jasdlm

I just held for an hour and 7 minutes. After being given an ID number (in a very flat, disaffected tone), I was told I was being transferred to the 'correct department' (never had that one before). Immediately back into the same queue (I'm certain) and back on hold, only to eventually be cut off. This is INCREDIBLY frustrating.

Thank you all! I put $1 in box one and shipped it off. No state return affected. Same organization did her 2023 return and reported all income in all 3 boxes. I still think both year's W2s are incorrect, as I think the money was her living stipend, but unless/until she gets me her agreement, it stands as reported. Thanks again!

Thanks so much! I scoured the website and found examples of Box one with no Box 3 but not Box 3 with no Box 1. Hmmm.

Nothin in any box 12 or box 14. Hmmm.

I have a W2 for $2,700, but Box 1 is empty, and the SS and Medicare boxes each have $2,700 along with the relevant w/holding. Client (kid of a client) tried to do her own return last year, and it rejected, so brought to me. I think the W2 is incorrect. I've never seen a W2 with $0 in box 1 but amounts in 3 - 6. At the risk of making myself look ill-informed, what am I missing? In searching online, it seems that box 1 should have been completed, but not box 3 and 5, and it seems that the almost $200 fica/medicare withheld shouldn't have been withheld. Yikes! Do I need to give up my preparer's license? Thanks much.

I do a separate calculation for the Solo 401(k) and keep it in the work papers file. I then enter it in the 401(k) contribution line as shown above. I haven't found any way to do it through ATX, and the complication (some of my people don't earn tons of income and still have Solo 401(k)s) of the catch-up and checking whether there is any eligibility for an 'employer' contribution, and then one guy has a day job where he defers, so there's that calculation ... I just need a spreadsheet, and then I have backup.

Years ago, I used direct debit, and the IRS took the money twice. One phone call and they immediately acknowledged, but it took them 10 weeks to refund the 'double dip'. LONG ago, and I'm certain it's fixed, but I've never used it since. I have an instruction sheet with instructions for direct pay for Fed and State, and I pay a client who is retired to come in 4 times a year and phone all my clients who have estimated payments reminding them of the same. Clients love it, and it's a 'touch' in the off season time. I print vouchers when I do the tax return for folks who want to send checks, and we keep a spreadsheet of 'estimated payment' clients. My son is getting ready to go to college, and he says he's going to take over my business someday. When that happens (or when he changes his mind and I sell my business), he can move the estimated payment system into this century ... my retired client might be tired of making the phone calls by then ;).

When ATX barks at me about that, I just put a 0 in the employee contribution line (it will accept that) because the employee/employer contributions through the W2 (code W) all count the same, as mentioned above. Enter a '0' and the error will go away.

I do the same thing; dummy up a 1099 INT. I don't have any other ideas.

Have a client (on second vehicle now) who always buys the vehicle in the business and pays all expenses of the same every year through the business (vehicle is definitely not business use). I make a journal entry in the books every year moving the vehicle expense to owners draw. 14 years running. We never discuss it. Don't ask/don't tell. I'm not hiding it. The client does his own daily entries in QB.

I have one every year that smells incredibly strong ... like a jar of pickles. What the heck could that be? Definitely working from the scans on that deal, but my poor scanning staff!

AND could you ask it to explain to my clients why they have to carry forward part of their foreign tax credit when they didn't have to last year? (I mean, while we're askin')

PLEASE IGNORE ME. I'm an idiot, and I fixed it. Software user error. Sorry.

Hello. I have a weird situation this year. Long-term client has a farm in IA. Does not live in IA. Last year, he received a large Federal tax refund. The calculation on the IA 126 is coming up with 69% of his income as IA even though IA source income is about 1/6th of his total income (so taxable income in IA ends up being more than the source income). I can trace the numbers through with the large federal refund, and I know it's the same calculation as last year (but not so wonky looking because no large federal refund), but it's just not passing my 'sniff' test. Anyone have experience? I've read the instructions, and I think I'm doing it correctly, but it's going to be a difficult one to explain, so I just want to make certain I'm right. Thanks much!

If she converted the entire amount, then no penalty. I hope I'm understanding the question correctly.