RitaB

That is so true. Another returning client, only W-2s last year, just confessed that he was going to DIY (why do they do that?!), "but I bought a house". We have learned what that means. Well, itemizing doesn't help him. Yes, I will do the Sch A anyway. It's easier than explaining. Yes, I'll go over it at pickup. But, wait, what's this? Oh, I cashed out my retirement. No. That's not what he did. It's a 1099-B. They don't know what they don't know.

Two weeks ago I had a guy come in with their two Forms SSA-1099s and one 1099-R. He was not new, so he knows very well that I don't overcharge. Be that as it may, he said, "I tried this myself and I think I'm getting a small refund, but I don't know WTH I'm doing." His refund was actually about $2,500. Of course, I went up ten bucks for listening to the confession. People will do anything to save money here. Of course, they will blow it on the Golden Corral buffet in Cookeville, or the 72 inch TV, but I digress. I would like to think all the DIYers that screw up will get letters, but they won't, and they don't come back. I would like to think all of them figure out they don't know WTH they're doing, like my guy here. They won't. Did I win him over forever? Nope. What is my point here? I'm not sure, it's Sunday, and I've had too much coffee.

Yes, you can have both forms, certainly, I will add that If tenant pays farmer a flat rate (if farmer's pay is not based upon the production of the tenant) you'd use Sch E instead of Form 4835. You probably know that, but somebody else might need that info later on.

Another good one is when a sole proprietor starts up her craft business and decides she just HAS to be an LLC because, you know, every person in business, especially the craft industry, gets sued and loses their home, and apparently liability insurance is just not good enough. Lawyer charges her $1500 to fill in the blanks on the two pager with Department of Revenue. A couple months later, I meet her when she brings all her letters saying complete your applications for city business license. county business license, business taxes, etc. That's all he did. The two page fill in the blank. He did tell her she had no liability protection as a sole proprietor and cashed her personal check promptly.

I especially hate the plastic clips in cute shapes. This is no time for cute, people. And of course, I'm with you on the rusty ones. Be sure your Tetanus shots are up to date.

Here's my view on Post Office days.

Depends on whether I go thru the Post Office first. If not, fifteen minutes.

I have a feeling they would send a wet noodle thru the mail, maybe one to us and one to the taxpayer, and say, "Hit yourself with this, we're not refunding a tax that you owed and paid. Sorry that your neighbor got out of it. Don't be hatin."

This is not an error. Dependents are instructed to leave line 61 blank in the Instructions to Form 1040, p. 51. Very bottom of 3rd column. You're good. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf

Yes. Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night nor sheets of plate glass could prevent that lady from getting that timely postmark.

We also have more fresh air than most Post Offices, too! And it really doesn't take that long to make a drive thru, as it turns out.

I agree with JohhH (as usual). I would do as he suggests first. If she doesn't want to do that, you could ask her to pay what she considers a fair price and wish her well, with the understanding that it won't happen like this next year. I don't know why she wouldn't go for that. If she somehow still does not want the return you prepared, I would return her documents and wish her well. The end. You do not need the bad publicity all over town that you "charged her for nothing."

A lady here drove thru our Post Office yesterday. Broke the whole front wall out. My mom heard it on the radio and called me and asked if I was at the Post Office.

Exactly. And you still have tax preparers telling people not to file that 2007 tax return with taxes due. Not because they don't owe, but because they will get a pass from IRS. And us poor schmucks and our poor schmuck clients who paid up in 2007 just keep our heads down and keep footing all the bills.

So, the law has not changed, and people are supposed to pay a penalty for choosing to forgo paying five prices for health insurance that used to be affordable but isn't now. Now we are in a position to say to them, "You'll get away with it if you don't pay". Actually, we've kinda been in that position the whole time on this one. This is a really crappy position to be in, and I'm wondering if we're also supposed to be telling people who owe income and self-employment taxes that they can just not file for eight years and all will be well. They still owe, the law didn't change, but they'll get away with not paying because IRS won't pursue collection. I mean, if our people who file and pay get wind of this, are they going to sue us, too? And what if we advise people to lay low for eight years, and IRS changes their policy and says, "Nope, the law is the law, we will pursue collections forever"? Do those folks sue us, too? Yes, I am being facetious. A little. But not all that much.

Well, my version is still 16.5.6229.31762. Is anyone besides Jack able to create an e-file for a non-dependent in ATX while ignoring the issue of health insurance? If not, I'm keeping my trap shut to clients until something changes. No need in getting them excited about a return I can't even e-file.

So is anyone besides me who uses ATX unable to create an e-file for a taxpayer without line 61 checked and without Form 8965? (Not talking about dependents filing a return, they do not check the Box at line 61.)

I think you're good and that is correct. ATX yells at you (well me) if you DO check the box on Line 61 for a dependent. You are in there like swim wear, friend.

I have Version 16.5.6229.31762 You find that under the "Support Tab" and click "About".

I have always had the preference to update on startup selected. If I am missing updates, that's not the issue.

Has there been an update? I am still getting a red error when I try to create an e-file without line 61 checked and no 8965.

So, once again, assuming ATX jumps on board and we have the option to ignore line 61, we spend an inordinate amount of time explaining and hand holding, and you know they will ask us what they should do. And we will go through every scenario and say, "It's up to you," and they will say, "Blah, blah, blah," and we will go thru every scenario again, and no, we in the poor South cannot charge for all this time talking, or we will lose these clients. And, yes, I need them. I have done 70 returns and nine had the penalty. Those nine had small penalties, and frankly, they don't care because they have refundable credits, and the tax return is a big lottery to them. I do have two here that are waiting. They are actual tax "payers" and owe big penalties, and care a lot. My clients get more sophisticated and willing to pay me from here on out, but they have insurance. We don't have to talk.

Yeah, but the tax savvy leaves something to be desired. Can't have everything I guess.

I think we mean we need all the W-2s and 1099s, summary of college payments by date and payer, daycare provider's EIN, numbers for the new bank account they want to use for DD. Stuff like that. Which reminds me of a good one from yesterday: Client: Wife got this in the box yesterday, not sure you need it. Me: Yes, actually, wife will go to jail if this is not on your return. Client: Can I have that back? It was only a 1099-R with 80K taxable.

I don't charge em to walk thru the door, but there's a couple I would pay to leave...