathroom more! Hope I get to see it next summer :)

Yes, bstaxes, best wishes for a full recovery. Eyesight is so precious! I am legally blind in one eye and constantly concerned that something might happen to the 'good' one which needs strong correction itself. Do all the right things to heal for tax season. Be good to yourself!

NECPA -take care of yourself! That sounds like a scary ordeal, for sure! I've been lurking, too, while trying to finish up my marathon thanks. Check this, if interested http://tiny.cc/pf71p This weekend I accompany an elderly client to a family reunion of sorts in New York. She meets her newest great grands, including the one from England. She'll be 98 in a couple of weeks so this will mean a lot to them all, I hope. I'm thankful for all of you on this board and Eric for providing it. Don't quite know how I would manage. Ron, I was happy to see truly positive comments about tech support from ATX. I have noticed a lot of customer outreach and improvements this year and am quite optimistic about the future of ATX software. At least I hope it lasts as long as my last few years in practice. Don't eat too much, folks, and be nice to the rest of the family ^_^

Great! I didn't know that so see, George, we've already gotten better. Thanks, Gail!

I miss that, too, but you can click on the topic (new posts show bolded print) then click on the upper right corner "Go to first unread post." It's an extra step and if someone else has a better, quicker solution, I hope they share for both/all of us! I have noticed on rare occasion that following these steps may miss the immediately preceding unread post so am now in the habit of scrolling up one to be sure I haven't missed something. That's probably just me, though.

Is this to be simply a not for profit or tax-exempt organization? IRS approval is primarily for those wanting tax exemption (see Pub. 1023 and instructions). First step would be to incorporate as a not for profit in the given state then do research on the type of nfp desired - the business purpose, as it were. To receive tax-exempt status is not inexpensive these days so be sure to follow the steps. Besides the IRS publications and information (click on IRS. gov and click on Charities and Non-Profits), a great resource I have used for beginning steps and subsequent record keeping and filing is "Tax Planning and Compliance for Tax-Exempt Organizations" by Jody Blazek.

I think you may be misunderstanding. The client spoke at a conference; this was an honorarium, not a paycheck, per se. I believe the T4A-NR is in Canadian dollars and the stub from the City of Vancouver clearly shows US dollars. I believe the forms represent the same transaction, just in different denominations. My question was the need to file a Canadian return as tax was withheld, there is a reciprocal treaty and I am taking a foreign tax credit on her US return. I don't think Canada would provide a refund, though. Thanks for your reply, I'll look further after my run. It's so beautiful outside now in Cincinnati!

Extended client has Form T4A-NR showing gross income of 3,702.60 with income tax deducted of 555.39. She also has a check stub showing gross income of 3600.00 with deductions of 540.00 and 40.00 nonresident withholding tax and net amount of 3060.00. The stub also shows a reimbursement amount of 829.29 for a cheque total of $3889.29 US. So I think I am safe in inputting the check amounts as US dollars not on a 1099 but am not sure if I need to file a Canadian return. No, I haven't done the research yet, just hoping someone will know already and point me in the right direction. Currently my brain is on the Chicago marathon I'm running Sunday, definitely not on tax! Thanks!

Eric, thanks, I tried the theme change and that does make a difference. At least I can read everything on one screen. Some of the option buttons are not there but I can manage much easier. I will try those other things you mentioned, too. Thanks again - you ARE the BEST!

Eric, you are always working so hard to constantly improve our experience here and it is much appreciated. Having said that, I fear that I am going to have to leave the forum because it gets increasingly hard for me to manage. The heading at the top takes up about a third or more of my screen (with existing task bars that I use) and now the text spreads completely across the screen. Because of my aging eyes, I have to have slightly larger print size on my 17" monitor. No, I can't get yet a larger one because of limited desk space with 2 monitors. If you have any suggestions that might be useful, please share. I tried to reduce the type and could barely read it. You know, getting older isn't all it's cracked up to be! Thanks for ALL you efforts!

Heartiest congratulations, indeed, to you both! I confess envy as I am still hoping for my first grandchild. The babies are just beautiful, too, surely a reflection of beautiful parents. I especially love the photo of them sleeping in each other's arms. May they always be so close...

Thanks for futher responses. The biggest difference between investment and inventory as you know is ordinary or capital treatment. I am of the opinion that this is ordinary but will reconfirm with the clients. However, capital assets are not inventory held mainly for sale to customers in a trade or business or depreciable property used in a trade or business or real estate used in a trade or business or as rental property. The note treatment is one that I have done with some S-corp clients and was inclined to show repayments against the money that the LLC owes them (unpaid interest from prior years which has been reported on their personal returns). Sigh... retirement looks better all the time. Thanks again, OldJack. So glad you are on the board this evening!

OldJack, the house purchases are intended to be for rehabbing and resale according to the LLC purpose. So I think it would be inventory but just wanted to check with others. They really don't want to hold these for investment purposes and didn't yet sell the other two only because they would have lost money. On this property they knew it would have a profit. The LLC is deemed a partnership, the default. As I wrote, the early cash infusions were in large amounts and were expected to be repaid fairly quickly when the properties sold. The market wasn't so friendly. I'm just wondering about these smaller amounts several times over the course of the year when utilities or insurance is due and rental income is insufficient. It just seems painful to treat each as a separate loan with fmr interest, etc. Thanks again for nudging in the right direction!

Clients formed LLC a few years ago to purchase, rehab and sell properties for low income housing. They are really "do good" folks with 6 foster children, all minorities and mostly health challenged. He is a physician, she is a nurse practioner. The first 2 houses they completed just when the market decline began and decided to rent until things turned around. This third house was bought in late 2010, rehabbed and sold sometime early in 2011. I am working on extended 2010 returns. The buyers are son and daughter in law (does that matter?). I think all expenses are capitalized as this third house would be inventory, wouldn't it? Because the business purpose is to rehab and sell, I think the houses wouldn't be investment properties, or would they? The second question relates to member infusions of cash to complete rehabbing because rental income is insufficient for the entity. Members want these to be loans, not capital contributions. The first couple of times they were significant amounts, in the multiple thousands, and at least one was repaid when they were able to get a Line of Credit on one house. But what about the $200, $500, etc. smaller amounts? Thanks for comments and steering me on the right course.

Thanks, Joan. I have had successful contact via email with my German friend and the legal clerk in Germany. The document actually states that the loss can only offset German passive income (like here) so is suspended until then. Well, he will not have any passive German income so cannot use it. He didn't expect to anyway, so I think that's where it stands. I will definitely keep you and your contact in mind, though, as I will have these clients for quite a while. They are pretty loyal - I like that! Thanks again to all for suggestions and help! Now on to the remaining extensions - ugh, the LLC with multiple rentals and less than perfect records, know what I mean? Have a great weekend -

Oh right! I think that's the idea I had in the way back part of my brain recalling something about issues when an estate is closed. And I looked over the documents again and found an email address of what appears to be someone at the law firm that handled the estate. I asked if there was an English translation available. I also made copy with names whited out and sent to a native German woman who used to work for me. Unfortunately she lacks knowledge in technical legal terms but I thought it worth trying. Anyway, I think you are correct that the best scenario is Sch A deduction. The only problem is that there would not be a matchup with a 1041 K-1. We'll see what the German ladies come up with. Thanks so much, Joan!

I had to chuckle despite some close to home hits. Thanks!