kathyc2

You can change from MFS to MFJ any time under normal amendment timeframe. Changing from MFJ to MFS has to be done before due date.

How is the saving account he parked the money in titled? If with rights to survivorship, I believe it passes to her regardless of not having a will. If the income between the 2 was significantly different, MFS will more than likely produce higher overall tax, especially if one or both receive SS.

Free advise often costs more than what you paid for it.

Personally, I'd be leery of scanning software that's from an unknown company. Who's to say they aren't capturing the info on the forms they are scanning?

I'm not understanding what part you are asking about? Pub 969 covers both HSA's and FSA's.

There are many different policies available on the marketplace. Some are HSA qualified, others are not. For 2022 the max deductible/out of pocket is 7,050 for single and 14,100 for family. Many times HSA is included in the plan name if it qualifies. Have them look on their insurance card to see about the name and deductible. If single and max out of pocket limit on the card is more than 7,050 then no HSA.

Do they each have their own policy? FSA isn't reported on return. As long as wife's policy is HSA qualified there shouldn't be a problem. Of course she will be limited to the self only contribution.

As long as the policy is HSA qualified. Most of the offerings around here have too high of a deductible to be HSA qualified.

Another option might be with a financial advisor. I've had a couple over the years offer me office space.

Correct. She can contact her bank to see if they can refuse payment similar to a stop payment on check.

My son set it up so I get texts on both phone and computer. If an android: https://support.google.com/messages/answer/7611075?hl=en Guessing Apple has something similar. Much easier to type with a full keyboard. If I need to keep it, I use snipping tool to save it.

Was the Mom the custodial parent?

Yep. I'd say I spend twice the time on a new return as a returning client. Looking over prior year for carry overs and obvious errors, needing to type and double check for typos basic info, depreciation if applicable, among other things. After allowing for things like death my retention rate is almost always over 95%, so I guess I'm doing something right.

IL resident received the $300 property tax rebate. Do I need to need to reduce the amount that was paid through escrow by $300 for the Sch ICR? Thanks.

But not if you limit NYC to Manhattan! It's pretty amazing how granular it gets. I don't live in any city limits and if I put in my township rather than nearest town is has my transportation costs as higher. Guess it realizes that I need to drive more to get to necessities like a grocery store than people who live in town!

I ran across this site years ago and find it quite interesting. I put in my town and Lion's Fairfield, CT. Her cost of living is close to double mine, so it make sense she should be charging double. https://www.bestplaces.net/cost-of-living/

Not at all contradictory. Who says H&R is market rate? My fees are almost always higher than non licensed preparers. Among one person CPA offices such as myself and EA's, sometime my rates are higher and sometimes lower. Like I said, I charge what I feel is fair. Your comment of I think so little of myself and saying I'm stupid in the post Judy deleted says more about you than about me. Peace out.

I have some low income clients with a lot more class than high income clients. Per form has always worked well for me. A lot of circumstances I'll give a discount off the set fee, and a handful get surcharge above the per form charge.

It's based on annual income. If AGI is below 400% FPL there is a flat dollar limit on amount that needs to be paid back.

I've always charged what I feel is fair to both client and myself. My fees are generally well below the national average, definitely less than the H&R's. I don't aim to be the lowest cost, just what I think is fair. The per form fee ended up at $322 which I felt was high so I discounted it by $50. Their kids are aging out, so I spent several minutes with them explaining what credits they will be losing over the next few years. After all that he wanted to know what to do to lower my fee!

It happens very infrequently, but it is does, it really throws me for a loop. MFJ- 1 state 3 w-2's, 2 1099R's, K1 from trust with capital loss so Sch D, small and simple Sch C, child tax credit, tuition credit (had to ask for 1098T even though it's on checklist), standard deduction. Would you charge: a) less than $250 b) between $250-300 c) more than 300 Curious minds want to know.....

If the house was jointly owned, she would have received at step up upon his death.

That is what the code D in OP would indicate. Non qualified annuities have their own rollover rules.

See if Pub 575 answers your question: https://www.irs.gov/publications/p575#en_US_2021_publink1000226849

So... after being on hold forever with SSA the agent sent me in the right direction. In certain circumstances, adult children can make a claim for last month SS benefit of parent via Form 1724 Claim For Amounts Due In The Case Of Deceased Beneficiary. This article describes the circumstance: https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/when-will-social-security-pay-deceased-persons-last-payment Not sure how your client received the payment without supplying his SSN. Since the money was after death, it would be income in respect of decedent same as if it were interest earned on a bank account after death. Since post 1997 new claims are not paid on the first of the month, I think this will become more common.