BulldogTom

Thank you. That seems late. Must be the extender bill that Congress passed that they need to test for. Tom Modesto, CA

Any announcement on the opening of individual efile yet? Tom Modesto, CA

Yes, ATX Max 2018 worked all of last year on the laptop. Tom Modesto, CA

Also, 2018 will not update on the laptop now. What the heck is going on? Tom Modesto, CA

I have ATX installed and working on tax returns on my desktop computer. But I am having all kinds of problems with my laptop. I could not log into ATX support using Edge, I had to go to Chrome to download the software. Got it onto the laptop, but now it will not update the forms or programs. Is there a setting in the software or Edge that is blocking the software from accessing the internet and updating at software open? Both my desktop and laptop are set up the same, so I am not sure what is going on and I really don't want to deal with ATX support if I don't have to. Any ideas on what to try? Thanks Tom Modesto, CA

Personally, I don't like the donor label at all. I wish it would go away. Not my site, so not my call, but I would not want anyone to feel uncomfortable that they are not a donor. I usually give one time per year, and when that label came about, it was a few months before I hit the button. I felt kinda weird as one of the regulars on the board without a donor designation. I believe Eric knows how I feel about him and his work, and I would be willing to give more if he ever asked. He hasn't, I give something every year, I have no idea how that stacks up to the giving of others and I don't care. Eric has my contact info and could PM me if he thought I was slacking on what I give, and I would not be offended if he did. He has never said what it takes to run the site nor made a suggestion on what each of us should give to keep it going. That is his choice and I respect it. Just my 2 cents. Tom Modesto, CA

My understanding is that if they are W2 income, they are eligible wages for 401K purposes. This is dangerous water your client is treading in. They should know the rules for the plan because if they don't, and some employee has a smart lawyer relative, it could get very expensive. If you are preparing their payroll, your E&O might be on the line if/when it comes time for depositions. Tom Modesto, CA

Santa could bring me a new driver too! One that does not come with a slice Tom Modesto, CA

I am hoping santa gets me a new router this Christmas too! I have a lot of woodworking projects that I want to get to. Tom Modesto, CA

Not this year, at least on the 1040. The 1120 and 1065 are going up. Tom Modesto, CA

That is true, but the point I was making is the case lays out a very detailed analysis of the factors the court looks at in determining a profit motive. There are lots of other factors, and just quitting when it did not work out is not the only thing the court looks at. If just quitting an unprofitable hobby...uh... business activity... was the determining factor, I could go try to be a professional skier for 3 years, then quit and say it did not work out, and get 3 years of snow skiing deducted. Tom Modesto, CA

Take a look at Whitehurst v Commissioner for a winning case from 2003. Professional Bowler. This is a TC Summary Opinion and cannot be cited, but it lays out pretty well what the TP needs to provided to get a win on these cases. Tom Modesto, CA

I do all my 1099's in ATX. Order the forms from Costco. Tom Modesto, CA

A real loss. Sorry to hear that. Tom Modesto, CA

Taxpayer has a small handyman business. He and his wife also adopted their great grandchildren because the parents were unable to care for them (prison). So they have income from SS and this small business. A couple years ago, CA instituted a state EITC. 2 years ago they changed the rules and allowed SE income to be calculated for the purpose of the EIC credit. We filed the return claiming the credit, and the state disallowed, requesting documentation on the business. The client responded with (you guessed it) all his receipts. FTB disallowed by sending a Notice of Tax Return Change - FTB 5818A ENS. They sent it to the client on Sept 9th. We got the notice from the client today. How long do I have to put his "bookkeeping" into a financial statement format and reply to this letter. Searching online and I can't find the answer. With the changes to the appeal process in CA, I am a little lost on the new procedures. I think I have 3 choices: 1. Put the information into an understandable format and reply to the letter 2. File a protest with the FTB 3. File an appeal with the OTA Any help would be appreciated. Tom Modesto, CA

Anyone want to share what they renewed at for MAX? I got the vm from my sales rep that he has a "great deal" for me this year if I renew. Last year I paid $1,674.49 for MAX. The renewal letter they sent me says this year is $1,841.40. I would be happy if it is the same as last year. I am really hoping there is not a 10% increase this year.

I think it is a reach. Just an off the cuff unresearched answer. He can't work as a PE without the education, and so the education gives him a new skill. I may be wrong. Tom Modesto, CA

I think I found it. There is a button that says "Unmute when answering incoming calls" and that button was turned to off. Thanks for the insight, it helped me find the issue (I think). Tom Modesto, CA

I am teaching a class and I am using Skype (because the class is all millennials). When I try to connect with them on Skype, they can hear me, and they can hear each other, but I cannot hear them. I have checked for the stupid stuff (like are my speakers muted) but I can't figure out why this is happening. When I looked on google for a solution, I did not come up with anything that seemed to work. Anyone know what I did wrong when I set up my Skype and how to fix it. Thanks in advance. Tom Modesto, CA

A family member of mine has asked if he can hire me to do the tax return of his brother's estate. Not a big deal. Good records, EIN applied for, stocks and property sales done timely. I can do this. Then he tells me the rest of the story. 3 months before the brother died, the client's estranged sister died. She left everything to my client's brother because she had a falling out with my client years before. But he did not live long enough to complete the duties of the executor of the estate. So no 1041 was filed for the sister's estate. There was the sale of a residence for 7 figures that I would guess the state of CA and the IRS will want to match up to a 1099S. My client knows that his brother got an EIN for the sister's estate. He also knows that his lawyer prepared a letter for the bank to allow the transfer of funds from the sister's estate to the estate of his brother. So here is the question...does my client have an obligation to complete the work that his brother agreed to do as executor of his sister's estate? Thanks in advance for your assistance. Tom Modesto, CA

Try this reply next time (ps, I saw something like this on a linkedin post). If I do a job in 3 hours, it is because I have spent 20 years learning how to do that job in 3 hours. You owe me for the years, not the hours. Tom Modesto, CA

I was looking for a financial series I had written for my church a few years back and could not find it on my current computer (Win 10). So I pulled my Win 7 machine out of storage and hooked it up. Nope, not there either. So I pulled out my really old Win XP machine. Shocked that it fired right up (but it took a while - gotta love that new SSD in my current computer). It was amazing that I could plug in my Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse and they worked perfectly with XP. I remember I never wanted to leave that operating system and only did so when there was no other choice. Found what I was looking for, but it was different to see that old operating system. And no, I did not connect it to the internet while I was on it. I have no idea if there are any boogey men out there just waiting for an XP machine to connect to the interweb thingy and steal all my old data, but I was not taking a chance. Tom Modesto, CA

Thanks for your comments, and I would love to come back to Tennessee. I really enjoyed my time there last summer. I was at the Coliseum for the game with my sons. It was sloppy on both sides. We have a new quarterback and I don't think he knows how to read progressions yet. Locked in on one receiver too many times. That was a winnable game for Fresno, but they just don't have the same talent they had last year. Feel sorry for the USC quarterback. Tough to go out for the season with a ACL tear in the knee in the first game of the season. Tom Modesto, CA

I have met you. Saying you are petite is generous. It is like saying a nuclear particle is small! I would have thought you shop in the young girls department....HaHa! Love you my sister from another mister. Just could not resist the chance to poke a little fun at your expense. Tom Modesto

So I needed to call Bank Of America to get a replacement card because I lost mine. OK, I shredded it accidentally but that is a different story. Anyways, I need to call the customer service department. What is the first question the computer asks? "What is your card number?" I don't know, because I am reporting it lost (shredded - different story), but luckily, after doing nothing on my keypad they shoot me to the next prompt that says "If you are calling to report a lost or stolen card, press 1". Now we are getting somewhere. "We are experiencing extremely high call volume. Your call will be answered in the order received." Time to play some solitaire on my computer. Missed two calls waiting for a live person. Finally get a live person (from TN...she said so when she answered, sorry @RitaB if you think I am making fun of your state). What is the first question the rep asks? "What is your 16 digit card number?" Me "I don't know. I hit the button to tell you that I need a replacement card. Maybe the computer did not tell you that when the call was routed to you." And here is the kicker...I kid you not....this came out of her mouth...obviously reading from a script..."Did you know you can go online to the BofA website and take care of this?" Me..."How do I do that if I don't know my card number?" Crickets.....then ..."oh, sorry about that, lets get you taken care of, what is your social...…" I just wanted to say "Here's your sign". Tom Modesto, CA