Lion EA

I received a spreadsheet from Singapore this morning. It answered some questions and raised others.

Speedy recovery to you!

You take good care of us, Judy!

I worked for Block back then, but it was an IRS e-News/Alert/whatever in my email box at home that told me about the new PTIN. I jumped right on it and applied. Then I received a letter from Block that they would help us/make sure we all applied -- don't remember much, because I'd already done it for me. But, Block did make sure we were no longer using our SSNs.

I don't know if my CAF ever had a hyphen, but it has always had a space and an R at the end. I was divorced in 1987, so know that I don't have any returns from 1986 back. I kept everything from 1987 forward, because ex bugged me with custody and other issues for years.

The minute I read the e-alert or whatever IRS e-newsletter(s) I subscribe to about the PTINs, I applied: P00005XXX

I don't play poker, but what would five zeros beat?

My PTIN starts with four zeros before four other digits. Pretty low number!

I vote for NO incumbents! With the possible exception of someone local who I know did a really good job. State and federal, we need new blood badly.

If you start with mileage, you can change (but, it's a pain). If you start with actual, you stay with actual. Each vehicle is a choice for the owner. Until he/she owns a "fleet" of five or more, then the IRS takes away some choice.

Thank you, all. Think I've sorted the loose ends and am ready to proofread and get this one to signatures today. Or, at least, by very late tonight.

OK, the reg fee is the same amount for both cars, so a flat amount and not based on value. Great reminder, Edsel. Not deducting. Leaning toward the tax being a personal property tax, they are based on value, and deductible. Cars came down from CT and weren't purchased in SC and were 2014 and 2015 so not new in 2017. Tough to understand federal instructions re state taxes at times!

Clients moved from CT to SC during 2017. They paid property tax on their vehicles in CT. They paid tax on their vehicles in SC, and they paid out of state reg fees on their vehicles, stating it's a tax for new residents one time only. Are all of those SC taxes deductible on Schedule A as personal property taxes? While I have your attention, anything I need to watch out for on the SC PY return?

I know a septic system would be 27.5 depreciation for a residential rental if considered part of the structure, but 15 years if considered a land improvement. Pub 527 seems to say 27.5. Have you used your NATP free research question yet this year?

You Do have the best clients! This nice couple understands that my quote to them (can't remember what I wrote in their folder, and I don't think I saw CA at that time) is much higher than they had in the past. They came to me recommended by other clients with a very large invoice from me each year plus bills for the returns for their children, too. I don't expect any squawks from the newbies. Just very surprised at their prior preparer in NY. And, they want a projected 2018/paycheck check-up later, which I might invoice separately depending on what I end up charging for 2017. Plus, I'm warning everyone that my 2019 prices will increase due to the new tax laws. Yes, we are lucky when our clients appreciate our constant education and know we are taking good care of them and willingly pay our fees. And, recommend us to others. When they don't, I raise their fees until they leave! But, have been lucky to NOT do that very often.

CA does. But, I don't know much about it. The few CA returns I prepare are for fairly high income clients, those that transferred from NYC to CA or the other way; so they make too much to qualify for the credit or they purchased homes. https://www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/faq/ivr/203.shtml

Thanks, all. With a quick look, I thought these clients have to file CA, in fact, owe more to CA. But, quick is all the time I have this late in the season; and I know a lot of you are in CA or closer to CA to file more CA returns than I do. (My usual CA returns are PY with high earners, so of course need to file as PY residents.) Three states, a K-1, and high wages; prior preparer charged only $300 !!

His federal income is well over that; CA income is under. Not going to finalize CA until I finalize federal, but a quick look at their CA return so far shows they owe CA more tax which must mean they are required to file. Loving these last couple weeks with all my clients finally receiving their K-1s and revised 1099-Bs!

Thank you. That's the chart I found via AnswerConnect within my software. That helps that you read it the way I did, even though it's a post on the CA website and not a cite of CA law. I'm trying to get the federal return set and then go to CT, NY, and CA for these new clients. But, it looks like they'll owe CA and CT and will be behind on federal ES. Still waiting on their answers to my latest questions so I can finalize federal.

New, high-wages client, works in NY and resides in CT. Now that he brought me his last bits, I see that in 2017, for the first time, he worked in CA for a brief time. $2,664.20 with CA w/h of $1.71. Anyone know off the top of their head what threshold CA might have for filing or not filing? I have a couple CA clients, and I'd probably charge him $100 for that return and don't think he'll get his $1.71 back but probably owe more. Federal AGI well over $635,000. And, his prior preparer charged him only $300 for federal plus two states with investments and a K-1. I'm not doing a third state at this late date for peanuts!

Try that. In my ProSystem fx, prior to the deadlines, I can give a future withdrawal date that is not later than the deadline. After the deadlines, I cannot. I forget whether I have to leave the withdrawal date field blank or put in the transmission date. Try both !!

I think that's correct.

Print Pub 517 and highlight the relevant paragraphs for him to read.

When I chose Language from the IRS.gov menu, I was offered information in five languages besides English: Espanol, two with symbols that might be Japanese and Chinese, Russian (I know the cyrillic alphabet), and Tieng Viet with a lot of pronunciation symbols above and below the letters. I know preparers who use a translation app on their phones, but I haven't tried that for specialized vocabulary such as taxes.

A lot of IRS Pubs and Forms come in multiple languages. Perhaps you can download the relevant ones in his language. If a Pub, just give him the paragraphs that you need him to understand.