Lion EA

In my neck of the woods, that is seldom an issue. Parents spend a LOT on their kids, even the adult kids. So, I tend to forget the support test, or save it for last.

Can disability make an exception to the age test for qualified child?

My software does a great job with diagnostics. ProSystem fx. And, I pay half of what he does! In fact, some things it doesn't let me do without overrides from CCH, but those are really rare (maybe once in the last decade). I can look at diagnostics at any time without leaving data entry, get diagnostics at the beginning when previewing return, have even another set of planning and diagnostics this year over and above what I've always had. I actually save the diagnostics with my electronic copy so I know in the future what I looked at this year. I always test MFJ vs MFS and get lots of help from the software and a great comparison table that helps me see what would be lost/gained with MFS, not just the $ difference but how it gets there, and can adjust on the table for joint items that have some options. I can force standard or force itemized, but it will use that for both (unless I have a not-living-together situation with a child that would qualify for HoH). I spent 11 years at HRB and had great diagnostics in that software, too. If he was using his software to the fullest to help him split the MFJ return into two MFS, he should've had fairly accurate returns or at least warnings all over the place if he tried to force one standard/one itemized. He must've started at least one of the returns from scratch without benefit of his software's help. I won't comment on anything non-software! (Except to say that depending on the terms of your contract with him, perhaps you can have another preparer's contact info handy to refer your former clients to when they call.)

I apologize.

It was your fault !! Now I have an excuse to postpone my CO clients for a bit.

I tell my clients to find local newspaper listings of similar rentals and keep the papers in their tax folders. Of course, I recommend an appraisal first, at least by local realtors who deal with rentals. If the parents don't know the FRV, then they are probably NOT renting it for profit and that changes how you report it.

I have some clients with their statements. I also have some clients who seem to always get corrected statements in March or later, so I try not to let them file too soon. Never heard of Stifel Nicolaus, so can't add to what they told you.

One and only drug trial? I'd use Line 21 and warn her that she may get an IRS letter, to contact you for a response. But explain what the IRS will be trying to match, self-employment, and the tax difference. Let her decide.

New forms = new fees. You get to blame it on Obamacare and not your own desire to eat.

Your client should keep books for his business. 1099-MISC means nothing (unless it reports more than your client reports as income, then you have questions to ask your client). Report your client's income per his books on Schedule C and use Schedule SE.

Yeah, and it sounds like NY is not likely to change their mind any time soon. By the way, I said NY is one. NY is not number one. You're not one, though, Michael.

Hey, Gail. I tried again today. Same messages. But, I closed everything and was going to try downloading via IE when I noticed I have a Chrome Setup on my desktop. Clicked and it installed. I'm in the 64-bit now! I think it's faster.

Electronic Signatures Not Yet Approved: Delaware Iowa Maryland New York Oklahoma Pennsylvania Also, Louisiana and West Virginia have conditions (cannot be used when filing state only).

NY is one!

It's not a question of it being completely safe from everything. We know that is not the case at all. It's a question of us doing as much as we can in the perception of most of our clients and still doing our work and staying within the law of all the governments and agencies that have authority over us. I remember cleaning up a storm and fussing to my family about cleaning up before the inlaws arrived and being asked by my son why I even bothered since MIL was going to complain anyway; my answer was that I would know that I did my best in the time I had.

I live close enough to Catherine's state that I do have resident tax returns, NR tax returns, and people with no business at all there but might be picking up there emails while vacationing on the Cape (I gave it away!) so I really push for clients to use FileShare so I don't have to worry about as much.

I tried downloading the versions that had 64 bit after the name; and my current version does NOT. But, it tells me it cannot download the same version I already have!

Barnum said there's a sucker born every minute!

CCH eSign is a free license and $4 per verified signature (maybe $1 for UNverified). They send a review copy of the return and signature pages. Free license.

Rita, I hope you charged at least as much as the bad preparer. If it were me, knowing the client had been alerted by her banker of the bad preparation, I would assure her that we will do things right going forward and charge her a bit more than the last guy. And, quote her a bit more than the last guy charged for prep for me to amend his erroneous returns -- if she chooses. And, I know some preparers that would charge her a "set-up" type fee for 2015 only to get her Schedule E and depreciation schedules set up right.

And, there is a form when bringing in financial assets, 35XX?

Just about anything is OK for tax returns. It's the banks that need your physical location (and sometimes the secretary of state, that kind of thing, for identification), but I don't do bank products so use whatever my clients chose to use as their mailing addresses and e-file most returns.

If they're not in a community property state and have a multi-member LLC, then it defaults to a partnership. It can elect S- or C-corp. If it were a single-member LLC it would default to "disregarded" and file on 1040 Schedule E. If it had not organized as an LLC or any other entity in their state, they could be a qualified joint venture and use Schedule E, but they wouldn't have the liability protection. LLC is no substitute for good insurance, however. If in a community property state, wait until someone else jumps in.

I'm doing 941 for my very part-time employee. Long ago, I qualified for the 944. But, I thought changing would confuse our government. Sounds like I'm right. So, I'll continue filing 941. I have to file quarterly in CT anyway, so filing 944 wouldn't save me much. I'm listening to Deb.

I have a very smart (usually) very highly paid client who has been driving me nuts about her Form 1095-B that her HR department told her she needed but won't get for a few more weeks. Yes, we already e-filed. But, she's been with the same employer for years; and yes, I asked her if she had health coverage every month in 2015 and if there were any changes. I've explained to her three times since she got the HR email that all is well. Not to mention that when I acknowledged her e-file acceptance I included a paragraph about her receiving a new Form 1095-B later, that we already accounted for it, but to please send me a copy and put her original in her 2015 tax folder along with her W-2 and other tax documents in the pocket - all in writing to her days ago. She didn't remember anything I wrote her. She remembered the HR memo INcorrectly. Finally she reread the HR memo, and I resent her my earlier email. But, still another set of panicked concerns. We'll see if it's sunk in yet.