Medlin Software, Dennis

Without the third party sending the K, you may not have heard of this amount. The seller likely has expenses/fees which were kept by the third party, at least for the charge card aspect. There is also the possibility sales tax was withheld/paid, which the third party handled. Some third parties also charge listing/selling fees. As others suggested, there will or should be fees for license(s), shipping, tax prep, etc. For the product described, seems like there are more than enough expenses that there should be a loss, unless the product is valued below selling price. If a short term process, not ongoing, I really like the $1 "profit" idea so it can be done with on one return. (My DW sells or gives away our random no longer needed items online, at least the items we cannot find a good home for via donation.)

MN, not WA for the delay in UI updates.

In the current times, some have found it more profitable to not work, and there appears to be a chance new regulations will allow refusal to return to work based on potential/perceived risks to health. (This is NOT a political statement, just the apparent facts.) WA state has not even figured out employer SUTA numbers for 2021, as they are trying to account for and predict the future (versus states like mine, who collect as little as possible, borrow to make ends meet, then pay it back likely from general fund money). Current times or not, if an employee is required to use a remote time tracking system, such as an app, as opposed to a computer at the work site, then the remote work might also mean it is of benefit to the employer to provide and control the device. This is becoming more and more common, given how decentralized work locations are moving to be more common. Such systems may also have GPS tracking, to ensure work rule compliance (my opinion, remote employees not in a very trusted relationship, should be tracked, not so much for hour type enforcement, but to ensure they are not working at any location, not approved and insured by the employer, enough to cause liability (injury type, and taxation).

I am certain there are those types of apps, with tracking and such (for on the road employees for instance), but, I suspect the employer would have to provide the device as well, as I doubt many employees would want such an app on their personal phone.

Just a personal soapbox, this is a great time for you to document your "move to a new computer" process and treat it as a disaster recovery test/process as well. I preach to any who will listen to be prepared, and to get your process down to less than a day (not including time to get a new machine, if you do not have an alternate already setup and in place, which I strongly recommend as well). If anyone reads this far, I still am fond of the surface pro units, with external monitor, keyboard, and mouse, as they can be grabbed "to go" for regular use or emergency bug out, and come with very good built in security for a consumer pre built product.

Welcome back. In our line of work (yours and mine), because of demand, we have the luxury of working for max dollars, enough to live on, or something in between. While not the most glamorous field, there will always be enough change to require more quality workers than available. Ironically, same as my young adult line of work, a real mechanic (not a Remove & Replace what the computer or book says "tech").

Made me recheck my own software. Thankfully, no issues. I likely used different methods, which is to include all payments as taxable, and specifically exclude when required (programmer speak...). I would guess the software in question failed to add the amount for 940. Might want to check 941, 943, 944, state quarterly, and any other items where it needs to be wages, and places where it needs to be handled for credits.

I was updating life and disability coverage, and had to admit, it has been more than 20 years since I was involved in any of the "risky" activities... Good for the policy costs, but sometimes I long for those days of perceived invincibility. My dad was about 25 in the image for my profile. I was but a pea sized being. Those cars were built like tanks, many raced for more than a decade. The drivers were mere pinballs wearing penny loafers, chinos, and t-shirts, with a leather object which kept their hair in place more than protecting their brain.

Unless I missed something (always a possibility), the official IRS position is paper 1099 forms sent to the IRS have to be the red drop out ink (essentially pre printed), as they have no provision for blank and white copies. On the other hand, I know many who send them in self printed (black and white), but have not heard of the IRS using their penalty process for non compliant forms. On the other hand, SSA has been allowing approved software to self print W2/W3 forms since TY 2001...

Indeed. For me, I get many inquiries asking how to do things which are not allowed. I stick to the rules, then get told I am inflexible. Or, as happened earlier today, someone asks about starting to use my payroll software, and based on their questions, I ask if they have any experience or training, and when they say no, I suggest they will be better of hiring out their payroll until they can gain experience and training. Usually goes over well enough, but some try to make me license to them, which I refuse, because I am not in the business of teaching payroll accounting. It is one of my exceptions to there being a price where anyone is worth having as a customer.

I still do not understand that thought. Even if the person/entity had a 70% effective tax rate, the benefit would have been 30% of the PPP. Even if it was a wash, being able to pay employees (those that did not want to be on the dole) was a good thing.

Likely the similar wonder of those who have had student loans in the past, should current loan holders receive forgiveness.

Must be a Catch-22. Don't explain and possibly get grief, explain and either get grief from the fee for your explanation time, or get internal grief for not charging for your explanation time. Out of all of my customers, I think I had one employer defer for their employees (against the advice of their payroll processor).

I am having to learn as I go. Mom and Aunt did nothing when grandmother passed, now mom passed earlier this year. I even had to sign something as an heir for my grandfather, who passed in '71, because the real property title was not changed. The rub is neither made any plans, gave any indication of their wishes, so intestate it is. I have two sibs waiting for their cut with open palms. Catherine has agreed to help.

Handling the estates of my mother and grandmother. I am in need of transcripts for both, for the last few years before they passed. As I understand it, those who have practitioner access can download transcripts, while I can likely only get mailed copies, sent to their last address (which will not work). If anyone can assist (or enlighten me on the process), let me know.

Are you preparing the W2? That implies you are the payroll processor. If you are not, and the W2 is not correct, get the corp to fix it. From the payroll side, the amount the corp pays direct has other consequences, such as likely increasing WC wages. Also, my position is a proportionate amount (constructive receipt) should have been added to every paycheck, to ensure proper withholding. (Yes, the amount is deductible to the employee, but tax agencies get their withholding up front. I get the argument that it should not alter withholding quite often.) The amount should have been reported on 941 forms as well (not just the "add it to a W2" method). The employee should receive the benefit of higher reported wages, such as if they needed to claim UI, WC, FFCRA, apply for a loan, etc. And so on.

I go with whatever is on sale at costco (or similar). The return policy is good, as is their support. Once you get past 30 days of good use, the new drive should last several years (the drive is usually the item which, small chance though, could fail right away). I went with surface pro the last time. Probably the best consumer level security built in, and can be used portable, or to drive a desktop monitor and keyboard.

Fortunately, it sounds as if the estate has enough funds on hand to make the estimated payment, which might lead to a conclusion the estimated payment is not too much of a hardship... --- Trying to close two probates right now. One depends on the other (one is an heir of the other). The real property involved is in escrow, but the buyer is said to have covid. The perform date has passed, with no one getting response from the buyer (only the buyer's brother), so I have had to send a 3 day perform notice to see if that will shake things loose. I am actually fine if the buyer needs more time, and have a substantial non refundable deposit, but business is business and I need to hear something soon or I have to move on to the backup buyer before (if I have not already) lost the backup. Both estates have no cash on hand, so I have had to fund out of pocket. With the mess of selling the real property, I will be petitioning for extraordinary payment for selling the property, which my attorney says is not an issue, but in all their years, I am the first client to do so.

Most understood the forgiveness would eventually not exclude the expenses from countable for tax return, but it was wise to plan for this not to happen. The last I saw was the new PPP would require showing a certain percentage loss of sales compared to a specific time. I like it, as by now, all can see the actual effect and such qualifications make perfect sense. I could be in the small minority, but I have nothing against the first round being based only on stating a possible or likely effect, since the program was implemented before anyone could have hard numbers to go on (for an entire quarter). Yes, money was lost to fraud, and since all could likely state they might be impacted, some received funding who could have made it without. The timeline was simply too short to catch even some of the obvious fraud upfront, and it appears as if there is an effort being made to catch at least some after the fact. The next wait and see is if FFCRA will be extended or not.

The clergy person might be directed to the denominational training for clergy finances. This should have been something no clergy person should miss. There could be other things being missed in their personal finances. (Not that any of the personal finances are the employers issue...)

Of note, the draft Q1 2021 941 has space to handle FFCRA (assumes it gets extended). If FFCRA is not extended, those lines will likely change to "reserved for future use". Amazingly, the form designer(s) elected to not make major changes to spacing and print locations! You can always search/find draft forms at https://apps.irs.gov/app/picklist/list/draftTaxForms.html. Keep in mind, just because it appears in the draft list does not mean they have not already posted a final version on the regular forms list.

What an excellent reply! The "young staffer" tip is likely a game changer. Finding opinions which make sense and are accurate is always a challenge. There are so many who post things to get ad money, so a good amount of the information returned via any engine search is simply wrong. Of course, I am long in the tooth enough now, that unless someone backs up their opinion with money/insurance, I investigate it myself.

Cat out of the bag! This is something I discovered years ago by accident. I now always try to have a modest balance due. Like any business, the IRS seems to process profitable envelopes first.

For the good news, one of our kids, in the health care field, will get a vaccine this month. He has been living in a self imposed bubble, as he sees and deals with the death, and cannot bear the thought of bringing the virus to anyone outside the hospital. I doubt he will pop his bubble, as he reminds us the vaccine has not been tested to see if it stops the recipient from spreading. Many in the health care field are doing the same as he is. What they are doing for the rest of us reminds me there is good in the world, even if we do not see it among the bad. Yesterday, for instance, they had 200 staff out sick. They have had over 200 staff test positive. And this is in a major facility with the top safety protocols... Remember, all the available bed count numbers have nothing to do with space available, it has everything to do with the number of staff who can strap up that shift. As odd as it is to say, if those working at the IRS have to slow things down, so be it. They have families too. It is our responsibility to handle our "business". If we get in a position of balance due, or balance owed, it was our own fault, and we should not complain at the consequences.

If I follow, your client is an heir. The value of the estate seems to have been set. Since then, the estate value has dropped. Your client likely needs legal counsel. If you client is an executor/administrator, they may be liable for not managing the estate in the best interests of the estate. If your client is simply an heir, they may want to pursue action against those managing the estate, even before settlement. With the given scenario, the estate's goodwill value drops daily, the longer the former employee has no "competition" for the existing clients (assuming as written, the remaining employees are not really competing). If the current value of the business is truly just sale of equipment, then whomever is allowing the business to continue accruing salary and other expenses is clearly not acting in the best interests of the estate. (Makes me wonder if the aunt is running the estate, as she is the only one who seems to be benefiting from the "business".) On the other hand, if the restructure was some form of the executor/admin "selling" the business, then there are a larger number of worms to deal with, especially if your client is one of or the only buyer. --- I would not touch any part of this estate process at all. I would refer to a probate/estate attorney, who also has probate/estate expert accountant/CPA/EA's on staff. If your client has already taken on former estate assets or liability in some form, then maybe deal with that on its face, but only if your client is accepting what they have done or allowed to be done, and is not interested in getting a second opinion (which seems not to be the case).