taxtrio

I understand that the charge for HR Block's "second look" is 29.95 charged to client just to look it over. Of course there are additional charges for ammending the returns if something is found. Problem is the preparer only gets 10.00 for doing a "second look".!! Not popular with the HRB Pros...especially since the way their software is set up they tell me it takes them over an hour to do the "second look". All for 10.00!! Years back when I worked at Block we always offered to check a prior year return/ or return prepared elsewhere for a prospective client at NO CHARGE.... Now they charge for what we did for "free". I would check their returns over just to try to acquire a new client. But back then we would check the returns using our calculator and tax charts and our own tax knowledge... now they have to input into a computer to check it the way HRB wants them to. Glad I'm long gone from there.. Taxtrio

What is a code "F" in the debt code field in bank manager mean? Taxtrio

I agree, the plan rules are one thing... the IRS rules are what we are concerned with. Taxtrio

Correct. No social security or SE tax then no earned income. They can't have it both ways! Taxtrio

I've had ATX do the same thing in the past. No, you cannot take the "credit" for tax paid to another state unless you are a full year michigan resident and are not subtracting the income on the NR. As usual with the state return, many times you have to use your knowledge of the tax law and make the necessary adjusments. Just zero out the tax paid to the other state on the worksheet/or line where ATX is putting it. The most annoying thing I think ATX does with the Michigan reuturn is to add the MI 1040-D to the return everytime you have any capital gains on the federal. That form is only used when you have a cap gain/loss from property owned before 10/1/1967.... So we almost never need that form. I am always deleting that one. Taxtrio

Client went out and bought me lunch today... Just McDonald's... but it sure hit the spot today. Taxtrio

It's a business. Sch C with whatever deductions she can document. Taxtrio

I just had a similar problem with the 2441. HH 26,000 income plenty of day care. 2441 would show the max of 3,000 and show the .29 percentage.... but then zero for the credit??? Deleted, redo form, still problem. When I click on 9 of 2441 it takes me to the worksheet where it combines this years credit with day care paid prior years. Line one of the worksheet shows the 870 credit but down below on the worksheet line 3 shows zero? So I override line 3 or worksheet to the 870.00 ... then of course it carries to the 2441 and credit works. It efiled.. Anyone else have this problem? Worked fine a few days ago. Taxtrio

Tuesday, 8:25 pm. here in Michigan... Updated... 8606 is finally not "draft"!! Hurray... now that one client won't be calling me 6 times a day asking "is it done yet?" ... No kidding, six times a day!! Taxtrio

Don't think so.... there was discussion of it back then and they said they were not going to re-write the old programs to work with vista... I don't have vista so I can't say for sure. How about anyone out there with Vista??? Taxtrio

Double check your federal w/h. Highlight the federal tax w/h line on page 2, and click on the jump too bunny, it will take you to a worksheet that displays where the w/h is coming from. We had a puzzle like that a year or two ago. And the preparer had mistakenly put the Medicare Premiums on the wrong line of the Soc Sec Input screen and they went to Federal Tax W/H instead!! I could be something silly like that!! Just an idea... Taxtrio

Legally married is Legally married.....Not Single! When people emmigrate to the U.S. they don't have to get married again here. Taxtrio

Michigan will send them a form for injured spouse-- after they file Fed and Mich returns. They have 10 days to fill it out and send it back ... or they won't get the benefit of injured spouse worksheet. (In michigan you cannot get the form and fill it out and send in with return; you have to wait for them to send it to you.) If they don't send it back Michigan will process return as usual EXCEPT for the delay while they wait to see if you send back the form. I suppose if they file MFS for Michgian then they wouldn't get the delay.... but they wouldn't get their homestead credit without a hassle either--or maybe never! Taxtrio

I talked with support today. Printing very slow. They had me change the printer's properties to "Print directly to printer" soooo now it starts printing a little faster, it just pauses between each page!! still about same total time to print. They said, it has helped some people. But they know it is a problem with the atx software. They have brought a software engineer down from Maine to work on it for them. Imagine that! They needed help from Maine.. He said they will post updates to their progress on the MyATX page (the same spot where they post bank and IRS notices). Taxtrio

Is anyone getting bank denials showing up on the bank manager from Chase Bank?? I have had a couple of denials that just sat in the bank manager as "accepted". No check to print, no denial, no debt code. So I call the 800 number. Message, denied!! Any ideas? Taxtrio

The link to the IRS website is on the Stimulus rebate worksheet in ATX, just click on it and you can get the rebate amount w/o even leaving the return. Taxtrio

If it is his baby he could claim the child; but here in Michigan can't claim the girlfriend. Irs Divison here follows a very old Michigan law that makes it illegal to "co-habitate" without the benefit of marriage. Making the deduction illegal here in Michigan. A lot of people do it anyway.... but IRS will throw it out if they notice. Taxtrio

I'm using Chase this year. Had 2 RAL's on Saturday. One went thru on Sunday... the other one showed accepted by IRS, accepted by Bank, no debt indicator but no check approval either. Bank Manager didn't show any information other than the application accepted. No denial no acceptance since Saturday. I called the customer service number on the bank app, put in SS# etc. recording said loan declined .... IRS debt indicator. But nothing shows on ATX Bank Manager to tell me that...glad I found the phone #!! Taxtrio

On the top of the EIC questions in ATX it says something like "Due to request from the IRS Work Group the questions will not default to an answer" Something like that. The IRS want the preparer to actually do the "due dilligence" and not let the software automatically do it for us. Taxtrio

I do seem to remember that if the return is filed and tax is paid by Jan 31st then there is no 2210 penalty for the 4th quarter estimated payment being paid late. I haven't researched it to see if it still applies. But you might look at the exception for 2210 penalties-- Taxtrio

I got it too!! I'm keeping it under my desk pad. Taxtrio

Hi Kyle, I belong to NATP, renewal membership fee was $132.00 this year. I get a weekly newletter, as well as a monthly. It comes by regular mail as well as by email... so I always keep on the latest tax information. They keep me up on what's going on at the IRS with things like tax court cases, tax law changes, and possible licensing of tax preparers. No you don't have to be an EA or CPA... just someone interested in keeping up. Being a member you get notices of local seminars/ tax classes put on by NATP... Fee is discounted for being a member; but non-members are also welcome to attend. NATP also has tax books, and tax office supplies available. The NATP website is a great resource, the archives of tax articles are available as well as other tax tools available. Client Tax tips (brochures you can order to give to clients on various topics). Lots of great stuff. Pam Taxtrio

I signed up for Chase this year... I read the disclosure on Chase Site. It stated that I agree to use only there Bank Product this year.... I have no problem with that as I only do a few Ral/Rac's each year. and HSBC isn't in with us this year (ATX). Taxtrio

I guess some preparers want the added security of having the client sign-- therefore attesting that the information is correct. Taxtrio P.S. I've never had them sign it. Just never thought of it.

Due Dilligence!! Many preparers print the form and have the client sign it and keep it in their files to show their "due dilligence" Taxtrio