Kea

I'm finally taking some time to work on this return again. I input the assets in the Asset Entry Worksheet. It gives me an option to carry to Sch E, but only to page 1 (where some royalties are reported). I don't see any option to attach them to Schedule E, page 2 with / under the info from the partnership K-1. I'm assuming that when this does end up flowing to Schedule E, page 2, it will just be one total number and not a long list of assets. (Well, it gets long when you list 40 cows separately!) Any suggestions? Thanks

There's a discussion of this in the e-file section (not general chat). It was an IRS change.

I use a Toshiba laptop with Windows 7. During the season it is connected to an external monitor, keyboard and trackball. Off-season it goes with me in the living room or in the RV. It has the numeric keypad built-in. I'm not very good with the numbers across the top. My personal laptop is still a Mac iBook. It's 4 years old is still going strong. I'll probably upgrade when Mac comes out with laptop with the numeric keypad. I have an external, but it won't stay put when I work on my lap.

I guess no one else had this problem. I'll just overwrite and go on.

I do feel better knowing it's "not just me." When a real expert doesn't know the answer either, I don't feel as dumb. I guess I'll figure some place to put it.

That does sound familiar. I had that problem when I first got IntelliTax and installed it on a new Vista machine. I started with 07 tax year, but they sent me the prior years for practice. I believe it was 06 that gave me some error and TRX said it wouldn't work on Vista because Microsoft hadn't updated the SQLServer. At some point it started working. I guess through a Microsoft automatic download. When I got 07, I got the error you refer to. Called TRX, they took over my computer and removed the old SQLServer and did a few other patches. Made 07 work, but killed 06. If you let them take over your computer, DON'T let them put you on hold. They start doing things that they shouldn't and you can't make them stop. You have no control on the computer and they can't hear you because you are on hold. I've now moved everything to a Windows 7 machine and can't get my 07 IntelliTax to work. I tried to call TRX but couldn't get through. Sent an e-mail that was never answered. I've given up until after the tax season, or some day when I just feel like being on the phone a while. I've also since re-formatted the Vista machine because it was having too many other problems. That was probably a mistake, but it's too late now. That doesn't help you fix your issue, but just a warning about letting others control your computer. Good luck.

I've been printing the files to .pdf for a couple of years. Did that so I could paper print just the pages I wanted, in the order I wanted and duplex it. (Not all tax software is as friendly as ATX for printing what you want.) With my safe busting at the seems and the desire to spend more time traveling in the RV, it was time to scan all the old files. I know I don't have to keep the old stuff, but I'm paranoid and like having the history available. So now that my spouse has become by co-owner (health insurance reasons), I put him to work scanning my old files. I have a small practice that goes back to 1998. Working on it on and off, it probably took him about a month to scan everything. I've reviewed the 1998 - 2000 files and shredded the paper copies. That gave me the room to put 2009 in the safe. After the season, I'll review and shred up to 2007. I will probably always keep 1 - 2 years in paper, because I use that for the current year. I'm more comfortable looking at the paper copy while I do the current stuff on the computer. Now I just need a better backup system. I've reorganized my computer folders by client first, then year. So I don't have an easy way to backup just the most recent changes. And when my husband scans the current documents they go to his computer. He's using syncing software to keep them the same. It works OK to the (shared) external hard drive, but is unbearably slow to the flash drive. He also tried to encrypt the backups, but it was also too slow. It took forever to open. I need to explore this as well. It's too important to have files encrypted, but it also has to be where you can still access the files in a timely fashion. And every file that is "pending" is on my desk -- not locked up. I guess I'm glad I'm not in MA. It's a habit I should break, though. Good luck with your research. I'm interested to see what methods others use.

I have a Canon ImageClass MF 4350d which is not wireless. I tried to set it up through a print server to make my own wireless setup. But the server only "sees" the fax portion (not the printer or scanner). I've used this set up with my older printers and had no problems. I'm sure if I had selected one that was built to be wireless, I wouldn't have this problem. It works fine through USB and I have other printers I can use wirelessly.

Is anyone else finding errors in the vehicle depreciation in ATX? Client sold vehicle that was put in service in 2007. Cost was $35,253 and $17,500 special depreciation was taken in 2007. 2009 business use was 89.97%. Truck over 6000 lbs. I calculate $2456. $35253*89.97% = 31717. Less 17500 = $14217 recovery basis. This number matches ATX. $14217 * 89.97% business use * 19.2% (3rd yr depr) = $2456. But ATX displays 40% depreciation rate and $1257 current year depreciation. Vehicle was sold 9/17/09, but I still can't match computer's figures. Client bought replacement vehicle 9/21/09 for $13800 (used) and 2009 business use was 93.59%. At 1st ATX was showing the same 40% depreciation rate and $5166 1st year depreciation and that didn't change regardless of the amount I entered for Section 179. I closed program and reopened, changed truck to under 6000 lbs and back again. It helped, but still shows 40% depreciation rate and has a low value for current depreciation (like sold vehicle). With no section 179, 1st year depreciation should be 13500*.9359*20%=$2527. ATX has $1569. Depreciation limits should not apply due to size, but even then I can't get to their numbers. ATX problem or is it me? (I admit this has not been my best tax year.) Thanks

OldJack, I'm so glad everyone is relatively safe for now. I hope it stays that way. OK, in my example, my client inherited 1/2 of a partnership (that started in the 70s). The partnership owns several assets (land, house, barn, vehicles and cattle). Since the person preparing the partnership return would know absolutely nothing about the §754 election, I would prefer to just handle depreciation on the client's 1040. Client receives K-1 showing no depreciation since everything was already depreciated (or born there or land). Is there some place to add the outside depreciation to the Sch E or would it go somewhere else? Should I start a Sch F for the client's depreciation? @imjulier -- I apologize if I stole your thread.

If it is tracked as an outside basis, does the partnership make any changes to it's internal books or tax reporting? Does the step-up partner report it on their individual return? If so, where? And, yes, OldJack, I agree with BulldogTom in hoping your family is safe and well, now. Thanks!

It was just treated as a name change. I did research that part for them at the time & it was pretty straightforward. I just wish the person preparing the partnership returns was more knowledgeable about preparing partnership returns. I'm going to have other issues with this in future questions.

How does the partnership do the step-up? I'm sorry if that's a basic question as I haven't done any partnership returns before. My client just inherited a 50% share in a partnership. The other partner is the one who has been preparing the partnership return, but is not a tax preparer, and has always just stuck to the basics. I was thinking we would start the depreciation over on my client's personal return but had not yet found out how to do that. All assets had been previously fully depreciated. Does partnership start depreciation over again on inherited 1/2? Thanks

I can't answer your question, but I can tell you that you are not the only Mac user around here. I use my Mac for personal and a PC for work.

Thanks so much. I'll check "No" on the govt pension and $0 received -- or just delete Sch M altogether. No earned income for the year due to the disability.

I haven't seen anything about cut-off dates either, which is why I posted. No, it's not taxable.

No, he didn't mention an SS disability pension, but I can verify that with him. He's in his 20s and has a war injury. I know it's a military disability pension - so I'm thinking it's a VA pension. But I'm not real sure about that. Thanks

Client started receiving military disability pension in September 2009, but it was retro-active to December 2008. I believe this counts as a government pension. But with a real start date of September 2009 & an effective start date of December 2008, would he qualify for the $250 and should he have received it? I wanted to check here before asking him. If it was included in the retro-pay, he may not know he got it. I'm tempted to fill out the form with a Yes on the pension and $250 in the amount. If it rejects then claim the $250 for him. Any suggestions? Thanks

I don't do many state returns but I find that site very useful to see what I can e-file. The only one I haven't been able to e-file is a OK non-resident.

Someone posted this here a few years ago. It's a great summary of the e-file requirements for each state. My link

Bump. Do I need to recapture the depreciation if there was no business sale? Thanks

Thanks Taxbilly. I didn't see that on their website, but that's probably because I didn't know where to look. He was killed in the crash. But from what they've said so far, he seems to be the only fatality. They've mentioned 2 people sent to the hospital, and one other person is still unaccounted for.

They are holding a press conference right now and not confirming any of the info about the house fire. They were chastising the media for saying the plane had been stolen -- they are now saying it was registered to the pilot. I will also add that the plane hit an office building that contains several federal offices besides the IRS. I never new there were any IRS offices there. The main IRS office is a large building on the other side of town. There is also a walk-in office in another area of town. I have no idea what functions are where. I'm really curious what part of IRS was affected. Will this affect e-files or paper returns or what? Edit: I have learned that there were 190 IRS employees at that location. So while this is AN IRS Austin office is not THE IRS Austin office. I still haven't found out what type of offices were there. They may not ever want to let that info out. I'm sure we'll find out soon enough if it affects any of the e-filing or paper processing. I would "assume" that's all at the main IRS building, but really don't know.

I'm still unclear about the depreciation. Did I do it OK? Should I amend to claim no or half basis for depreciation? Do I need to recapture the depreciation I took even if there was no "sale"? Thanks

This whole situation seems strange to me (obviously)!