Kea

Yes, I've talked to Tech Support. They've shown me how to use DBRepair & to reindex the database. They have gotten DBRepair to run from DOS. For me, sometimes yes, sometimes no. But rebooting program seems to work just as well. They'll run one of these or repair program from Control Panels and tell me I shouldn't be having these printing problems. I'm using Windows 7 & all drivers are kept up-to-date. I'll muddle through the next 2 weeks.

I'm on a stand alone. I'm not sure why I get this problem when no one else seems to. When I used TaxWise in TY 2008, it would only print to my old HP printer & not to any other or to the built-in .pdf -- for me. Guess I'm just lucky.

I got a reject on a NC state return for: [D-400] The Primary SSN in the manifest must match the Primary Filer SSN in the return header. If applicable, the Spouse SSN in the manifest must match the Secondary Filer SSN in the return header. XML Path: //ReturnHeaderState/Filer/Primary/TaxpayerSSN Entry Value: secondary not equal I had heeded the warnings about filing states after the federal "accepted" and checked the box in TaxWise for "if you want to file this return as unlinked." But got the reject anyway. So, what am I missing?

The lack of foreign tax paid is annoying to me, too. But I can't exactly sing its praises in stability, either. I haven't had freezes, but I can only print once or twice before I have to reboot the software. (LOTS of DLL error messages.) I'm not getting the I/O errors as much now -- not sure what helped that. I also periodically get an error when sending an e-file. Again, a reboot of the program will usually take care of it. I can't use my favorite DBRepair tool anymore. It always crashes which then locks of TW until I delete the Ratstorage & other temp files. But, it did flag a child tax credit for a long time client who has a dependent with an ITIN. I did verify the child still doesn't have an SSN, but meets the substantial pressence test. So, still good to go on child tax credit. I've just been taking that for granted, so it was good that TW flagged it to make sure I asked all the right questions. And, it does seem to do the calculations correctly. Which is more than I can say for some (OK, one). But, yep, I'll be shopping this summer. Assuming I can stand to boot up my work computer. EDIT: I'm also not happy with the fact that the print packets don't print in the IRS order. I've modified to get all the worksheets to the end and the 8879 as the first page. But I had to get my husband to look up all the sequence numbers so I can sort them in the print packet.

Yes, you can attach PDF statement in TaxWise. I haven't done this yet, but I did find a checkbox.

I find this website to be helpful with general rules for state efiles: http://accountants.intuit.com/support/tax/ef-atlas/?product=LACERTE_TAX When you click on MA, it says you have to keep the 8453 for 3 years & doesn't mention the 8879. So I would infer that they only use the 8453.

Per client - land was purchased to have livestock, but he never had time, so just used it as a large yard. It was all billed on one property tax statement. However, a search on the County website does show 3 parcels.within the one listing. Nothing is billed separately, but it does list 3 areas with different # of acres.

Correct - raw land. Am waiting for email from client to see how land was used. Thanks!

Thanks for the insight. Looks like I have to ask more questions! (That's the name of this business, right?)

It was originally 3 tracts and he sold 2. He kept the one with the house.

Client bought home & 6 acres of land in 2006. In 2012, they sold 5 acres & kept 1 acre & house. Assuming he doesn't sell remainder in 2 years, he would report gain on sale on Schedule D. It would not qualify for $250K exclusion. However, in this case, there is a small loss. So even though a gain would have to be realized, a loss still cannot since it was his personal property & got the "enjoyment" of owning it. Don't report loss on Sch D. Did I get that right? In this case it basically follows the OLD home sale rules - report gain but not loss? (FWIW, he is carrying the loan on the sale. But since it's a loss, there will be no 6252 for it. Just thought I'd throw that in, but I don't think it changes any of the above.)

Perhaps it's just me. (I haven't filed any 8332s before - that was something client had already done or had brought with them.) The Form 8332 in TaxWise is for the non-custodial parent (recipient of form) rather than the custodial (issuer of form). I was not expecting this since, the Main Info sheet has a place where you can attach a PDF of the Form 8332. I had used the form for my client to give to her ex. I just noticed that the way I did it, has her releasing the exemption to herself. Yikes! Also, the form is not included with the e-file.

I just caught an error I made on a Form 8332. Client was custodial parent & releasing exemption to her ex. I checked the box that the form was for the taxpayer (in TaxWise). It got e-filed. When doing my 2nd one in this software, I noticed that checking "taxpayer" was putting client's name in as "Non-Custodial" parent. (Silly me - I assumed the checkbox was for who was issuing the 8332 -- especially since the Non-Custodial Parent field links to the name on the return.) So the form the client has has her name as Non-custodial, but she is also the one who signed it as Custodial. Since it was in the return, I assumed (again) that it went in the e-file. I now see that it was supposed to be mailed to IRS with the 8453. She has already provided form to ex. I can correct form to give to client & I can mail to IRS. But what if the ex already filed with the incorrect 8332? What if they caught the error / what if they didn't? They are already not on speaking terms, so this could get ugly!

I go over the entire return with my clients, too. But I'm still not sure how much sinks in. I get a lot of glassy eye looks.

Not a bad idea. Perhaps TheTaxBook forum, too?

4/16 -- sleep and general catching up on personal life. Then (dates not disclosed on public forum) off to Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico for a month or so. Sipping margaritas, walks on the beach & enjoying sunsets (like in my avatar). Perhaps not all fun and games -- I will have my computer and internet so I can still answer client questions. Edit -- also looking at demos of all tax software to see what to use next year.

Thanks - I was planning to double-check that before they came in. But all I've ever had before were 50%ers -- and never had anyone get close to any of the limits. Thanks for keeping me honest!

Thanks gailtaxed & Taxed. I was hoping that was all there was. It's one thing to know the theory, but it's also good to know how it works in the real world! I haven't seen their documents yet, but I suspect they may have exceeded the 50% charity limit. That will be my first charitable carryforward, but I'm pretty sure that will work a lot like the capital loss carryforwards. Thanks again!

This is my first time doing this. New client told me they donated shares of stock to their church. The only place I've found this addressed is for the Schedule A. Stock was held long term, so deduction is FMV on date donated. Does anything go on Sch D? (OK, Form 8949) What documents will they have? 1099B for the donated shares or just a letter from the church? I know the gain on sale will not be taxed. Thanks

I've never been to any of the IRS forums. But since I'm in Austin, a Dallas trip might not be a bad idea. I'll look into it.

Client installed new windows and a door last year & has sent me the Energy Star stickers. They included little outline maps of the US that says they are Energy Star Qualified in the shaded areas. They look to me like the whole map is shaded, but there are a few white streaks. Not sure if those are areas where they are not qualified or if it's just bad printing. If they are non-qualifying areas, how can I tell "exactly" what areas are excluded? Map is small & not very detailed. When I've done the energy credits for the central air conditioning units, the client had a specific form from the manufacturer that stated that unit qualified for the IRS tax credit.

I plan to review every software package I can this summer and will share my findings. I hope many of you will do that, too. There are just so many things to check and consider, that I think it will be great if we help each other. If there turns out to be a software package that many of us agree will fit our practices, perhaps we can negotiate some kind of group pricing ... be it TaxWorks or something else.

The biggest issue I've had with the depreciation has been missing categories (i.e. fixtures and furniture, etc.). It also likes to make all assets have ownership "J" (joint). The only state conversion I've looke at so far was North Carolina. It appeared to have most of the info.

New wrinkle-- Client did have FSA at work for 2012. However she had several thousand $ in dental work that took her beyond the FSA amount. Her non-prescription medications were a relatively small amount of her non-FSA medical expenses. Can she now recatagorize some of her FSA expenses to Sch A medical so that she can count the vitimins (etc.) as FSA? Thanks

I'm going over every 2011 return in TaxWise to make it match what was filed. TaxWise specifically says they don't convert everything-- just the info you'll need to carry forward to 2012. But I want everything in there so that my 3 year comprison shows the right info. As with any conversion, watch the depreciation! I haven't run into the NOL problem, yet.