Medlin Software, Dennis

Interestingly, to me. Dealing with a customer who is blatantly dishonest. Another who, I think they realize it, is attempting to get me to explain why a competitor may be doing something differently (it is likely a user error). In both cases, I am the bad guy, I need to consider my line of work, and other attempts to deflect self responsibility. This is nothing new, it happens more often than not when I have to come up with a way to tell someone the issue is self caused. Few like to hear they are imperfect. In one of these situations, I pointed out the black letter law, but left open the chance I am out of date, offering to look over any contracting information the used could supply. Nut, the reply was yet another nastygram...

As always, I appreciate the discussion. Ethics seem to be like (now un) common sense, but it is a huge topic of every day life since early 2020. Nothing wrong with looking out for #1, but ideally, we should also think about (and accept) the #2 that follows. While I do not do tax prep for $, I have considered having my own done, but I would be paying for more knowledge and use of the grey, since I can already handle the black, and much of the grey.

Does that item mean you can only operate in the black area of the law? Meaning if there are no clear guidelines, you cannot do something? How about when there is no case law and no regulations (such as happened when the COVID relief items first came out)? How is that handled? I am not talking about personal ethics and morality, just what one can defend as being appropriate in accounting or tax prep. The OP is a perfect example. Clearly, there are legal ways to double dip COVID bene's. Morally? Some would have issues. Maybe even ethically. But, the methods are legal, so it is not a disservice to not only process such items, but there is a client duty to get them the best result? I think it was here the consensus was, despite the IRS asking, there was no requirement to return stimulus payments sent to certain deceased. How does that "fly" with 230 ethics? If the argument is the request is not law, then it seems 230 requires only black and white, hampering what many/some? would likely call valid grey area planning/actions. I know for certain I have some customers who are subject to 230, yet they violate what likely is their required ethics, and IRS regs, by using insecure email, and more importantly insecure operating systems. Asking because I am curious. I have no experience with Circular 230, other than receiving emails from those subject, who include the waste of bandwidth and completely useless signature about Circular 230. (I cannot get past the statement that the email is only for intended recipients and must not be read by others. How can someone not intended ever see the signature? Why is someone subject to such a signature sending email in an insecure manner at all?) I get it, sometimes we have to do things because we are told to, even if they are pointless, but if the information in the email is intended to be private, then it should be sent securely, not "protected" by a disclaimer...

To me, there is allowed, disallowed, and grey. If allowed, it is allowed, no matter how much it smells/tastes bad. Ethics are a personal choice, meaning how much grey can you tolerate. So, if allowed, it is likely something you should outline, as not doing so has a financial penalty to your client. No different than medicare planning, SS optimization, and so on. If it is grey (no clear guideline or prohibition), then you have to use your own smell test.

I remember reading some sort of article on this trend, something about estate planning and favorable laws at present vs what is coming/expected in the future.

"one of these days...", and I am not even old enough to have seen this in second run showings. Perfect laugh for me today, on a typical Jan day for me when customers ask for help, then, despite getting accurate replies from the person who wrote the software, say I have no idea what I am talking about. I know I am human, and vastly imperfect, but among customers, it is a rare bird who will even want to hear the issue could be the fingers on their keyboard, let alone even the hint of something other than a software error causing their issue. For one of the above posts, if at all possible, dependents who are borderline independent, should have been swapped to independent for the stimulus - assuming mock calculations showed a profit over being dependent. In the cases I deal with, they are disabled adult dependents, for which some moving income and expense timings can make the stimulus profitable.

Interesting topic. In my case, I have to worry about things such as someone wanting the license information, and if they are the person who actually paid. Whether or not someone shared their data is out of my control and as already stated, not my issue. I try to not do anything unreasonable, such as send licensing information to a strange email address without some proof the person asking is the licensee. On the other hand, today is yet another day where more than a couple of people are trying to recover after human mistakes, and said human has no backup of their data. There will have to come a time, for my own sanity, where I force backups, such as via secure online storage. The issue is said humans do not like to hear they messed up, and said humans simply assume all software keeps everything for them "somewhere" in case of loss. (We make hidden backups on their drive, but those get erased and omitted too!) The latest one is a "computer person" who is changing to a new computer for a mutual client, and failed to properly mirror the existing drive. This is a VERY common issue, unfortunately. The "computer person" will make me look like the bad person when telling the mutual client about the lost data. The "computer person" is trying to get me to help them do their job. I sent my customer a copy of the messages, so they can read them for themselves.

Ethics and common sense. Rare indeed. The last job I applied for, there was a test with a series of questions. On one, I answered something like (unsure, but with a new moments of searching a specific resource, I will have the answer". That was the thing which got me the job, admitting to the unknown, and having the knowledge to know what I did not, and how to get the information. -- I typically use the term (formerly) common sense, since sense is no longer common.

SSA is easy for efile. It took them several years to get the file structure to a stable point, but it has been stable for several years. The problems are when other agencies claim to use the SS format, but they really don't. For instance, something as simple as carriage returns at the end of a line can cause issues if the programmer at the agency does not believe in following the SS format to a T. So, one must use trial and error, even when the format is specified. Sometimes the state alterations to the file structure simply make no sense, unless it is to protect turf/budget.

Used Fi for a bit too. My issue is I reside close to a large event center, which means the cell system gets overwhelmed when there is an event (despite the fake tree tower, and fiber backed wifi not many elect to use). No problems once I went to a business plan, since it gives me priority over normal plans, but below first responders. The only other time I remember an issue was at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Coverage is getting better there, as they realize it is good for public safety, but for a time, it was terrible, or unavailable, unless you had the right plan and were near their radio locations. Starlink will resolve my rare travel issues, once it becomes mobile. The public safety aspect was embraced slowly by NPS (and fought by those who believe there should be no communication in NP's), but the last time one of our kids went remote hiking in a NP, they had cell coverage the entire time, as well as tracking via satellite. Turns out they needed cell, as their last few planned camp spots had bears in the area, so they called me to make other arrangements while they hiked until the early AM to get to a safe location. Satellite worked too, but would have meant they would have stopped to keep the line open.

I do not want to be a secondary used of whatever carrier the phone provider pays for. By being a direct customer, you are higher priority than their reseller users, and in some cases (such a business plan) there are options to pay higher priority. Nothing wrong with lesser priority access, if it suits your needs. For me, using the "big 2" gets me coverage anywhere I frequent. For the advanced, there are units (such as PepWave) which allow more than 2 carriers (plus WiFi) to be used simultaneously (there are priority settings in the modem/router). For many, it will be moot once (and if) Starlink becomes truly mobile.

SS optimization, just like Medicare look back optimization, is an entire industry. Unless you have all the facts (and few ever really do), there is no perfect answer. Take the case of a parent with a disabled child (SSI). If the child has a good chance of collecting SSDI (switched to when parent retires, based on parent SS amount!) long term, then the parent likely would want to optimize their SS amount by waiting to FRA, maximizing SS income, etc. But, this presumes the parent, if possible, cannot "do better for their child" via some other means (investments, etc.). Also presumes one believes SS will continue to be funded.

Not a judgment on the merits of any OS, Windows is the VHS, and all others are the BetaMax (if one believes Windows is inferior). If you need to pick something to be more future proof, of found in most offices, Windows is it. Mac was relegated by Apple decisions, and especially so once DTP software, quality enough for "real" writers, was available on PC's (DTP was the last bastion of Mac). The final nail to any chance of Apple even splitting market share was cloud based apps. Chrome is interesting, but no point using one as you can use a phone with BT keyboard, mouse, and a display if you really do not want Windows or Mac. This from someone who kicking and complaining, switches to an iPhone. The reason, The only phone which does not capitulate to carriers - meaning I can actually use the one feature I need, no matter the carrier (two carriers, auto switching, one phone). I had a Samsung which has the two carrier feature, but the major carriers block the feature, and I am not into jailbreaking.

As with payroll and all other forms of accounting where someone preparing for $ should sign, there are many shadow preparers who return documents for the TP to claim were self prepared. I suppose, like payroll, there are some who will give their personal login information to their "preparer" to use.

Not really. Been using it since the first public release. No matter what one thinks of MS, they long ago learned their lesson about providing some way to reduce "change" in look and feel. This is a dollar issue for them as the more change there is, the more is costs them. I cannot remember which iteration it was, but I remember a big change - but a provided way to make it look like the prior iteration. This time, it works nearly the same (nothing I noticed in the way of trouble finding something).

Keep is simple. For most, do not install a new OS, update to a new computer with the new OS preinstalled. Even without a new OS, upgrading computers at least every 5 years is a solid plan. We, here, are talking about computers used to generate income, so remaining reasonably current is a normal and expected cost of doing business. If the above is objectionable, then make sure, whatever your preferred method, to always use an OS still supported by the maker. W8 is good through Jan 2023, W10 through Oct 2025. Those with the requirement to guard information of others likely have a legal obligation to do so. As for W11, if your computer cannot pass the upgrade requirements, it likely is not as current of a model as you believed. I have a surface pro 6 which passes, and an HP all in one, several years old, and it updated to W11 with zero issues.

Correction, ERC, at present, ended Sep 30, 2021.

While nothing seems like it sticks any longer, at present, what some are estimating as 8 million dollars has been grabbed back from employers by retroactively ending the Employee Retention Credit as of Oct 21. IRS has not yet posted any advice how this will be handled as far as timely deposits, and paying back any advanced amount. There is some push for undoing this action, but it seems like a good choice to consider Q4 ERC dead, and make deposits asap for any amount retained or advanced from Q4 ERC.

Stories like this should be lauded, as it gives up hope for the future (as compared to the "regular" news). I say this as being in a similar situation, son who helped many with initial covid issues, participating in developing an in house test for covid when there were not enough tests to go around, etc. (Sr. Clinical Researcher), and who was encouraged by his mentors to take the MCAT and is now an MS1 - and already helping patients in student run free clinics.

Can of worms opened... Why call? Make sure to be correct going forward, and that all liabilities have been paid. While maybe not technically correct, the odds are VA will be happy if all liabilities are paid. If you are the employee, then submit a new valid VA4 to the employer (even if you are the employer too) and make sure the employer properly withholds. If the employer balks, and you like the job, then you are likely looking at leaving things as is, making your own deposits, etc. If this is a client you are dealing with, unless you are managing their payroll, it may be best just to accept the W2 on its face, and not use the can opener.

For paycheck income tax withholding, the employer's only obligation is to follow the employee's instructions as shown on their last valid W4 (or state equivalent). If the employee manages their finances in a way, with valid withholding forms, which results in zero withholding, say until December, then the employer is not out of line. (Note, the current federal W4 actually makes this easier than past federal W4 forms - because of not having to be blatantly inaccurate with allowances and longer.) A very quick review of the VA4 does not appear to offer the same leeway the federal form does. No provision for anything other than actual deductions/allowances. There is also a note in the form's instructions which disallows claiming extra exemptions (such as the 99 gimmick). So for VA, unless there are other exceptions available, there appears to be no way to "defer" VA withholding to the last check or two for the year. This seems to include owner/employees who often ignore the fact they are an employee, have to be paid regularly for work done, at a reasonable wage, with all required deductions, etc. These types of situations seem to almost always come from owner/employees who were not properly paying themselves during the year ("I take draws and even up at the end of the year" situations - the new 4b can be used with it being easy to claim the number is only "expected".)

Already replied to Jim via our support email... Essentially, Medlin creates the data file from the employee and paycheck information. Then, via the SSA's process, the data can be submitted. The SSA controls their process, and provides fairly good instruction via their BSO pages. The one caveat is most will have to go through a login refresh process, as many will forget their login from the prior year... We have been offering to create the efile data for many years, and for those not yet required to efile (as well as for the employer and employee copies), Medlin is authorized to print the W2/W3 forms on plain paper.

As long as even the tiniest percentage of folks give out their banking info, it is profitable for the nefarious types. No different than "I have left over asphalt from a neighbor's job" or "this is the most powerful vacuum on earth" (my fav, since an outlet only provides 15 or 20 amps, and IIRC, most UL approved vacuums are limited to 12 amps or something similar). I have a faint memory of someone trying to make email sending have some fraction of a cent cost - to try to make the large spammers find spamming unprofitable. We have about four no soliciting signs at various conspicuous places in our yard, and a locked porch gate. We still get folks who ignore the signs, and randomly a few who try to reach over the porch with a stick or other object to knock on the door. Funny to watch on security camera! On the other hand, my bank called me a couple of times last week. Even left a message. I called them back, and they were not sure what the calls were for in a timely fashion. The problem was actually real, they changed their electronic systems, front and back end, and my auto payments needed to be reset. I figured it out by not getting the usual notice of a payment being triggered. While I did complain to the bank, the responsibility is always mine to pay my own bills. The bank offered to clean up any issues with late auto bill payments, should they occur. In past times, when there were less jobs than employees, such mistakes described in the OP would have been good reason to start searching for a replacement employee.

While I still have a desktop running, I use a portable as main. Solves the power outage data loss issues, as well as allowing me to be portable too. While I have not tried a conventional laptop in years, I have nothing against them. I just like the surface pro for the features, especially the ability to set the system to keep the batt at 50% when plugged in 24/7 so it does not cook the life out of the batt. For the most part, I have a generator nearby, so I cannot recall the last time I changed the charge setting to give 100% charge. The desktop I have is nice, but for some strange reason, the system does not do or provide any means to auto restart after power outage, which is the reason it cannot be my main.

A surface pro. Add a desktop monitor, add bluetooth mouse and keyboard for stationary use. Easy to use mobile, and is VERY secure if it should ever disappear. I have yet to see a mobile computer with large enough screen for my tastes, so I focus, like always, on getting a good machine and adding the human interface I prefer. I rarely use the built in screen unless I want to work outside. Even for travel, I will carry a monitor (only a few pounds these days) or cables to hook up to whatever monitor or TV I come across.