SFA

Mashburn. Enough already.

How many times can I like something?! I'm still laughing! Like. Like. Like!

Joan, have you loaded any new programs recently that may have changed the settings on your computer? The reboot may have then activated those changes. Last week we installed firefox on one of our new computers. Several other junk programs appeared on the desktop. I couldn't open ATX 2013 on that computer. We uninstalled the new junk, ran malware, and were then able to open ATX. Our tech man actually did the work, so he may have made some additional adjustments to fix the problem that I don't have the details for. I am sorry to hear of your struggles. Our problem was probably not the same issue that you are dealing with. Just throwing it into the mix here in case in some way it is helpful.

This past summer, we adopted "Gator" while on vacation in Florida. Gator is very old and has lumps all over his body. When we asked how much is the adoption fee?--they said they were waiving the fee because they were just relieved he had found a home. We gave them $80.00 anyway and now he is here running around in snow and ice for the first time in his life! Was our $80.00 a donation?

I think I found myself in there. But I am not admitting to which one.

You are right. It's not just our backup space, it is the hard drive on the live computer. Argh!!! Solution needed ASAP!!! So the expanded hard drive space is what we need to address as well. Good to know, my tech man is coming to the office this afternoon. I have a six-pack waiting for him!

Although we are small, we have separate "interview/conference rooms" when meeting and preparing tax returns with our clients. There we have dual monitors that mirror each other. I will turn their monitor off when navigating in sensitive areas. There is just too much going on in my regular work area that I need to keep private from our clients.

It's too soon for us to be overly concerned. Will wait for a fix from ATX. Hopefully, our cloud storage will be sufficient for all open years of ATX; QuickBooks files, etc. We also have external drive backup procedures in place. We consider the Carbonite/cloud backups as a last resort, because the download time can take days if we have a total collapse of our system.

Thanks Jack, I was hoping to do a comparison and take the better result, like we do with vehicles. I filled out the regular F8829, then searched for how to do input the standard rate. Should have just used a calculator!

Thanks KC, so great to get the answers here! About the ATX 2013 program. I took an early interview with a business client two nights ago, and wish I had explored the feature before his arrival. I wasn't familiar with how to input this new option. Form 8829 works very different this year.

I have three monitors and my desktop is too crowed. Last year in the middle of tax season, because of the 2012 ATX problems, I bought another screaming fast computer and just loaded ATX to get through the season. Only program on it at the time. My original computer was and still is fine for our other applications, and partly because of licensing our software, I still have both computers and three monitors. I tried a keyboard splitter, but that was tedious, so you can imagine how much desk area is devoted to technology. I'm used to it now, and not sure I would go back.

Carbonite Server Pro Bundle: 500 GB $999.00 http://www.carbonite.com/backup/pricing-plans/server-plans

Unless we are an attorney, we are not licensed to practice law, and shouldn't be held responsible for not preparing or filing legal documents for a client or providing legal advice. That's what attorneys are for or they can go to LegalZoom.com. Who hasn't heard of them? If the client rammed ahead and put herself on payroll even though she is a sole proprietorship, too bad, how sad. Not your fault. We do not write tax law, or change tax law for a client who has screwed up. She should amend ALL of her payroll tax returns to remove herself as an employee of her sole proprietorship. Then file a Schedule C and follow the rules like everyone else. So much for "saving money" and doing payroll herself.

Those who are holding completed returns should review the IRS guidelines on "Stockpiling." "An ERO must ensure that stockpiling of returns does not occur at its offices. Stockpiling is: collecting returns from taxpayers or from another Authorized IRS e-file Provider prior to official acceptance in IRS e-file; or after official acceptance to participate in IRS e-file, stockpiling refers to waiting more than three calendar days to submit the return to the IRS once the ERO has all necessary information for origination The IRS does not consider returns held prior to the date that it accepts transmission of electronic returns stockpiled. This includes when the IRS is not able to accept specific returns, forms, or schedules until a date later than the start-up of IRS e-file due to constraints such as late legislation, programming issues, etc. EROs must advise taxpayers that it cannot transmit returns to the IRS until the date the IRS accepts transmission of electronic returns." http://www.irs.gov/uac/Submitting-the-Electronic-Return-to-the-IRS

Getting past the drama was the first step. Then going through the process reveals that to be a dependent of someone other than the parent in this case, the child would have had to live with them for a full 12 months--which did not happen. Parent is claiming the child. Case closed. End of Story. Thanks for checking in on this topic, Mr. Pencil, Pacun, MsTabbyKats and you too jshtax.

Because our interviews are interactive with the clients, we have always had a generic client file called "AAA to Duplicate" (so that it sorts to the first of our manager menu). The file contains 1040, Sch A, EIC, our basic state and local. We simply duplicate the file with the name of the new client so that we can hit the ground running--then add forms as needed. Works for us, but Jack you make a good point, we will monitor the update forms process this year and see if there are problems.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 & 5. Whoa. BINGO! At times, everyone of these points, is an area of struggle for me. This is a perfect time to hit the reset button. Multi-tasking is especially challenging, because I feel bombarded by so many distracting events throughout the day. Emails, phone calls, employee questions, and of course the long "to-do" list. Sometimes I feel like I am working through an obstacle course of tasks and the finish line is my bed! Actually, I consider checking in on the ATX Community, a quick break. I look forward to the "laugh of the day."

Client is a single parent who was in prison for seven months in 2013. While in prison a "friend" took care of her child. When parent was released, she was not able to provide for her daughter until October, when the child moved back in with her. The friendship has deteriorated. Now there is a dispute between the "friend" and my client as to who can claim the child. Client did not contribute to the support of the child while in prison. Would like some help sorting this out, since the child did not live with the "friend" for the full year, and the parent did not provide over half of the child's support for the year.

Yes, we have copies of those notices for other clients in our files. But, don't rely on this to happen. We have a client who claims not to have received an IRS notice, and who is unhappy that we missed alerting them to the change. Somehow, we did not do a lookback calculation for the client and now all the good work that we have done is overshadowed by this oversight. Believe me, it will never happen to one of our clients again!

Reminder to anyone preparing payroll tax returns. Verify that your client is depositing the 941 tax on the correct schedule. Trust me. Your client will blame you if you do not alert them to a change in their frequency requirement. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/n931.pdf

I don't know if this is still true, but here is my story. Years ago I had client who had late filing penalties and late payment penalties that were calculated by the IRS.The penalties were quite large. I called them to ask for leniency and for penalty abatement. Luckily, ALL the penalties were removed, EXCEPT, the "self-imposed" calculated underpayment of estimated taxes that the 1040 program calculated and was included on the original return. The agent told me that she could not remove or negotiate "self-imposed" penalties. Take if for what it's worth. That was my experience. Perhaps this client has some reasonable cause to reduce the penalties? I do not anticipate the penalties, but in some cases have verified the correctness of the penalty imposed. A good example is when clients convert their balance due to an installment agreement. The underpayment penalty is reduced in such a case. I have had to call the IRS and have that corrected.

I am still fairly new to the ATXcommunity. I visit the site regularly and sometimes add a post. There are some really smart participants here, offering great information and strategies. However, at times it can be intimidating to some of us who do not want to feel belittled when asking a question, especially if it has unknowingly been covered in some way in a previous topic. I have read and felt that some "regulars" are exasperated by us newer participants because we are not always up-to-date with all the topics. I am uncomfortable with the squabbling. This site should lift us all up. I vote to keep this site friendly and professional. As for hi-jacking . . . any time it gets "personal" the thread is on its way down hill.

Ditto.

A portion of my client base is aging with me. This year, we will continue to improve our proficiency in State and Federal gift, inheritance and trust returns--issues related to estate tax planning. Must stay ahead of the Turbo Tax do-it-yourselfers. Happy New Year everyone! Bring it on!