Lion EA

Explain the options to your client and let her decide. Make sure she understands that if she goes the 8919/SS8 route that the IRS may contact her employer and she may lose her job. She might not want to rock the boat. Installment agreement. ES payments going forward. MIght be an opportunity for you to educate wealthy family and their bookkeeper on how your state labor dept. as well as federal might view their disbursements -- for a consulting fee. Maybe pick up a new corporate cliet.

Any temperature ABOVE my age is HOT!!!

If a client asks for a copy for their bank, I send it to the CLIENT as masked. If they request one with the numbers showing, I would send that to the client. My software does print the last four digits of SSNs, bank accounts, EINs, etc., so I don't think anyone has requested a new copy with all digits showing.

I print numbers on government copies only. Numbers are on my file .pdf copies. Client copies have numbers masked. (I remember years ago at HRB, some preparer's client put their folder on top of their car and drove off. Never did find it.)

But, Rita B. has all the weirdest clients!

My newest is not all that new: HP LaserJet P2055dn. Oldest is starting to misbehave, but I no longer use it to print tax returns: HP color LaserJet 2050n. Used as a fax, scanner, copier, and not often as a printer: HP OfficeJet Pro L7780 All-in-One no longer communicates with my computer but works as a stand-alone receiving and copying. A client gave me his old HP OfficeJet 8500 Premier to replace my fax. Hubby still has my old HP 5610 and a PCL4 or something like that HP printer. Love all my HP printers. Prices drop all the time. But, you'll have it for years, so get what you want that fits your budget.

I give returns to the clients only. If I thought their leaving might be contentious, I'd have a cover listing the documents and ask for a signature, might do that with a divorcing couple too. And, if the client has "lost" their tax folder too many times, I might charge for duplicates. But, I've not done either of those so far. I give to the client to do with what he wants. But, their tax folder includes everything, so they really have no reason to ask me for duplicates.

AOC and LLC and business-related education. But, no Tuition & Fees Deduction, unless extended for 2017. Or, are you asking about 2018?

I guess I need to try voice. But, then I'll be one of those people walking around talking to themselves. Not to mention that most of my answers are not for public consumption. If I wouldn't stand in the checkout line answering aloud someone's personal tax question or wouldn't take a brief break at a client's biz site to call a different client with a personal answer, then I don't want to use voice-activated messaging to respond to my clients unless I'm securely in my office. As long as I'm in my office, I'll just email my responses. Except for that H&W who ONLY text !!

Well, 2/8 is just hours away. How's our fine Congress doing on keeping our government running? And, did they find enough time to discuss the Extenders? I just completed the returns for my stepdaughter and her husband. He's getting his MBA at night. Their refund would be $261 more if the Tuition & Fees Deduction is extended vs. the Lifetime Learning Credit. Any predictions?

I have a new client just like that, a young guy. I'm so tired of typing explanations on my phone. I have repeatedly asked him for an email address, so I can type on my keyboard. He only texts. He's married to the one earlier that sent her documents via Facebook Messenger pictures. I love email and hate telephone and office visits, but texting is becoming too time consuming.

So, as we're talking about electronic documents and I'm struggling with tech support at my church's bank (I'm assistant treasurer and was paying bills online when I was caught in a loop) a Facebook Message popped up with a picture of a bank statement with a deposit from the IRS and a picture of a check to CT. Now I need to learn yet one more new skill during tax season to do something with those tiny pictures so I can see them, save the, anything!

Trying the right click now. Still shows only what was in the body of the text, can't read what's not there. But, I can save it in the client's folder in my computer now.

Aww, my grandmother used to make apple butter. And, as far as that photo of the body, I prefer a death certificate.

But, they email me that photo in the body of the email and not as an attachment that I could work with. I can see only part of the page. Even an older woman who used to give me a cloth bag full of originals now snaps a photo on her phone and puts it in the body of an email to me. A new email for every page!

I hate the smartphone pictures. Shadows. Only part of the document shows in the email they send me. And, it has all the folds and creases and is at a weird angle. I have to contact them to find out what's in the other boxes. Not to mention that I suggest they NOT use email but use the portal I provide them or fax. I used to send semi-retired hubby to pick up from some of my elderly clients who don't drive in winter weather and are not computer savvy, but now it's the young texters that I send him after to get real paper copies instead of those poor pictures.

I typed "nondeductible" in error when I meant "nonrefundable." A student who can be claimed by his parents cannot get the refundable AOC, but he can get the nonrefundable AOC if his parents do not claim him. Again, this doesn't appear to be the OP scenario, but it is something to keep in mind as we prepare returns for our clients and their college students. If the parents can take the student's dependency exemption, but do not, then the student cannot take his own exemption, but is able to take the nonrefundable [nondeductible = typo] part of AOC if qualified.

That's why I asked if I have the choice to use a blended rate and do not have to segregate my IL income by date.

Good news for me! Thank you.

Gives a whole new meaning to Group Hug...

ProSystem fx has IL Sch SA. Do I get to choose between the SA and the blended rate? I have IL farmland, and sell my crops in the fall, usually.

And, CT lowered the max credit yet again.

If the parents can take the student's dependency exemption, but do not, then the student cannot take his own exemption, but is able to take the nondeductible part of AOC if qualified. You do need to run the numbers to see what gives the best result for your clients. In the OP, there would not be any AOC for anyone unless the student can use the scholarship for items not eligible (I've had students who were refunded the excess scholarship funds by their colleges); then it could matter whether or not the parents claim the student.

I don't use ATX, but I'd sign up for Abby's class at Rita's office!

If the student takes the scholarship as taxable, does she have a tax liability? Does it save the parents any tax to take the AOC? Run the numbers to see what gives the family as a whole the lowest tax liability. Let your client decide if they want the best outcome for the parents or the family unit.