Kea

My husband would probably mostly file and go to the post office and other errands. He's not much of a schmoozer so that one's out. One big task that he'll help with this year is scanning all my old paper files into the computer. We want to save a lot of space. We are hoping to spend a lot more time traveling in our RV. I still need to come up with a plan to have a nice efficient mobile office. As long as I have internet, I can get e-mail, faxes (they come to my e-mail) and send e-files. But it's going to be impossible to move my big fire-proof safe into the RV. So I think I can keep him pretty busy scanning in 10 years of files. Hummm. If I do all my work in my RV, but it moves from place to place, do I have a primary place of business anymore?

Right now we can't get a combined policy. Perhaps if we both lose enough weight, we might be able to get a joint policy - but that would probably take a few months. I have not yet looked into policies as a business. I might be able to find something I can hire my husband to do. But my practice is so small that having an employee and insurance would probably mean I would never be profitable again. But it is an option to consider. Thanks.

We are looking at the HSAs with $5000 deductible (each). The 2 companies that MIGHT accept me won't accept my husband and 1 company that might accept him won't accept me. Even if the insurance companies think I might be high risk, I don't really consider myself in that category. I don't have diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, cancer, lupus or any other chronic condition. OK, I'm hypothyroid - and that's under control. (I could probably go off the medication since I was only slightly out of range when they 1st put me on the meds. The doctor sees the good range now and won't take a chance.) TX does have a high risk pool and I'm sure it's expensive. But if I can't get the private insurance or through an association, I may have to consider that.

Thanks for everyone's prayers and concerns. The biopsy came out fine - just an infection that can be treated with antibiotics. But the bad test result is still on my medical history forever. Even though I am generally healthy, I am overweight (and I'm working on that). When they combine that with the test result, my odds of getting insurance go down significantly. So now I am back to the other part of my question. If I can't get a private policy, can I still get one through an association (like NATP)? Or, can those policies deny you, too? Is anyone familiar with their policy through Marsh & McClennen? Anyone familiar with any of those companies that advertise on TV that they cover anybody regardless of pre-conditions? I think most of them are just discount programs rather than real insurance and they all sound pretty fishy in their ads. Just wondering if any of them were real policies? We have my husband's coverage through the end of June and we can go on Cobra for $1540 per month after that. (So much for his pension!) Thanks so much.

Thanks so much.

Thanks for reminding me to check again. I haven't found any treaties when I've looked in previous years. Edit: Nope, still no tax treaty with Colombia.

I learn so many new things each year by having a client who lives in Colombia. He has a US green card and travels here a few weeks each year to keep it valid. A few things I want to verify for this year: Client retired in 2008 and now receives Colombian Social Security. I don't think I should report this on line 20 since none of it should get reduced US tax treatment (he has never paid US tax on the contributions). I suppose that means it should go on line 21 (misc)? This is the same guy I asked some questions about last year regarding honorarium paid by his employer (a bank) for attending some board meetings. The conclusion last year (granted this was a gray area and may need to be re-visited) was that it was a small compared to his wages and if a US company had paid them they should have included them on a W-2. Last year I did not report it on Sch C. He is now retired, but is still getting the honorarium. I'm still not sure that it rises to the level of something he is doing with a profit motive. The honorarium is about $5000 while the social security is about $36K and the pensions are about $4K. Since it is no longer a part of his regular job, I guess it now has to go on a Sch C and pay SE tax. Or, can it be considered misc income? For the (Colombian) pension income, can I just enter the total on line 16b even if there is no 1099-R attached? Will that cause a problem with e-file? Thanks so much. Maybe some day I can become an expert on US taxes for foreigners and expatriates. I'm obviously not there yet.

My condolences, too. I don't know if you have any siblings to share the load, but you will soon be finding lots of work ahead of you. But take your time, most details don't have strict (or at least short) time lines.

Wow, I'm so glad everything worked out OK.

In 2005 a driver fell asleep and hit the car behind me at a traffic light. That car hit me and pushed me into the car in front of me. I was driving a 93 Honda Civic Del Sol with 105K miles on it. The front and rear damage totaled around $4000 and State Farm wanted to total it out for $4200. Since the amounts were close I was trying to get them to raise the amount a few hundred $ to cover the recent paint job and the fact that the car had been in excellent condition. The agent told me that everyone thinks their car is above average. Sorry, in my case it was true. My husband was a body shop mechanic and always keeps all our cars in excellent condition. Anyway by the time I bought the car back from State Farm and got their check for the difference, I had to pay about $200 - 300 extra for the repairs. Then had to get a new license plate and new inspection sticker and a salvage title. But I didn't want to buy a new car - especially because I couldn't find one (at that time) that could get the 35 mpg I was getting on my then 12 year-old car. I'm still driving that car. It still makes me mad that through an accident that wasn't my fault I had to pay a few hundred $ to get my car back to it's previous condition - except for the salvage title. That is a very unnecessary decrease to it's value. Good luck with your repairs.

Thanks so much.

Thanks - I appreciate it. I'm pretty sure it's nothing.... at least I hope so.

I'll double check with them but I think the doctor was out or there was some other reason they couldn't do it this week. We've been planning to be out of town the next couple of weeks, but all that can be worked around. I'll call Monday.

I have found an independent agent and we should be able to get coverage cheaper than Cobra and will probably be an HSA. We are generally healthy but both have weight issues (me more than my husband), but he has borderline high blood pressure and cholesterol. But we will probably end up being covered by 2 different companies (BC/BS for him, Aetna for me). And a few days ago I found out I might have a possible pre-existing condition. I go for a biopsy on 5/30. It should be nothing but the timing is just too close to my husband's last day of 6/1. The agent said we had 60 days to decide on the Cobra. So if the test is positive we sign up for Cobra and if it's negative, we apply for a regular policy. I really debated about saying anything about the previous bad test result. Since I don't have a pre-existing condition YET, I didn't know how it would affect the application. I might be able to get a policy, but then they would turn around and cancel it immediately. Thanks for your recommendations.

JB - I would like to believe that, but I've heard that's not true in Texas. It may only apply to whether or not a company can deny your application - not real sure about that part. This is what it said on a TX insurance web page: I have previous group health insurance coverage. Does this mean the health insurance company must accept my application and apply no pre-existing condition limitations? No. In Texas it does not matter that you have previous group health insurance coverage. A health insurance company can still deny your application for individual or family coverage. However, if your application is declined, you may be eligible to participate in the Texas Health Risk Pool (www.txhealthpool.org ) established for persons who are unable to obtain health insurance coverage on the open market.

My husband retires next month and that will end our employer provided health insurance. Does anyone have any recommendations for independent agents to help me find insurance? Any companies that are good or ones to avoid? Is anyone familiar with the Marsh Insurance discounted through NATP? I am paranoid about going in for a broken finger and being denied coverage because I didn't disclose a hangnail I had 20 years ago - obviously I have pre-existing finger problems. I want coverage I can count on. I like the idea of going through an agent since they will know all the requirements of the various companies. I also worry about applying somewhere and then getting denied coverage. That could make other companies automatically deny me. Thanks

It's true that when I called TRX yesterday, they picked up on the 2nd ring. But by the time the problem happened again, it was after 9:00 and they were closed (or at least not taking new calls). But even calling back today, I'm not sure they'll have any more solutions since yesterday. I don't blame the CS reps for not having the answer to this. I always seem to get the weird problems. We all just gotta get through one more day!!1

Thanks for the info. It's nice to know I have options when my software freaks at the last minute!

Can y'all help with a TaxWise problem? Tech support closed at 9PM. I've filed a few extensions so far without incident. While making an e-file extension, one last week gave me the following error message: System error! Cannot determine legacy extension type. (D:\Dev08\shared\tax\t_electr.pas, line 1503). I tried it several times and kept getting the same error. I called tech support this morning and we ran a few scripts and nothing worked. I finally deleted the whole return and the rolled it over from last year again. (Last year was Intellitax.) That fixed it. Tonight I got the same error on a different return. So, I tried deleting and re-rolling (3 times) and am still getting the error message. Help. Extension must be filed! Anyone know if the old-school phone in method is still available? I think they stopped it, but don't remember for sure. Any other on-line service available?

I'll need to learn more about this option. I think there is something similar in TaxWise. But I'll be back to ATX next year!!! The electronic signature will be quite helpful soon. I'm planning to turn my practice into all (or mostly) electronic so I can travel. My husband retires in June and we plan to go everywhere in our RV. My clients have already informed me that I'm not allowed to retire. No fair! At least this business is seasonal and portable.

Well, it sounds like I'm probably in the clear. That $50 preparer penalty does worry me. Oh, well.

New client (will get extension for current year) mentioned that he hasn't filed in several years. He's pretty sure they are all refunds since they were just basic W-2 jobs. I tell him statute of limitations runs out Wednesday for the 2005 return. He faxes me 2 W-2s and I calculate return. Can I fax him the signed 2005 1040 for him to mail in (or drop off at IRS office)? I know I can accept a faxed signature on an 8879, but will IRS accept faxed preparer signature? Thanks. I'd like to get this to him tomorrow. I'd prefer not to have to schedule a pick-up time.

I hope this doesn't happen. I'm using TaxWise this year and can't say I see anything in it I like better than ATX. I'll be returning to ATX next year and won't miss TaxWise. I guess it depends on how they merge the programs. We'll just have to wait and see.

Agree with everyone. I couldn't run my solo practice without your help. Thanks erc for providing our gathering place. (Our virtual office water cooler?)

Er, um, I'm probably just tired, but I think it's 2 years old.