Max W

@Frog I like your dialogue. Sounds like the beginning of a short story. Perhaps, "Applachian Tax Cheat"

Don't Schwab and TDA issue pages detailing the date and amount of dividends paid? This would confirm that were two divs paid.

In CA, still accepts those deductions that were eliminated on the federal return. some other states may do the same.

I gave up on organizers long ago. However, if they are a Sch C, I send them a work sheet. This works out well most of the time. I did have one client that entered their Gross Sales to include his UI ($27K) and his wife's W-2 ($50K). I questioned him o how he came up with his numbers and that's when it came out. No harm done.

The clients have to be Green Card holders for at least 5 years, so they can't apply for citizenship until then. I would not be concerned about last year's return, but would be sure to file the MFS, or MFS from here forward. The citizenship process takes a long time, averaging 15 months. If they have only been here one year, then by the time they apply , they should have the last three years showing them as married.

Apparently, from the OP there are no records. I wonder if her phone was checked, if she had one. It could have a calendar and other info. all of this is for naught as the son is reluctant to cooperate.

@Christian It doesn't matter when the child was born as long as it lived with the parent for half the time it was alive. Even if born on Dec. 31, it is considered qualified for both credits. Enter 12 months in the software and forget about a paper return. How long it was in the womb counts for nothing as far as the credits. This is just overthinking.

I both parents file electronically, the first one in wins, as the second one will be rejected. The same ITIN can't be on more than return. If the return is paper filed it would most likely generate an audit letter. The best thing to do is to file right away, so the ex's return gets rejected. Then burden of proof will be on him.

The 2020 has to be filed by May 17 of this year to claim the credit.

I've been using it for 3 years and am very satisfied with it. It also offers KBA for electronic signatures at $1.16 for each document and not each sig. This means only $1.16 for MFJ 8879 with two sigs. This offers the advantage of having both signers sign the 8879 even though they are several thousand miles apart.

The client should just file the Turbotax return. Whatever she paid will be credited to her. It doesn't matter what is on the return. I have seen this with a few self-prepared returns where the estimated payment amount on the return was incorrect.

Also, bear in mind that the preparer should advise the client of "Reasonable Compensation". Failure to do so could result in a $5000 penalty for each year involved.

20 minutes is just too long for a survey.

And the IRS just hired him to write tax regs.

A copy can be gotten at ssa.gov. You will probably have to set up an account.