Abby Normal

I had one where the IRS sent a notice to their employer and forced them to have more taxes withheld, after 3 years of owing and needing an installment plan. Icing on the cake? It was my ex's new spouse!

Client moved from sunny FL to upstate NY. I know, crazy, right? Anyway, after the struggle I had with a part-year MA return a few days ago, I thought I'd ask for tips. Thank you in advance!

Communicating has always been difficult at best. I've tried to eliminate words like it and that to be more clear, even at the risk of sounding condescending.

I emailed a client for their business mileage and they replied, "You got it!" Now, I don't know if they meant this as a colloquialism for "Sure thing, I'll get that for you." or do they mean they think they've already given it to me.

I never file a nonresident state with a loss. I figure they're not interested since they won't get any money.

If only I had known this Sunday morning at 10am! I would have had a much better morning.

Ok, I got rid of my override by using line 6 to subtract dividends earned after leaving the state. Did the same for CG distributions.

And WTF is Sch NTS?

Yes I used X for alimony income. You know a state's complicate when they're all the way up to the letter Z!

It kept telling me that lines 13 and 14 had to be blank if you checked part year resident. And they are. Had to manually enter line 11. My override was Sch B line 2.

I just spent 45 minutes trying to figure out a PY return. Even read the instructions, which were no help at all. Apparently there are several forms and several methods for allocating several differenr kinds of income, none of which I ended up using. There are 3 pages for investment income. I finally had to give up and just overrode dividends to amount that belonged to MA. No red errors so fingers crossed when submitting! I've done plenty of PY returns for many states over many years, and you can usually figure out how the income and deductions get allocated and the return just works. Most of them are quite simple and self-explanatory. MA forms must be designed by a sadist!

Yeah, I had to delete the PA Sch C twice, but I blame PA. Most other states have a nonresident return with columns for every line where you simply enter what gets taxed to that state.

That's exactly what I did but that negative line just makes me cringe.

I have several nonresident PA returns with dividends and capital gains distributions, none of which are taxable in PA. The only way I can get line 11 of PA Sch B to be zero is to make the reduction on line 4 high enough that line 6 is a negative in the exact amount of line 9. It's ugly, and it doesn't seem right to me, but it works. Is there a better way?

SRP question 3 should be answered Yes. But that only applies if there is an affordability exception.

I only use cursive for cards and notes. I prohibit it at my office. I only print in uppercase at work. It's easier to read and less ambiguous. Edit: This is 999th post! Gotta make my next one really count!

Eset NOD32 antivirus (only-not the security suite) and Comodo Free Firewall. Comodo does a lot more than act as a firewall. It monitors when software is trying to change anything system related or trying to connect to the internet. It gives you full control. Comodo tries to install some unwanted crapware when you install it but but just make sure you click on all the advanced or option links/buttons to stop it. If you miss one or two, just uninstall the ones that slipped thru. They're not malware, just not needed.

Agreed. I've looked at Advantage and it's no where near the premium that they want for it.

And enable Monitor mode to stop unwanted upgrades.

Download and run GWX Control Panel and 10 will not bother you anymore.

Who said they were thinking?

When and Where To File File Form 5329 with your 2015 Form 1040 or Form 1040NR by the due date, including extensions, of your Form 1040 or Form 1040NR. If you do not have to file a 2015 income tax return, complete and file Form 5329 by itself at the time and place you would be required to file Form 1040 or Form 1040NR. Be sure to include your address on page 1 of the form and your signature and the date on page 2 of the form. Enclose, but do not attach, a check or money order payable to “United States Treasury” for any taxes due. Write your SSN and “2015 Form 5329” on the check. For information on other payment options, including credit or debit card payments, see the instructions for Form 1040 or Form 1040NR, or go to IRS.gov.

Rum. Definitely rum. Or brandy.

Generally, you file 5329 with the return. You should only do it separately if you're not required to file a return.

Inherited Roths are subject to RMD requirements. Not sure when that became law. And laws have been proposed to make the owner of a Roth subject to RMD, but none have passed yet.