ILLMAS

Our area has been in a deep freeze for a while now, it was so cold they canceled the polar plunge.

How are you dealing with the weather?

I didn't receive the actual software CD, just a piece of paper with the installation code and I had to download it from myatx.com, but I was expecting a package like in prior years.

Even though this will be covered heavily on the news, it will be a good idea to start notifying payroll clients about the upcoming change in general so they can let their employees know. Our state changed its withholding rate mid-year this year and a couple of clients called that I had made a mistake on the employees payroll.

Thanks for the laugh Rita, this is also a true story. When Timmy was in grade school the teacher ask him to solve a problem on the board, what is 2 + 2=?, Timmy went up there and wrote 4, the teacher said correct. All of a sudden a little girl named Mary raised her hand, the teacher called on her, what is it Mary, the correct answer is 2, the teacher baffled said, how is 2 + 2 = 2? Mary responded by saying, my mother said to only believe half of what boys say. Well Tim now as an adult came to see me this week, he had his own assessment on a couple of IRS billed he had received and somehow he was trying to convince me left and right that the IRS made a mistake and he did not personally (trust fund penalties for a couple of years) owe any money because it was the corporation who should owe the money. I still think Mary was right.

This topic just comes in a perfect time, a client sent me a copy of a notice they received today, according to the notice, they have an X amount of credit because they have not received their Form 944. I called the IRS right away, come to find out I do not appear as a third-party designee on any filed payroll tax forms for 2016 , this doesn't bother me, a simple POA could fix this, what bothers me, is that my client has never filed a 944, their payroll is significant, plus they have over 10 years of filing 941/940's and the agent could not help me over phone and recommend I put everything I told her in writing and to mail it in.

Found it, I never opened the package with the Master Tax Guide until today.

Has ATX 2017 been released yet?

Thanks

Is the IRS currently accepting business/exempt tax return? Also, when is the expected date to start e-filing individual (I have some prior years) returns?

This doesn't surprise me, I remember when credit card companies would sell customers telephone numbers during the era of telemarketing. Now for your enjoyment, people taking revenge on telemarketers: Now

This is probably a dumb idea but it has worked in the pass, call the IRS on two different telephone lines, you have a 50% chance of one getting picked up first. Do not attempt this gimmick if you only have access to one telephone line, believe me it won't work for you.

What you recommend for submitting 941's electronically, QB or MAX? Also, do you have to register to use the service in either?

Did your number match to what they have on file?

If you cant beat them, join them. How about having a disclaimer for your clients like most audit representation engagement letter have: NO PREDICTION OF RESULTS ALTHOUGH WE WILL USE OUR BEST EFFORTS AS CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS FOR THE CLIENT TO REPRESENT THE CLIENT IN ACHIEVING THE MOST FAVORABLE POSSIBLE RESULT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, WE MAKE NO REPRESENTATION OR PREDICTION THAT ANY GIVEN RESULT WILL OCCUR AS A RESULT OF SUCH EFFORTS. One can add, I am not responsible for the time it takes to resolve/close the case due how the IRS/Taxpayer Adovcate works..... Client signs the engagement letter and the wait game begins.

I bought the version you don't have to renew, Office 365 requires a subscription if I am not mistaken.

Has anybody ever amended an 1120S that had no activity, later to find out it did have activity? TP was planning on reporting on Sch C because the business was being operated as a SE business but now has a change of heart. What explanation can be used?

I received a package about two weeks ago, I have not opened it yet because the package felt like books.

Even before Trump "build the wall" slogan there was no way your client spouse would be a candidate for papers as you feared, it's easier to buy an assault rifle then an immigration judge to give the okay.

State of IL went after funeral homes for not itemizing the receipts, apparently some funeral homes were charging over $2K for clothing and accessories and they were not collecting sales tax.

No worries, I am jokester myself. Did you hear about the man that wanted to stop talking to his wife? He loaned her money and never heard back from her.

Illigitimas, did you mean to say illegitimate

I've been on this forum for close to 10 years now, and it seems most don't touch payroll preparation with a 10-ft pole and other charge a fee that makes it worth it. For those that charge a hefty fee, what is the minimum you are willing to charge for a small employee company?

TP is a property manager, no vehicle is provided by employer, manages 15+ building with over 250 units has to drive back and forth to pick up keys from the office and is probably unhappy because he is on call after hours for emergencies.

I believe someone here posted a case about a CPA or accountant that argued his client was a had a substantial increase in salary every year after his client was fined for not having a reasonable salary. If I remember, the person was making 20K as supposed to $200K, so the accountant would significantly increase the salary by $5K a year, that is a huge increase for someone making $20k lol.