Margaret CPA in OH

The contrast change is helpful to me, thanks. And the url for My ATX is what you had before, I believe. At least it gets to the login quickly. Curious - why doesn't it work any longer to click on General Chat to refresh the page? It isn't a huge deal to go to the url bar to refresh but I keep using old habits that aren't working now.

Thanks, Eric, for once again doing so much for this community. As Yardley mentioned the first glance doesn't seem too drastic. Two things I did notice: there is a lot of extra space at the top with the placement and size of titles. I would personally prefer to see a longer list of the topics below and less blank space at the top. Then I noticed the absence of the MyAtx link. I would occasionally use that convenience. Is it gone for good? It was a amazing how much I missed seeing this site most of today. Guess it is very integrated into my daily life. Thanks again, Eric, for making it all possible!

Ohio has been cracking down on identity theft and has been sending out letters for some taxpayers to prove their identity. If they fail a telephone or online 4 questions quiz (and it seems some questions are bizarre), they then are required to submit various documents to prove identity and receive their refunds. The documents are only if they fail the tests. I've had just 2 clients, one was my son, to get this notice. Perhaps NJ is doing something similar.

NECPA, the one in the foreground on the ten key, Tribble, is black and white; the one under the 'heat lamp' holding down the papers is Bonk; the one in the window catbird seat is Cattanooga, Noogie for short. Tribble is a fluff ball named for Star Trek Tribbles. Bonk kept bonking his head on the kitchen table when sitting on my son's lap. Noogie was adopted from a motel parking lot in - can you guess? I love the Debit and Credit names, Michael!

Ah, yes...see my avatar for my reality.

I include IRA's because Individual RETIREMENT Plan distributions seem to me to qualify. And the instructions also state that you must have retired and the income is included in the Ohio AGI. So an early distribution not for retirement would not count even if included in AGI. IMO

Waaaayyyyy undercharging, Carolbeck! So sorry to hear that you don't have the state separate function. I was absolutely delighted when ATX added Ohio to that. For several years I just had a little spreadsheet to take AGI with OH adjustments and comparison with federal tax liability. A problem was that many folks cannot grasp the difference between tax liability and refunds and/or balances due. "But I get a bigger refund from IRS if we file joint!" Ah, but you pay so much more in state tax if you do. Not math whizzes but today, neither am I!

Thanks, Lion. She has all the deductions so itemized is better. She was smart enough to have the house and mortgage in her name. I can now breathe easier - except for the 3115 I forgot to attach on another client. Always, something...I will mail it in and hope for the best then retire.

And then there is 'my' couple who would benefit from MFS but because he is retired and has withholdings and she is self-employed but wants estimates in her name only, still want to file joint. Only been married a couple of years, age differences, etc. I spent so much time with them, so many emails, arrggghh! EMailed pdf copies but their computer couldn't connect to printer so I had to mail client copies for review, yada, yada, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Thanks, KC. I meant exemption, not dependent. And so far as client knows, ex had no gross income and did not file a return. He was involved with drugs hence the prison sentence and divorce but how is it possible to determine any income, gross or not? That still leaves the question of itemizing deductions or standard deduction. I could not find that treatment. If spouse did not file separately, is client required to use standard deduction?

I just looked at the Home Office Expense form (not instructions) and the options are Daycare or Simplified (Safe Harbor) Method or the actual. On 8829 there is more detail for daycare which includes used regularly for daycare, not exclusively. Then another input to multiply days time hours used for daycare. So maybe not so simple.

Whatever the final decision (and I would do the whole thing, but that's me), the client still must take into consideration the depreciation 'allowed or allowable' down the road.

Client filed separately in 2011, now ex lived with her until September, landed in jail shortly after. She did provide >50% support but, with filing separately and now ex not filing a return due to 0 income, is she forced to use standard deduction? I believe she does qualify to claim him as a dependent but does the separate filing mess up deductions? She knew she would not get him to file a joint return after jail and filing for divorce. Opinions? Thanks!

ATX also has a comparison form which I always include. It answers lots of questions!

The mother admitted to filing and claiming the daughter so the error is correct just for the wrong child listed. It's not the first time and likely not the last. Paper file. Just puzzled why it picked the second child listed and not the first, the daughter. Thanks, though.

Nevermind- more complicated than it used to be but I finally got it.

Client's state return was rejected (see earlier post, child claimed by other parent already. I have to print and mail the return now. But the letter won't let me change from efiled. So I deleted all efile info and now cannot add a state letter. Ideas! Thanks

It appears as though nothing reportable happened in 2014. If it is sold in 2015, report it then, sale or rental, as the details dictate. One of my clients did just the opposite. Bought and rehabbed a property intending to flip it with a nice gain. It didn't sell so he rented it in January. There was nothing to report in 2014 but will be in 2015.

Did he place in service in 2014? Advertise for rent but received no applicants? Sometimes plans don't work out but if it was placed in service, renters actively sought, I would prepare the E. In my opinion, too bad if he couldn't take the loss. Presumably this wise investor knew what he was doing. If he just 'planned' on renting it without even trying, then I would consider it an investment property for 2014 and crunch the numbers when he sells.

Client has daughter he claim in alternate years - Form 8332 clearly states the years, no previous problems. Efile was just now rejected but showed the dependent claimed already as the second child listed which I think is not possible. Second and third children are with current wife, only first child is a possible error. I believe we still have to paper file now with Form 8332 (which I usually send with For 8453) and explanatory note. But is the error message maybe in error showing the second child listed not the first? Thanks,

And what's wrong with a little challenge about now? Doesn't this stuff just keep us on our toes - and out of our minds!!! Far less troubling, but nonetheless irritating - second year client sent me W-2 10 days ago before vacation. Yesterday sent 5 separate emails each with screen shots of power bills, mortgage statements, cell phone bills, county real estate page. I'm supposed to add up this stuff. When I reminded her that I bill by the hour she responded that she would try to get an H&R appointment. Geez, does she think they will be happy to look at screen shots of bills for data entry? She sent added figures this morning. I'm grouchier than I have ever been and I honestly don't think it's all me. Well, maybe....

Cathy, thanks for the comments. The client didn't qualify for the credit as income was 579% of FPL, hence full repayment required. When I more carefully followed and understood better all the instructions, it all worked out. Client majorly underestimated her income.

And to think these people walk on this earth and procreate!

I was on IE but now it works on both. Weird, like so many client issues now!

Thanks again, folks. I will look at both and talk with the client. My guess is that recapture would be better now with such low income rather than trying to keep track (and I wonder how many actually do over the years) for future sale.