HV Ken

We bought the Fujitsu fi-6130 high speed scanner. I love it. My only regret is that we did not get a network capable scanner so I could install and use paperless plus on more than one computer. For me as I venture into the world of "paperless", the jury is still out on Paperless Plus.

Thanks TaxCPANY. Am I missing something? I don't see an attachment?

Hello Community, Sorry I haven't been active here this season - we have had personal problems (two deaths in the family) and we are busy (busiest season ever) and find ourselves somewhat behind in processing our client returns. Which leads me to my post. Does anyone have an agreement they use to bring on a per diem (ghost) preparer? I am in need of some help and want to bring a person on, but want to protect my client list, etc. Would love some sample agreements to look at that someone else already has in place. Thanks! HV Ken

ATX TV Host Ben Cleary put together a 7 minute video summary of the ATX Customer Advisory Board trip from October 2011. If you watch the video, HVKen is one of the featured interviews! http://www.atxinctv.com/presentation.asp?asx=2011-10-21-ATX.asx&

Thanks for the comments so far. If you are not aware, on myatx.com there is an forum specifically for enhancements: ATX Online Community Center » ATX Online Communities » Enhancements Those posts are monitored by ATX staff.

For the second consecutive year, I have been asked to participate on the ATX Client Advisory Board. During the first week of October, I will be traveling to CCH headquarters in Kennesaw, GA for a live meeting with the top ATX decision makers and other selected users that make up the CAB. As a long time ATX user, I have my list of issues, and from the state perspective I can talk about NY. If there are certain issues that you would like me to voice, please post them here or send me a private message. Don't bother with the print manager - that is already top on my list! In addition to problems you would like to see addressed, suggestions for improvement are also welcome and encouraged. Thanks!

And pre-tax amount on W-2 needs to be less than maximum benefit allowed. You forgot that one!

Question withdrawn....

** Never mind ** Read through Chapter 8 in Pub 970 to figure it out. Turns out in their case the IRS is only partially correct.... ** Client received a CP2000 for tax year 2009 claiming the Earnings on their 1099-Q are to be reported as taxable income. Their 529 did well - earnings of $4806 and $4189 on gross distributions of $15000 each. All of the money withdrawn from their NY 529 plan was used to make payments for college expenses. The CP2000 for this is incorrect ? Has anyone else seen this ? Thanks.

The secret compartment of my ring I fill With an Underdog super energy pill

I also appreciate the help and camaraderie. I had some new issues never faced before and knew I could count on others here to help. I do feel a little bad that I did more taking than giving this season, but we found the time needed for "returns" to be greater this year - there is so much pain out there - loss of loved ones, elder care, kids moving back home, unemployment, divorce, robbing from retirement plans, etc. - I think we need to create a sign that on one side says "tax prep" and on the other side says "counseling" and then flip it during the interview/closing. And we can charge $100/hour when the counseling side is showing! HA HA

Thanks for the link, and congrats on the story!

It's not, that's why you help them to file correctly with an amended return and hopefully win a new lifetime client thanks to your knowledge and superior service! Scenarios like these have become some of our most loyal clients and source for new business thanks to their referrals because they so appreciated our taking the time to educate them and fix their mess.

I don't understand the sentiment "doesn't that admit the previous one was totally incorrect". Isn't this what an amended return is for? Fixing retuns that are incorrect. Fixing returns upon the discovery of new information. Etc. For example, we fixed two returns that were filed incorrect (well, more than that, but just these two for this discussion). Return 1 the filer used TurboTax - divorced in 2010 - filed HOH because ex (custodial parent) gave him dependents via 8332. We had to amend to make Single. Return 2 the filer used a relative who files taxes for friends and family - divored Dec 2010 - filed MFJ. We had to amend to make Single (no kids in this case). The most typical case we run into is when the college student dependent child runs out with their few thousand W-2 to H&R Block for free filing, claiming their own dependency exemption, thus costing the parents their dependency exemption, college credits, etc.

Thanks Marilyn, Her CPA e-mailed my client the following: Your preparer may be interested to know that you are not required to report any of [her] income if she does not disclose it to you. That is an exception to Wisconsin’s marital property laws. I don't see that exception in the pubs I've been reading, but I agree just keeping it all separate makes things easier. But if that's the case, what's the point of a community property state???

So it looks to me that he adds in half her income up to the date of divorce and subtracts half his income up to the date of the divorce. Do I just place those figures on: Line 4 - Other Additions, item 29 Differences in Federal and Wisconsin Reporting of Marital Property (Community) Income and Line 11 - Other Subtrations, item 32 Differences in Federal and Wisconsin Reporting of Marital Property (Community) Income ?? Also, he paid ALL the mortgage interest and real estate taxes for the entire year, and she lives in the house. Does he still get the entire amount on his return, or is this also reduced by half up to the time of divorce, etc.? Thanks!

Hi, I am helping a close friend who lives in WI (I live in NY) that got divorced 10/14/2010. I am not familiar with how a community property state works, as none of the states where I live are classified this way. His Federal return is Single with 2 dependents that his ex released via 8332. He has a six figure income and was the primary bread winner in the marriage. I am reading through Pub 109, and am seeing things like: * Divorced taxpayers. You are still jointly and individually responsible for any tax, interest, penalties, and fees due on a joint return filed before your divorce. * Divorced spouses. An absolute decree of divorce ends the marital community. When the marital community is ended, the marital property assets are divided between the spouses. Any income earned after the marriage ends is taxable only to the spouse to whom it belongs. However, each spouse is generally taxed on half of the marital property income for the part of the year before the marital community ends. and realize I could use some help filing this WI return out properly. ATX created the "WI 1" return as Single and doesn't appear to be taking any of this community property stuff into consideration??? Would any WI (or other community property state) preparers be willing to give me some guidance? If it is easier over the phone, you could private message me your number and when I can call. Thanks!

Thanks - that confirms the conclusion I reached!

Thanks all for the comments. I think I chose a bad choice of terms - by opting in, what I meant was going back to work with withholding outside the church to get her final credits. Two questions: 1) Can the church pay her on a W2 with withholding this year? 2) Can she take a second non-church job and receive both a W2 from the church with the opt out and also a W2 from a part time job with withholding? Thanks!

Minister tax client who has opted-out of Social Security for several years, now realizes she wants to opt back in. Prior to being a minister, she did have a traditional job so she has money paid into the system, but apparantly she needs "7 more credits". Anyone have an idea where to look to find out the specifics on the process to opt back in? @MAMalody: Is this something you have any experience in?

Love it!!!!!

Don't forget to take advantage of the new Enhancements forum over at myatx. The more people that post and comment on their official enhancements page, one would hope the more weight it will have.

On the Asset Entry tab, go to Global Settings. There you can select the appropriate election, which will then also pull in the Elections tab with the appropriate election selected. Did I use the words select, appropriate, and election enough times in that sentence to confuse you???

Thanks Grace - it was a great help. And I still have questions! Pub 361, page 10 has this example: Example: A servicemember from Georgia is ordered to active duty in New York State. The servicemember’s spouse accompanies him/her from their home in Georgia to New York solely to be with the servicemember. The spouse obtains employment at a neighborhood store. The spouse is not considered a New York State resident and the income the spouse receives is not subject to New York State tax. I read this example to say that the spouse's NY wages is not subject to NY tax. Q1: If this is true, do we not even file a NY return at all? She had merely $7 of NY withholding on her W-2. Q2: And if we do not file a NY return, won't NY be looking for a return and send them a letter since her employer reported NY withholding? I also see on the NY IT-203 the M2 2-character special condition code, which also seems to apply to the spouse's circumstances, if I am interpreting TSB-M-10(1)I, Military Spouses Residency Relief Act correctly. But this M2 code doesn't seem to have any effect on the IT-203 return and it is calculating a small NY balance due. Thanks for another round of guidance!

Thank you Grace and KC for the pointers in the right direction!