Karen Lee

Thanks Danielle, I wish you could still help too. How's Cody? Did you adapt to motherhood with grace? Hope all is well and keep checking on us. Karen Fashion doesn't dictate to me but a good old fashion "sale" does. I understand "discount" "inventory clearance" "price reduction" "early renewal discount".

Today is the day for me to do the renewal for Max. Got out the file and decided to renew on-line however that didn't work. When I put in the savings code, red letters came up saying that it was incorrect. Tried 3 more times with the same result. No problem I'll call. Called and received prompt and courteous service. Will fax over form for ACH. Oops, communication error, fax not received. CCH called to verify address and told her the fax didn't come through so she faxed again and it didn't come through either. So I am mailing the check just like the old days. Wonder what problems will result with that. Karen

Went from home to office space in town (population 1100) in Jan 2007. Had that anxiety for only a couple months...people started stopping by asking about services, signage brought clients in from a whole new region, I have great landlords, rent isn't bad and hi-speed internet is included in the rent, owners are local ISP. Been SE here for 13 years and realized growth every year but just exploded when I had a store front and open 12 months/year. You'll do just fine! Karen

I e-filed this return in early Feb and the Form 9325 came back with #6 marked..."direct debit not accepted, please mail in payment". So the payment was mailed in, e-file was accepted and IRS debited also. When I called e-file help they indicated a refund was scheduled for June 2. I gave the client the amount of the duplicated payment and told her to return it when she received the refund. Has anyone had this experience? Karen

The company that wrote my write-up software along with A/R, A/P and P/R modules with a total cost of 3400.00 plus 1000./yr maintenance was bought out by Creative Solutions. Creative Solutions then offered me their write-up and modules at 50% discount plus maintenance. At that time I was a 1 person office working out of my home and had only been in business for myself a couple of years. Oh and the 50% discount brought the CS programs down to about what the purchase price of the original software. What a deal!!! Did I take it the deal? NO! Did I become concerned about the acquisition of ATX? Yes Do I let the chips fall where they may or do I take control of my own destiny? After much deliberation, I will renew with ATX for next season. It is a lot easier to forgive myself for this decision than to blame someone else for what might happen. I believe there is risk involved with this decision but it is my decision and can only blame myself for the direction this takes me. Karen

A client just called about receiving an e-mail from irs.us.gov wanting a form filled out to expedite their stimulus payment told her not official irs site and to disregard she was to forward to me so I could forward to phishing site at irs but my ISP won't accept it thought I'd let you know...anyone else heard of this one? Karen

Early in the season I posted that HRB moved in down the street and I was not overly concerned but concerned nonetheless. Took some steps, additional advertising, RAL's and ERD, process credit cards etc. Well, I never felt a thing and the business realized yet another increase in # of returns as well as an increase in $. 4+ year employee quit in the middle of tax season, training new employee during tax season... Software performed well for me, accessing MyATX was a problem for awhile. CCH treatment of employees and customers was disheartening and caused undue anxiety all through the season. The only difference in the program now is that it does not seem to be doing some of the automatic calculations that have made me more productive. Now I have to think and do more review of my work. Example, dependent information put in and I check the box for CTC and it calculates the CTC with a warning in the CHECK (in blue) that the dependent does not qualify for the CTC. In the past I think the software used to calculate the CTC automatically based on the DOB for the dependent. Not a big deal but nice to know. E-File went well with the exception of the one return transmitted on 4/14...didn't get ack'd until 4/17. I will start to upload W-2, W-3 in a couple of years and e-file 941, extensions and 940 when I am more comfortable with E-file procedure and ack process through this software. Stimulus payments!!!Really...what were they thinking! Should have built in an incentive for tax preparers! I didn't kill anyone this season, Prozac works!! Back to the extensions. Have a good off season. Karen

Thank you

This is a first for me. 17 yr old (18 by 12/31/07), crew member on fishing boat in Alaska, share from fishing proceeds >$5000. This was his only income. Issued a 1099-MISC, Box 7... Used a Sch C-EZ for income and expenses and of course automatically came up with Sch SE however MTG says share of fishing catches is not subject to SE Tax. Code Sec. 1402©(2) Now I can override it all and make it not subject to SE Tax however there must be a form and procedure to make it clear that the exemption is legit at first glance of the tax return BUT I CAN'T FIND IT!!! Please Help. Karen Lee PS MTG para 2670...I could be mis-reading...let me know 1040 Express Answers 3-5

I've been reading some posts about renewal/early bird discount offers. I haven't received anything. I've used MAX since 2002. Maybe they quit me. Not like I plan on making that decision in the next couple weeks however...

My client has an 18 yr old son that lived with her for more that 7 months in 2007, went to school for 5 months, worked about 2 months. Son stole mom's car, gas credit card and shot out barn windows just to give you a taste of this kid's character. Client took dependency and now son is screaming at mom that it was against the law to claim the dependency and she stole his stimulus payment and she should send him the money. Client was very upset and I assured her that nothing "illegal" was done. Also told her that was a very serious allegation for me and that I would like to speak with her son (preferably restrained). All I can say really is "bring it on you dumb SOB". Client told him that she would apply the payment towards what he has destroyed or stolen and would send a copy of the charges with credit applied. Can't believe it! Karen

I have been all over the MAX program trying to figure out why it didn't pick up the Sch E $ as investment income and disallow the EIC. Should have picked it up. Now I'm spanked and I learned to look closer for that one. The Shop building is owned by the TP and the TP wanted the S-Corp to pay the loan back. The loan payments are classified as rent and reported to the TP. I don't believe it is a good idea to put R/E in any kind of corp. Karen

Memorial Weekend is the Annual Meeting for non-profit organization. I am an independent contractor and present the financial statement analysis and along with budget. If the weather is really nice I take the Harley. Can't use standard mileage rate? Labor Day Weekend is the Annual Meeting for a non-profit organization in the San Juans. I tow my really big boat so I can get to the meeting which can only be accessed by water (small airport but I don't have an airplane). Can't use standard mileage rate for water travel? My personal car, motorcycle and boat have never hit my books for anything other than "standard mileage rate" for legitimate business travel. I haven't really seen anything that says standard 4 wheels or better mileage rate. Couple years ago I think there was a split year for standard mileage rates because of fuel prices. Wonder what I'm going to do when the moto-cross club has their meeting in the woods below Mt St Helens, then there is the jeep club... Karen

Got it! Finally Thanks so very much...that was above and beyond Karen

I am so [email protected] Not a good brain day... TGIF even though I have to work tomorrow Karen

Thanks...I feel so stupid. Karen

Are TP's with FMS debts going to get their stimulus payments or be diverted for debt? Can't find info on that situation and not even going to assume what will happen. Karen

re-send to [email protected] Thank you Karen

Geek squad said that their server maybe seeing the attachment as spam. They need your e-mail address to release it. So if you could give me your e-mail address... Thanks Karen

I'll talk to my geek squad tomorrow and see what they have to say. Thanks for the effort. I'll post here if they have any ideas. Thank you Karen

OK...I have done some more research...you're right. I am at home so first thing in the morning I will open the file again and update and see if it recalculates correctly. Thanks so much Karen

I would like it too please. [email protected] Thanks Karen

I believe the standard mileage rate is applied to any type vehicle as long as it is for business, charitable or medical. I have a client that uses his personal flat bed dump for business and his motorcycle for business and take the standard mileage rate for any vehicle used. His motorcycle's value is much greater than the dump's value and the mileage is very different but the same rate is used. I haven't figured out where the button is to change to the economy on my car for when I go to the doctor vs. going to the office supply store but IRS thinks the deduction should be different. So I think the mileage rate is based on activity and not type of vehicle. Karen

The rent income on Sch E is for a shop rented to her Sub S Corp. For the corp to take the deduction for rent she has to report the income on Sch E 1040 right? Can't get more non-passive and she materially participates. So I think IRS just looked at Line 17, 1040 and included it in investment income. Am I correct in my thinking here? More opinions would be nice and thanks for the responses. Karen

Single TP, no children. I am confused on investment income. TP has $3405. Sch E income (Sub S and Rental) active participation. Is all of this investment income and why didn't the EIC worksheet not pick up this investment income. Plus gambling income of $2057. Int inc of $26. EIC worksheet picked up the $26. only. Let me have it. Tell me to open the book and refresh or get some rest. Don't want to sign my name. Karen