Margaret CPA in OH

Did I miss a 12.12 update? I see on the update schedule 12.11 but you mention here 12.13. Or are you counting 12.11 second email as 12.12?

It's my birthday and the sun is shining but 35 degrees in Cincinnati. I have a pile of shortbread cookies from my staff so am a happy camper.

Same here about processing, Jack. I have several clients plus my own W-2's. Using AccuWage is easy as is the uploading and confirmation. Much better than paper for sure! I think the 1099 and W-2 functionality in ATX is really good. I would, in fact, pay additional for it should that come about or if that is the only survivor (but I have had almost no trouble on a stand alone and really hope ATX can pull it out of the morass it is in now).

Go here http://www.ssa.gov/bso/bsowelcome.htm?__utma=230172574.55178981.1361651239.1362147742.1363788383.6&__utmb=230172574.5.9.1363788415237&__utmc=230172574&__utmx=-&__utmz=230172574.1361651239.1.1.utmcsr=(direct)|utmccn=(direct)|utmcmd=(none)&__utmv=-&__utmk=253808331 It's been 12 years since I first registered and it looks to be easier now. There is an option to register by telephone it seems. If I knew how to do a tinyurl I would but the site is Business Services Online for SSA. Hope it works!

Have a computer custom built. I have done this for my last 5 computers and it is great. The builder puts only what he and I determine is the appropriate component set for my business - no games, no 'trial' software, nothing that is not my business. He also then knows exactly what to look for and address, usually remotely, when those odd things appear. Today, for example, my clerk's computer lost network connection with the main computer. He remoted in (is that a real term?) and discovered that somehow the box that says 'share' was not checked. He said he has seen this but on rare occasion with Win 7. Anyway, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it! YMMV

It and a 'tool' I downloaded fixed it. It's called 'restorecompletetoolinstall.exe' from the kb. I found this on the other board. Seems to work for me.

Thanks to you ALL! Yes, sometimes we/i get caught up in trying to do what we can within the law for our clients but have to draw a line somewhere. So my line will be to literally draw what transpired, put in code or other references as to what is deductible or not and go with it. On to the next knotty issue...

Thanks to you both. I first thought he kept a home in city B but couldn't afford it although he knew he would be back and will be in a couple of weeks. He does have a lot of expenses but how about the move from B to C and back to B? He originally moved to B intending to find a job there and stay. He found a job but had to go to C for training before he could permanently settle in B. He has a lot of storage expense but I think can take only 1 month. Since he had to move things for his training and lost his orginally intended home, wouldn't that be a moving expense as well as the move from A to B? It was way more than 50 miles and not a commuting distance. I hope he stays put!

I just received complicating update from client. It turns out he has been in city C for training for 6+ months. He was promised that he could work from city B after training and will, in fact, be returning at the end of this month So now I see city C maybe as a temporary work assignment and employment away from his tax home. This would seem to qualify for deductible expenses. He returned to city B on weekends to keep contacts and not to continue job seeking. He looked around for appropriate permanent housing after training, among other things. I still am confused as to his tax home because he always had the intent to move back to city B after training but couldn't afford to keep apartments in both places. So was his tax home city B or city C? Did he have temporary work/job assignment in city C or did he move there and it became his tax home until the end of this month when he will return to city B to reside permanently (I hope!)? Poor guy has spent a bunch of money but it shouldn't all be deductible I would think. Don't want to overdo but also want to be fair as he was downsized originally from a job he thought he had until retirement. Thanks for any additional input!

Well, I follow the same process but I don't add anything into the pdf. My instructions are in the text of the email to which it is attached. Maybe you could have 'boiler plate' instructions either as another pdf page in front or in the email. And I use Adobe X Pro but don't know if that should matter. I will check a couple of others later to see.

Yardley, I do the same procedure but have not seen your results. I just checked on return of 42 pages again to be sure. Is your experience with the same forms or pages? I have not had any clients report missing info either. Hmmm, not so good.

This is what I also posted at 8:30 this morning on the Software Issues forum. Great minds, and all that...

This is from the other board A. My experience has been this: 1. You must uninstall the software using the "Uninstall" feature on the ATX Install Disk. You will NOT have good results if you attempt to uninstall using the operating system (Windows) uninstall feature. 2. You must then reinstall the software using the original installation disk. You will need your install codes. 3. You may then update to the version that suits your fancy. (Assumes you have retained that version of the update.) These are available somewhere, but I can't recall where I found them.) Warning: If these steps are unclear or confusing, do not attempt this procedure.There are some suggestions on the other board regarding this. B. Using Win 7, I have managed to uninstall the program (without losing an client data or program settings) then reinstall it from the original disk. I had to reinstall all the form updates - not a big deal. Then I was able to apply whatever program update (in my case 12.6) I wanted. All updates are supposed to be cumulative - that is, they contain the earlier changes. Windows restore points may also help. I can't image all the grief I would have had if I was running Win XP. C. Looks like you can download prior updates with the following link: http://download.cchsfs.com/tech/atx/atx2012.update.12.xx.exe substitute the update number for the xx I just downloaded the 12.10 update this way.

Lion, do you then agree that by extending they will meet the PP test in October for tax year 2012? They actually would get a federal refund if so. They do owe state, school district and local tax. State and SD can be electronic but local is paper check. Thanks for the quick reply!

Just when I thought I had it all figured out.... rejected. Family moved to Australia mid-November planning to permanently settle. Husband is on university faculty, nothing left behind, children enrolled in school. Per Pub 54 they technically don't meet either bona fide residence (not a complete tax year) or physical presence (330 days or 12 months). But they will meet PP mid-October 2013 and bona fide residence for all of 2013. It seems there must be a way to exclude the $7000 husband earned in 2012 when he began teaching. Should we extend and wait to file Oct. 10 to meet the 12 months/330 days? Per Figure 4-B in Pub. 54 and explanation on how to figure, it seems that would/should work as they will meet the PP test then but it isn't perfectly clear that the exclusion is valid for the first year as well as the second. If this is the case, I am hoping to file the state and local returns to be done with them as a small amount of tax is due. Otherwise, I hope they can pay with an extension but the local does not handle payments electronically. Thanks for any help!

Ah, yes, say it will be efiled then just send the 9325 showing acceptance. It was kind of easier when all was paper. My transition to pdfs and nearly all electronic apparently still has some things to work out. Let's see if I can remember to do that with the rest of this year's clients. Thanks!

Yes, yes, and, undoubtedly, yes.

Well, dang! This program never ceases to amaze me! I have been using it since tax year 1996 or 97 and I never knew about Client Instructions. Alas, it suffers from the same problem. It cannot be edited to delete the part that says "A copy is enclosed for your records." I don't enclose a copy; they already have the pdf. I am curious, though, about your request to return the 8879. Do you efile before you have the signed copy or do you require payment in advance so receive a check and 8879 together? If so and there is an issue with rejection, how do you manage? Do you also send a fileable voucher when they owe? This could change my process!

Thanks for the suggestion but it doesn't answer my situation. Even with that changed, the verbiage is "..efiled and a copyis enclosed for your records." I don't enclose a copy for the client records. The client has already received their copy when I sent as a pdf for their review and to print and sign the 8879. In prior years I could edit the text to say " efiled and you have your client copy." or some such. Now no text can be edited. I really don't want to completely redo all the letters although I have now done that with the local letters that state they have been efiled which, of course, they have not been. I almost wish they didn't have local letters - I used to want them but with editing capability.

Thanks, KC, but I don't see that actually moving to another place to look for work is deductible. The links reference travel to another place and the travel expenses to and from but not relocating. Surely many people relocate to look for work and don't just travel between. His situation is complicated by the first relocation then actually finding a job in yet a third place. I have some questions out to him and will just have to ponder. Thanks again!

I am looking for some agreement of my analysis of the deductibility of client's moving expenses. I don't want to miss anything but think he is out of luck on a lot of stuff. Client lost job in city A Dec. 2011. Drove to desired new job location, city B, 300 miles away for networking and job hunting. After some promising leads, moved to city B apartment to reduce travel (expenses to move basics) and placed excess items in storage for 8 months. Finally obtained job in city C, 200 miles from city B. Had to get apartment in city C (city B apartment under lease) and stayed in city C during the week, then returned to city B on weekends to continue seeking better job there, I believe. Hasn't yet moved remaining furniture from city A to city C due to space, I believe. From Publ. 521, I think he can deduct only 1 month of storage and can deduct only the cost of moving things from city A to city B but it has been more than a year so maybe not at all. I am confused as to deductible mileage for job search. There is certainly a lot! I feel terrible for this professional at age 63. In the past 5 years he has moved from Ohio to FL to MN to NC in transfers with airline industry HR then was finally 'downsized.' I suppose there are all too many in this situation but maybe not so many with these expenses. Any insight would be much appreciated!

Richcpaman, your method of printing sounds exactly like mine except I print all to pdf. The filing copies I print to the ATX pdf and client copies to Adobe. I then combine the ATX pdf into the Adobe copy, save, then save again with password. That's what I send to clients for their file copy and to review. The difference is that on the 'filing copy,' I pdf print the 8879, Tax Summary, Comparison, and deposit/payment info for client review. The client prints only 8879, signs and returns; I then efile. When accepted, I physically print the 9325, the client letters and mail out those with my invoice. Frequently there are also local returns that must be mailed. If payment vouchers are needed, I include with instructions and a prelabeled envelope. Of course I could do that electronically, too, but think that it is a small personal touch especially for those folks I never see. In any event, they have their pdf client copy, I have the same pdf with and without encryption and the program copy. It really saves, too, when a client needs a prior year copy. Just send the pdf.

See Pub. 54, page 15. There can be overlapping 12 month periods. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p54.pdf

Indiana DOR 100 N Senate Ave Indianapolis IN 46204 35-6000158

I had to have separate federal and state letters with the box checked 'Client letter to display as 'has been efiled.'' I would like to customize to say that the return has been efiled and one copy has been sent to you, rather than a copy is enclosed. Virtually all of my clients have been sent a pdf copy so I don't enclose.