Margaret CPA in OH

Thanks, Lion. I must have juxtaposed ProFX and ATX as both CCH products but don't know why I thought Atlanta was the location. Guess I just wanted to go south! I do miss using ProFX as I did in a part time job while establishing my practice. Just out of my budget reach though so ATX it is since tax year 1997 - wow! that's 15 tax seasons already! And I couldn't have done it without my internet colleagues!

Thanks, Elrod, but that doesn't seem to be what I seem to recall (clear?). That is apparently a list of cpe courses, not what I was imagining. I already have 73 hours of cpe this year, well on the way to my 120 over 3 years. No, I was imagining a user conference, not continuing ed. But it was probably just my vivid, faulty imagination - or hallucinations!

Hear! Hear! So many of us could not do this job without all of you - what a team is atxcommunity! Back when folks may not have realized what was begun and continues today. What a great 'family' we have here - thanks to all!

I may have imagined it but thought I read somewhere here about such a conference. I cannot find anything on the ATX or CCH website. Any information available?

Hmmm, is she really your client if you didn't prepare her returns? Rhetorical question but I am a bit rankled today anyway. The friend of someone for whom I've been doing work gratis (recently died from MS and had been on disability for years) emailed a list of questions about how to report various items - inherited IRA, inherited annuity distributions, nearly $2000 in divs and does she have to file a Schedule B, too? These were inherited from her mother who passed last year. I qualified answers by noting that I did not have the documents to see and closed with, "Hey, this is why I get the 'big bucks!' Good luck!" I was thinking if she inherited this stuff, she just might have wanted more than last minute hints! Okay, grumble over. Out to shop now.

Here is the link in irs.gov. http://www.irs.gov/taxpros/providers/article/0,,id=223832,00.html Explain paper returns Even if you are an authorized e-file provider, clients for whom you prepare one of the returns identified above may choose to file on paper if the return will be submitted to the IRS by the taxpayer. As described in Rev. Proc. 2011-25, tax return preparers in this situation should obtain and keep a signed and dated statement from the client. Also, in this situation and in the cases of administratively exempt returns or returns filed by a tax return preparer with an approved hardship waiver, specified tax return preparers generally should attach Form 8948, Preparer Explanation for Not Filing Electronically, to the client's paper return.

Prepare and add Form 8948, Preparer Explanation for Not Filing Electronically. She/they can then choose to paper file. With my clients that refused to accept that their 29 year son was NOT a dependent, on advice of my liability insurance, I sent paper copies of the returns with instructions to sign 8879 so that I could efile. Of course, they did not return the signed form and I sent an invoice for preparation knowing full well that they had someone else file incorrectly.

So any other input about the closing costs and mip allocated with the original purchase? Now would be a great time to have the blessing of KC and jainen opine with their collective wisdom - I am sadly without any on this. Thanks to any one with suggestions or, even better, the right answer!

I was/am pretty sure about the cost issue. What I am less certain about is the roof (balance of original cost or depreciated amount? over 27.5 years or only balance of time from original date?) and the closing costs and mortgage insurance premiums which were added to the basis (appropriate percentage) when first unit placed into service. Makin' me crazy and at this point in time it isn't taking much! I just ate a huge piece of birthday cake to keep me going a bit longer.

Thanks, JohnH, I do realize that option but they don't have lots of extra cash available and I guess I'm kind of a softie. Still if I don't get needed info tomorrow and some help/advice on the items I questioned, I'll just aim high and remind him that this all could have come in, oh, 6 weeks ago!

Client bought 2 family in 2008 and rented about half (45%) until August 1, 2011, when client bought single family home and began renting former principal residence Sept.1 after fixing up. Coincidentally auditor revalued property Sept. 4, 2011, and it increased surprisingly so I have means to determine the depreciable value (< cost or fmv, right? However, what about the amortization of the original capitalized closing costs and mip? Do I begin with the percentage of the remaining balance for the remaining years, skip altogether or something else? It was not very nice to spring this on me just bringing in Monday evening not to mention the 3 other rental properties. I can't even get to an amount to extend there are so many missing items - grrrrr! Edit - In 2008 I allocated new roof, electrical, and plumbing. Now take any of that? It doesn't seem quite right to take full value but just the purchase price isn't the whole basis either. So percentage of remaining life or something else? Thanks!

I've tried to read through IRC Section 168 (k) and cannot find where the 100% bonus depreciation is not allowed. Client purchased a/c units and dehumidifiers for rentals, ATX gives 100% bonus. I was surprised as rental property cannot take section 179. This is different then? Thanks!

Indeed, Catherine, you simply made my day! I immediately shared it and have received multiple enthusiastic replies. This has to be about the funniest thing I have ever read. I'm still chuckling ^_^

My handy dandy QF says the credit can only be claimed for four tax years for any one student. I did not go to IRC code 25A to confirm further.

Yes, 9325 is the form and I always print that out and send to clients. It is their proof and provides good information about checking on returns that just might maybe forestall a call to me.

I'll stick with my setup, at least for now. I bought a basic refurbished computer from my computer guy who set it up such that I 'print' all faxes to pdf and save in the client file folder on my hard drive on my main computer. It is a dedicated phone line for $10 per month but it saved me when I foolishly switched to all cable for a few weeks last year and the power went out for a couple of days - except for my fax line. It also is nice to have a second line when my husband with cell phone phobia needs to talk when he works from home, too. And it is easier for me to send faxes when needed through the fax machine as when I have multiple muni extensions and fax the same federal extension to them all. It works for me and I don't have to change the letterhead and business cards that all have that number.

Clearly it is the phase of the moon and the alignment of the stars in your neighborhood - or somesuch - I got right in. Can I help with something?

Ah, yes...tax reform = job security for the likes of us. But my poor old brain struggles to manage more reform. Forget the Cadillac - I need a rocker!

Accuwage checks asc file. If it has no error, you should be given the option to connect. If not, I suppose you can login outside the program so long as you know where to find the file. The zipped file is the one to send. Glad you at least got the calcs to work for you!

I don't understand why you had to change the name. Your original post only mentioned ss and mc wages and taxes. I had a name incorrectly spelled and changed it without problems. Yes, you can efile W-3 if you have access to SSA-BSO. It's quite easy. Call me if you would like help looking at the screen together. 513.232.4633

When you click on the W-2 and scroll down to the bottom, you should be able to input any items to be corrected. All the fields are blur thus permitting corrected data entry. Have you tried that?

Know that you and Don are in the thoughts, prayers and hearts of so many.....

Try 0.005?

Would that be your 'back office?'

I've been doing that for a couple of years since electronic signatures and documents were allowed by IRS. I don't remember the exact announcement, though. I used to have them mail an original signature. I do ask them to retain the original now.