Medlin Software, Dennis

I only deal with NYS employer forms. In our case, the paper form no longer exists due to mandatory efile. For the short time the paper form still existed after mandatory efile, we also put a watermark on the "form" we printed to at least prevent us from getting dinged if someone mailed it in. Now we print a summary of what went into the efile, so it is really clear the paper is not to be sent to NYS. IIRC the NYS income tax efile info, individuals who use software which "can" efile, "have" to efile. If that faint memory is correct, assuming ATX can efile, I bet ATX is using the watermark just as I once did. May not mean the paper "form" is incorrect, just that it should not be mailed to NYS. (I am a literal person, so I am taking your "not approved for filing" as the watermark, with no mention of it being a draft form.)

I saw this last night, I would love to get away with putting this on a card and handing it out as needed...

While frustrating, we all get nickels because the tax system is arcane and complicated... I have to repeat this to myself over and over this time of year, usually on every phone ring or email ding

Seen it before. Either knowingly, unknowingly, or because of bad advice or naivete, an improper method IMO. Should have been added to taxable wages on their paychecks. If the employer is only "renting" computers from their employees, then the employee relationship triggers the "rent", so I can see no way to consider it separate from the employment relationship. The employee is in a bad spot. Convincing the employer to handle it the proper way is not likely to happen as the employer will give the old "we have always done it this way and have never had an issue" reply. How it is handled on this return is one thing (I guess Line 21 might make me comfortable enough for a one time deal), but I would probably spend the time with the employee to enlighten them.

Medlin is Windows only. We do not use Macs, and if one uses internet statistics, no more than 10% of people do use Macs. If there was a time when Apple desktop OS has ever been above 10%, it was brief.

It is being used in all 50 states.

Two employees? W-2? SSA? Paper forms. Why? because it makes it a bit tougher for the employer to neglect to print and retina their own copy. Especially for a small employer that does not already use something that can print forms, they are more likely to have a need for copies later. Just sayin' - given many years of experience...

Slight tangent, all the white background is harder on battery life with a current mobile device. The more you can get your mobile device to not have to light up pixels, the longer your batt lasts between charges. For mobile, I try to control the background, if the site does not already options for a dark background. For mobile, the display is the one batt eater you have some control over.

It is a "lose" only situation. If the employee comes clean and pays their share of taxes, the employer will eventually maybe get caught, and even if not, the employee will probably lose their job. Been there in my naive youth as the employee.

Thanks for the mentions! I suspect few, if any, of the others read this BB most every day...

Indeed. We do think and plan for our future and for succession, but there is no reason to fail by trying to do more.

Ii do not see that in our future...

"employer told them". Another indicator of employment insecurity for the employees, and full employment for those cleaning up the mess. I hear this type of thing daily, an employer is getting involved with an employees tax situation. "I want to make sure the employee does not owe at the end of year" is a good example. I sometimes try to suggest it is none of the employer's business and that offering tax advice can get them in liability, but I usually get rebuffed. As an aside, did you backup your data today? First call of the morning was from someone asking if I have a copy of their data as their computer went BSOD (blue screen of death). Folks, you can never backup enough since your income depends on it, and just as importantly, TEST your recovery process at least once a year. Backing up without testing is barely better than no backup at all.

I have to keep current... since at least some of my customers will. The W10 install/upgrade process was the easiest Windows upgrade ever. The only problem I had to fix was a hardware issue (touchpad on a cheap relatively current laptop) which was solved via a download from the hardware manufacturer's web site. The Wifi Sense issue Catherine mentions is easily turned off. Since I had already set mine off before reading this, I do not remember what the default settings were. From a programmer's perspective, there is a decision of if/how to deal with W10 having a plain light colored title bar (the color cannot be set as easily as before, but can still be set). Also had to alter our web site to recognize the new "Edge" browser which replaced IE. W10 seems to have been properly designed to take away or hide things most do not need. This is no different than what I have had to do for years. The majority prefer to install something and just have it work (and/or should not be messing with settings). I expect there will eventually be some sort of official or unofficial "tweak" program available, similar to the old tweakui" program. Don't get me wrong, I have no reason to tell anyone they should install W10. It is probably still best (for the non techie) to heed the old advice of using the OS which the computer manufacturer installed, and if you have an unsupported old OS, you have an old computer you should replace, especially if used for income generation.

I hear something similar from time to time - a form someone says was mailed or efiled and a notice that it was not filed/received. The notice would be more accurately say the form/return cannot be found, instead of that it was not filed. All data can be lost, even by a tax agency. Sometimes it is a small sample, sometimes there is enough to point to a specific issue. A few years back, an unusual number of our customers reported the IRS was telling them a certain year and quarter 941 was not filed. Given the number of just our customers reporting this, there had to have been some larger data loss on the machine keeping that year and quarter's scanned paper filed forms. I say "machine" since if there was a backup, or a backup that was useful, there would not have been an issue.

If you want to sign, it appears you can. The NY definition of RP is vague enough (as for most tax agencies) that if someone wants to get in on the fun, they can. Most tax agencies have a list of who is on the hook by law, and do not mind if others want to bite as well. The more they can seek money from, the better for the agency. FWIW, NYS came after me for employment taxes, based on a set of sample NYS-45 data which had our actual CA address, with the fake employees having a CA address, with invalid SSN's, unsigned, sent to their forms approval office. It is clear they have no issue coming after whomever they perceive as being liable.

Keep a CYA note so you can show your solution for something the employee cannot fix. For me, the most common I get is when an owner/employee does not pay themselves a reasonable wage on a frequency meeting their state requirements, and those who simply do not meet their state requirements for any employee (pay frequency, pay stub, etc.). In most cases, changing to be compliant is cheaper than what is currently being done, and is absolutely cheaper than defending the position and the penalty payments. I was just asking my kids how their employers handled the CA Sick Leave notification. One was handled properly - not subject because his current gig is an exempt gig (entertainment industry). One is handled properly on his stub, but has not received the required written notice showing the employer's policy (can be inferred it is the state minimum). One of the girlfriends has received no sick leave on her stub, and no notice. For the two non-compliant employers, I told the kids to wait it out for a bit since neither is in a position to safely rock the boat. Showed them how to track themselves.

If a state has a separate form, then I require it, or use S-0 for whichever form I did not get. Solves any issues where one may get a form and have to decide whether or not the employee meant federal or state. I do not want to make tax decisions for employees! I fully use the 30 day allowance when needed. For those that have a normal reason for change, I simply delay to the next check. For those that change their form often, I wait until the last check within the 30 day window. So first change of the year, changes on next check, additional changes in the same year may take longer.

An elder/medicare lawyer asap is the way to go. This may not be the only issue, and it is better to have plans in place before need. The elder care specialist will know what to do and when.

When a random compliance check happens, I am always happy if the result is a single issue, with a clear path to solve. The random compliance people likely have pressure to "find" something. There are easy to find bad practices which are very common... Just finished talking about two with a potential customer (they sometimes look elsewhere because I refuse to give bad advice). Income shifting, paying an owner/employee once a quarter in CA, and creating separate bonus checks manually changing FWH and SWH to zero.

This is not a new issue. We hear this from customers who paper and e file. A few years ago, there was a large number lost, based on the more than a few our customers with this issue. Thus, we recommend in addition to keeping the paper copy for compliance purposes (the electronic storage regulations are not something I am comfortable with as I do not want to allow the IRS access my computer at will to ensure my compliance, nor do I want to have to report any potential data loss, such as a computer change, versus the no proof required+ assumption the IRS makes that I did keep the paper records), we suggest paper filing. For those who prefer to get proof of delivery, mailing with some sort of delivery receipt might be a comfort.

As we near the W2 deadline, for me, the most common issue is the S Corp owner who is a DIY payroll and tax person. Inevitably they had no idea of the ramifications of ACA on their own health insurance. A large percentage of those are not happy about me directing them to a local tax expert to clean up their mess... (Had three of these already within my first 30 minutes of opening for the day.) So far, only one is a one employee setup, and I still suggested they get at least annual outside advice...

If using the Windows methods to print (and few programs do not), programs can only make requests. Printer software and hardware may or may not offer the requested item, and in some cases, especially with a new model printer requiring new printer software, may not be coded correctly and fail. (The most common issue with printer software is handling the copy count correctly.) Personally, duplex is fine for file copies, but I do not use them for submitted items. The IRS is getting a bt testy if a form fails scanning. A badly printed/folded/smudged duplex is more likely to fail over a badly printed/folded/smudged single side printed. The cost of postage and paper is nil compared to a delay waiting for manual processing, or even a penalty for a non-scanable form.

Notes on the front of a check such as two signatures required, void after 60 days, etc. only matter if the check is presented to a teller who uses their vision. With Check 21, most checks are simply scanned. If there is some sort of scribble in the signature area, and something the machine can read for an amount, and a valid MICR line, it goes through. The likely issue is the account number is on the right of the MICR line, the signature had a tail which crossed the MICR line, and the scanner read the account number incorrectly, coupled with another customer at the same bank not watching their account to catch the error. Likely more prevelant with an optical scanner than a magnetic scanner.

easytax, If your question was for me, we do not offer a payroll "service". We offer payroll "software". We try to limit our assistance to the operation of the software, but do get asked about operating a computer, as well as questions on payroll preparation and reporting. Most of the ACA questions I am getting are based on "someone" telling my customer to alter the W-2. Since I am not in a position to give tax advice to my customers, I am doing mostly "steering" to information for the employer to refer to. I sometimes will add something along the lines of "while not specific advice for your situation, I might..., but I would certainly seek the written opinion of a local tax professional who backs their written advice with a written guarantee and E&O insurance." I also point out, if they are paying for a person/ company to manage/provide their health coverage, part of that payment likely includes advice on administering their plan, including proper reporting advice. The stories I could tell if this was not a public forum...