Margaret CPA in OH

David, at times most of us have had to be the bearer of bad news to clients. Year after year I had to remind a firefighter about how there were no deductions on house meals and dues. Every year I had to pull out Rev. Rul. 56-49 and commiserate that I would not deduct them even though 'everyone else does.' Such is the burden we bear.....

GGRNY, how do you manage e-signatures? I think I have OneDrive available but haven't used it. Do you still encrypt documents uploaded?

Good to know! I will have a few candidates for this. I assume you notified ATX so they might, might fix it.

Well, there is an ongoing discussion on the ways to do this. For many years I have been sending password protected encrypted returns (256 bit through Adobe Pro). The hassle for me and clients is getting the signed Form 8879 back to e-file. So I am exploring especially Verifyle. Still in discovery mode.

Good questions, Lion. How does anyone verify anything online? I guess somehow one has to create some special questions. Hmmm, maybe I will just stick with what I have been doing. I think the Verifyle user can download anything to keep in one's own files. What was a bit unsettling to me in the terms and conditions was that Verifyle can (does?) keep a copy of everything that is put up there. But what does CCH do? Are all those records kept or destroyed? Is anything ever really safe? Arrrggghhh!

taxbrewster, thanks for the replies. I also think that Verifyle meets the IRS standards. What you may have missed is my comment that many, maybe most, of my clients do not have smart phones and would/could not do what the video shows anyway. I didn't see how to do that on a desktop computer. It does seem that the 'signature' isn't a true signature, rather something generated in some random font passing for a signature. I plan on going through the exercise by sending something to my husband to see how hard it is for him. He is a retired mainframe person. While he finally broke down just a couple of months ago and got a smartphone when his flip phone finally died, he is a good test candidate!

I agree that Verifyle is probably my answer and I don't think $198 annually is going to break my bank. I just don't know how clients will create an electronic signature. The one client I have that used it last year is very sophisticated with technology but the majority are not. They mostly have desktop computers or older laptops. Even if they have smartphones, I cannot imagine anyone trying to review a tax return on that tiny screen let alone 'signing' something. I need more education on this as will many of my clients!

Okay, I began a Verifyle account and watched videos for a couple of hours. Showing my ignorance here, but how is an electronic signature created? There were frequent referrals to touch screens, etc. but the majority of my clients are, well, on the older side and do well with using a computer, probably laptop and not with a touchscreen. Is there a difference between a digital signature and electronic signature? I am finding conflicting info and seeming interchangeable terms. Any guidance appreciated!

Pacun, what you write may be true for some or even most people but I have never tried to access IRS through my phone until the agent suggested downloading the IRS2GO which I will now uninstall. And I use Firefox browser for everything online, including on my phone, except to access IRS which, of course, only works well with IE. So no accidental logins there, certainly not 5 times over 4 months. I don't have a clue what actually happened but am confident it had nothing to do with me at all. I'm just grateful that I again now have access. Oh, I don't think IRS allows any passwords to be saved anyway. At least I haven't seen that, just the username.

NECPA, I hold you and sister in my heart. This is surely a scary time. Despite your professional responsibilities, I encourage you to always put family first. Clients that will not understand that are not worth having. I wish you luck in finding the right printing solution.

Lion, thanks for this, especially about New York! I am still trying to finish that footdragger artist from New York for 2018 and did not know about this. (By the way, how many times must I contact this person to remind her that I am STILL waiting on some information despite her 'urgent' notes about having to have these by November 15, wait now December 15, wait now January 31, wait now January 20th to have in time to apply for health insurance. But now I'm sick, now I'm in DC and won't return until Wednesday.... Sorry for the rant now over) I will have to check whether ATX allows this. Also, I always send Client Copy for the clients to review with all the input pages so they can check themselves the data sources. It appears as though this allows only the file copy. I also include the state and local returns for their review. How much does this cost? If I have to do the local returns (many of them have locals, ugh!) separately, I'm not sure this would be my best solution.

Update: After trying on my own to access and update, etc., I spent 1 hour, 58 minutes (but who's keeping track?) on the phone with a super nice agent who really tried to help without success. I kept getting to the point (5 times) where I put in my cell number for a text for 2fa and no text. Agent said it would be escalated and I would get a call back HAH! I tried the IRS2Go app but, of course, one must go through exactly the steps I was unable to complete to use that. He did say to text "In" to the IRS number which I did. No response. I turned off my cell phone overnight and this morning Voila!, a text was there - oh happy day! So I went back in and tried the whole thing again with success this time! I got a texted code! And then I could see that my account had 5! unsuccessful login attempts since Oct. 29, NONE OF THEM BY ME! That was scary to see. Not sure what, if anything to do now. I wonder if folks find us, at least me, and try to login for nefarious reasons. Retiring in 3 years. I am so sick of passwords, logins, 2fa, blah, blah, blah....

I feel your pain. Been there, lost (thankfully) a client and didn't look back. Normally I do itemize a bit, more than one line item. At least I separated out year-end vs. quarterly forms but I also used to keep track when done. Otherwise, hang tight. We can't fix stupid and we can't do the work of our clients, in my opinion. I hope you are able to enjoy a little down time this weekend and perhaps an adult beverage or four.

Abby, I use Firefox exclusively (save for IRS stuff) and wondered about that option. I have been using Adobe encrypted to 256 bit to send returns to clients for review but the signed 8879 has always presented issues except for a single client who had the capability to sign electronically and return encrypted. How do you handle e-signatures, if you do? I've just signed up to try Verifyle as mentioned by a couple of folks to utilize the e-signature capability. I did read through all the terms and privacy stuff (never, ever their fault, they can do anything, etc.) and am just concerned about the part that says they can keep and use User content, which I take to mean anything I or clients upload. I do like the Firefox temporary aspect. Guess I better get this straightened out last month!

Anyone else have this happen? Apparently 3 login attempts were made unsuccessfully but I have to wait 24 hours before checking to see login history. No, I didn't try to login. I assume that since my (our) credentials are online with IRS now, hackers see possible opportunities. Grrr....

Thanks, that was all I could find, too. I was hoping since IRS announced a date that NY would have one by now. Guess we can wait at least another week. I think she only needs a copy of her federal return which she will have.

I simply cannot find this date on the NY tax website. I do know that it is shut down until sometime in January but cannot find out the opening date. Any help appreciated. A client needs to file her 2018, yes, 2018, return by Jan. 31 to get her health insurance. IRS is Jan. 27 so I think we can make that but NY needs to be ready, too. Or we have to mail it in - ugh!

I, too, don't mind the attrition as I am in my last 3 years of work. I renewed my license in December for those 3 years and, at 77 then, will call it done. I spun off all business returns, save one partnership, and payroll and bookkeeping a few years ago when the other CPA working for me retired. I didn't want to continue any year round work. I kept 50-60 individuals and have let nature take its course. I still have about 50 losing a couple each year yet somehow gaining at least one. This keeps my brain involved and engaged and gets me enough money to go on great dive trips so I'm pretty happy with the situation for me. I do wonder about the future for accountants and tax preparers, however. Different world ahead, for sure.

Thanks, good idea! I had forgotten about this form. And since NY doesn't allow any writing except a signature, this should, I hope, suffice.

New client (daughter of friend) has dawdled with abandon and needs to file her NY return by Jan. 15 to get health insurance. I'm still waiting on some data, of course (artist, you know). I see a dire warning that because 'this return was prepared using software, (I) MUST use e-file. If (I) file a paper New York State tax return, (I) will be in violation of New York State law.' BUT New York e-file is down until mid-January and not accepting e-filed returns. 'Preparers who file paper returns are subject to penalties.' What to do? On top of this, paper tax returns cannot have any writing except signatures. Another dire warning...

Oh Great! We are supposed to actually see the documents to correctly prepare returns and also meet client expectations of timely return prep which, for most, will be well in advance of March 2. Perhaps more 'guidance' will be forthcoming and no penalty imposed for returns filed without eyeballs on the 1095-C.

It's been 2 years since my last raise of just 4.5% but think it's really justified this year. I had to get a new computer with Win10, upgrade scanner and fax software to work with it and the tax software inched up another 10%. I bill by time but think I will add a technology fee of $25 across the board as an incremental amount per hour for my small client list won't do it. And I WILL explain in my cover letter. I think everyone is familiar with this major change in OS requirement. We shall see who decides I'm no longer worth it. I kind of like natural attrition, actually!

Oh, this is sad news, indeed. He was such a wonderful person providing true technical and customer support. I had the great fortune of talking with him at least twice. Thank you for keeping us apprised and providing a way to help remember him. I hope you are continuing good work and helping others as you learned from him. Many of us here certainly hold him and you and so many other original ATX folks in very high esteem. One barbeque dinner wasn't enough to thank you all!

New (well, she still hasn't sent me anything yet) client showed inventory on 2017 return O boy, $10,000 materials and supplies, 0 eoy COGS $10,000 plus additional supplies of $5092 on line 22 Sch. C. So no real inventory valuation but does that ever exist? IF she ever sends 2018 information, I am curious as to how to distinguish between supplies in COGS and other. Anyone out there have experience with artists? She paints and shows in galleries. They are quite good but a bit too abstract for my taste. I just want to do right by her.

From handy dandy Quickfinder - If the business or rental portion of the taxpayer's home was used as a personal residence for two of the five years before the sale, the taxpayer can exclude the gain on the entire home (except for any depreciation allowed or allowable after May 6, 1997). An example provided even uses the same years as your client! So up to $250,000 less the part of the gain equal to the depreciation allowed while renting the house.