Lion EA

CCH's eSign is IRS compliant and compliant with all states except NY that does not accept any electronic signatures. But, I have clients that fax me 8879s or shove them through my mail slot... (Although, the last two using my mail slot signed them on the hood of their car in my driveway, so I watched them through my window!)

Thank you, ETax.

In 15 minute increments?

It's not on my instructions to clients, but I have some young ones who text me everything. This year, even more of that from clients without printers. I have a very old iPhone 6 (Plus or whatever the larger one is) and you can touch the picture, touch the icon that looks like a square with an arrow coming out of it pointing up, touch Mail, and type in your email address. Of course, I delete it from my iPhone and my computer email after saving in that client's file on my computer. I still keep a paper folder of 8879s/W-2s each year.

I hate the texts, because they are a pain to print, usually too dark. But, any method that keeps them out of my house, keeps paper they touched out of my house!

I use CCH's eSign. Or, for my NY commuters, I upload to FileShare on my website; client returns via scan/upload or fax or snail mail or, if local, sometimes through the mail slot in my front door.

You, too. While I have your attention, and you being from IL, the most recent CCH chart has IL not postponing their deadline, remaining at 15 April. Is that the latest? I have an IL farm so file an IL NR return. I usually file our returns after all my paying clients, but do need to get an extension in the mail with a check if the deadline is still 15 April. (As of last year, anyway, I could not efile an IL extension for an NR return.)

There are Traders who are a business, but there are hoops to jump through, such as declaring a year ago and mark-to-market at year end. But, the fact that this is his IRA and deferred to retirement would make his trades NOT current income. So, he has no current income, Schedule C or Schedule D or otherwise, to deduct any current expenses. NO.

The due date for 2016 was 14 April 2017 or if extended 15 October 2017. You can file a late return at any time. But, you cannot get a refund later than 3 years after the original due date or two years after a payment. If you are filing a 2016 return in hopes of a refund, 15 April 2020 is most likely your final chance.

It's those peripheral functions, such as PTIN, FOIA, etc., that seem to call. The IRS for income tax related issues does not initiate contact via telephone. I've had IRS call after an issue is being worked on via mail, email, etc. (I did have a treasury agent knock on my door at 7:30 am one year; I wish he'd called. Scared my husband.)

I heard there will be a credit available on the 2020 federal return. We'll reconcile that credit with any amount received by check. If so, there should not be a decrease in a refund or an increase in balance due, just get him back to where he should be -- but with $1,200 or whatever amount in his pocket this year instead of waiting until he files his return. (Unless a client is expecting a credit when he already received a check! You know we'll get some of those.)

I ignored a phone call that my carrier identified as "SPAM! US Gov." But, they left a message, so I listened to it. It was a nice lady calling in response to my FOIA letter to get a list of my POAs. She thought she was missing the copy of my driver's license/identification. I called her back and had her tell me what she received; she found everything she needed in all the pages I'd already faxed in. I received my POA list in the mail. Sometimes the government DOES call us!!

Rita, you don't need help. You already give hugs! Like Tom says...

Check your PTIN renewal letter, both for your number and for a possible phone number to the PTIN unit.

Tell the client to call, unless you get paid to wait on hold. And, the client will need to set up her new date on DirectPay. Or, at least, I don't think we're supposed to be on DirectPay for someone else.

Have wife call OPM. Depending on his age before he passed, number of years retired, husband might've used up his basis.

The partnership does not own the building. Yet.

Just did a CO return where liquor stores and marijuana dispensaries are essential services.

Prayers to all of you and your families. When family things (and that includes pets) hit during tax season, it adds hours to our busy days. Venting here is a sanity saver for me many, many times; so I hope it works for all of you as well. Where else can we vent to people who are in the same boat, or at least understand from times when they were in the same boat? The new regulations coming almost daily keep us busy reading and answering phone calls (can I just record a message that says, "It hasn't been voted on yet; we don't know yet."?). Usually Hubby would be down at the church for hours each week practicing and meeting and directing choir practice plus teaching piano lessons; now he's home and shoving his tablet in my face to show me the latest video with liturgical music I don't even understand. I would send him to get signatures and deliver tax folders, but now I'm doing everything electronically and won't even send him to the PO to mail folders until it's safe to stand in lines again. But, he's a sweetie and cooks dinner and cleans what I ask him to for me. And, I'd be talking to myself (I still do) if he weren't here. I'm not getting a lot of returns filed so am glad I have until 15 July without having to utter the word Extension to my clients. Stay home or, at least, locked down; stay safe; and stay healthy! And, talk to us all to keep us sane. Thanks, all, for being here with me.

At least people can go into work Tuesday morning to grab files, laptops, clean food out of the office frig, put a sign on the door, forward phones, etc.

...Notice 2020-18 and other current announcements...

Prayers are going out now and continuing. Thankful his hospital had a ventilator available for him.

Just the COVID-19 forum! It's snowing here. I think I'm in the twilight zone.

It seems that is still 15 April, but we're all awaiting clarification. The current announcements included ONLY income tax return filing, income tax return payments, and 1Q estimates payment. SEP has always been 15 October if filing an extension to 15 October.

Are those two things connected?!