Margaret CPA in OH

Yes, thanks so much for that. I'm sure we will refer many who write in for explanations as the season progresses.

:bday: and many more!

I have already efiled W-2's via ATX and SSA for 4 clients. You receive an immediate confirmation from SSA after uploading the file. I don't do anything the next day. In fact, on ATX, the "efile" will still be in created status because it technically is not efiled though the software. Rather it goes through SSA website directly. So I just mark it Completed. The thing to remember is to put your SSA assigned user ID on the "Employer Info" sheet where the submitter's info is put (that's you). I seem to always forget and can't figure out why the efile won't create and there is no message. Once you input that 8 digit number, all should flow to the AccuWage program (choose the ASC file to test) and continue to log into SSA.

:bday: and many more!

:bday: and many more!

:bday: and many more!

Pacun, Catherine and I have bonded over Booger, actually. I am insanely jealous of their forum affair. Someday my prince will come, maybe JB? Maybe Elrod? Maybe ???

After this discussion of wonderful results, I think I will push for this option after tax season instead of waiting until the doctor finally decides. This truly sounds amazing - at least pursuing the discussion. I am very happy for and envious of all you folks who can now see so much better!

Catherine, many people wonder how I have strayed so far from my molecular biology days working on rNA tumor viruses or protein chemistry studying multiple sclerosis. I'm from, among other fine schools, the large institution on the other side of the Charles. (A small technical college... now that IS funny!) It's good to know there are many others who have recreated themselves over the years. And I think our respective backgrounds help explain the common ground we often times find. Sort of logical and methodical except when those hormones kick in!

:bday: and many more!

JB, so glad to see that handsome, smiling face once again! Everytime it shows up on the screen I have to smile. Of course, I do recall the first sighting when someone described it as "creepy." We now know and maybe almost love the mug. Elrod, I believe the proper terminology is "frikkin" bananas. There was a lengthy discourse on this word in usage on this forum last year. Pay attention! Oh, tax season is so very fun with this great cast of, um, characters!

I finally looked at this form and am, frankly, baffled. I was not familiar with this. How did you learn of it? I still don't understand the sequence of where or how this fits in with ERO's such as me. I am thinking that it applies to the companies processing what we send. The form is sent to Enterprise Computing Center and the details in the Rev. Proc. seem to refer to large companies. I welcome enlightenment about this, too, as I have been efiling for 5 years now, I think, and have never heard of this before! Thanks for raising the issue...I think.

:bday: and many more!

http://proadvisor.intuit.com/content/program/index.jsp The best way to start is to know Quickbooks really well. This isn't cheap but you do get the latest version, there is a lot of support and I have actually gotten a few good clients from the listing.

:bday: and many more!

Thanks for sharing the positive response you had along with the satisfaction with the product. We here do tend to gripe about the things that make us unhappy perhaps a bit more than share what pleases us. I may look at the FAM myself after this glowing review. I have been using CMI Fixed Assets for some time. I is virtually free with a nominal annual update fee. But having the ability to sync with MAX is a great feature!

Elfling, the question posed to me was how does the DCN get on the 8879 before client signs, whether I handwrite it in. I explained that I create the efile to check for errors which might prevent efiling prior to providing the 8879 for signature. Does that mirror your sequence? I don't use so many folders, etc. but am sure I have far fewer clients and there is just me.

We still need Jerome and Betty Sue and some warm Corona along with those frickin' bananas. Then we can really party!

Lion, how is that you get such emails from CCH? I've never received one. Is this some option you chose? If so, where? I am intrigued!

I create the efile before sending as a pdf for approval (or showing to the client). That way I catch any errors prior to submission. The client signs the 8879 which has the DCN and faxes, scans and emails or sends back to me (or signs here). The DCN is also on the 9325 which I send to the client as confirmation of receipt and acceptance.

That's clearer now. I am not an attorney but don't see anything immediately wrong with the situation you describe. The fact that gifts were made to the trust rather than to the son directly wouldn't make the trust invalid or be a problem, I should think. Hopefully, KC will weigh in on this but it seems that someone could create a trust and not fund it immediately or ever. I also don't see why contributions/gifts/whatever cannot be made to the trust from people or other sources besides the grantor. If a trust has interest-bearing investments or stocks yielding dividends, that income would not come directly from the grantor. KC?

This is confusing. When was the trust created? Did the client put the money into it after having first received the gifts from the parents? Were the gifts inheritances or gifts while they were alive? I am no attorney but don't understand how decedents can be grantors of a trust. I can understand someone creating such a trust with an inheritance specifying that the trust be a beneficiary of an estate. Is it possible that the client meant that the parents contributed money to the trust rather than giving it to the client outright? Best to read the trust document for further enlightenment.

I have scanned all files including 8879's and burned to cd's in duplicate. See page 30 of Pub. 1345. They must be retained for 3 years but "EROs may electronically image and store all paper records they are required to retain for IRS e-file. This includes Forms 8453 ... and Forms 8879 and 8878."

Have you checked your Return Manager/Options/Preferences/Rollover Manager and Preparer Manager to reflect what you want?

Yes, you are supposed to check the asc file. The zip is to send. Lisa from SSA (the second person) was trying to tell me to not necessarily send the zip files and gave instructions if there were problems. She said some software company last year changed something that created issues. Mine was successful in sending as a zip but I am hanging onto her alternate method in case. Good luck!