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Am I supposed to be sad that fewer and fewer clients will be harassed by improperly trained IRS agents? My guess is there will be more mail in audits with 100% dis allowance that will require more of our time responding to a phantom agent on the other side.

No, I will always check the box. However, this year, they are saying that we will have very limited contact resources as well. I do accept responsibility for having prepared the return and checking the box has made explanations much smoother many times.

Or with this conservative congress.

As a reminder, I turned tail and ran after the ATX 2012 fiasco, which in a large way contributed to my now walking around with a piece of titanium in my chest that goes thump thump thump. I used ProSystem fx Access (another CCH product) last year and although it is billed as a "cadillac" package, I was not all that impressed. So after some thorough analysis and study of the 2013 and early 2014 ATX package, I have decided to return for another go. So far I like what I see. It is going to be a very long season though, I feel. And gratefully, with anticipated limited software issues. Anyway, it is good to be back. I was back to the Doc for my pacemaker checkup yesterday and he was surprised that my battery life is down to 3.5 years (having been initially implanted just 15 months ago). So he reduced my heart rate (I am 100% dependent on my pacemaker) by 5 beats per minute and a very unexpected consequence of that move is that I can not get warm today. I guess this too shall pass. I look forward to working through this season with you folks. Have a Great Weekend! We will be here part of the day tomorrow working on payroll reports and take Sunday off. We will work on payroll reports and 1099's until the end of the month by which time I expect you all to have ALL of the bugs worked out of the software. Later Ron

This is the reason I worked for 3 1/2 years to achieve my Enrolled Agent status. The IRS cannot tell me that I cannot discuss the return with me now. Before, even with 2848 & 8812, I was stonewalled. Especially prior years. NO MORE!! 2848 now give me the authority to talk to IRS about anything on the return. I am not sure how to handle the extra time involved to contact the IRS about a client. Contemplating - If it is an issue that is caused by careless or irresponsible action of the client, I will bill for the time. If it is caused by the IRS, I will also bill the client. Of course, if it is due to me or my actions in any way, I will not charge. I am quickly becoming hardened about moving the costs of these things to the client.

irs allows it but at least here in NY they specifically ban the separate charge. When it first came out and was voluntary NY didn't want anything that would discourage a taxpayer from efiling. I added 50-75 to my fees since I now have to clear stupid diagnostics, send a draft then eventually the final return to client, chase them for signatures, chase them for signatures, chase them for signatures, chase them for signatures, etc. And since they email or fax the authorization, I have to call and remind them that my invoice is in the folder.

Mom was right. The written and spoken word can be misconstrued easily. I have had occasions to edit a post (as in correcting) Otherwise, if I said it; I think I have to own up to having said it. In most cases, the post will be long gone in a couple of days. If not, own up or have big enough shoulders to accept criticism. IMO

The IRS is itself political so it is impossible to comment on the subject without being political. All talk on the subject of taxes has now become political with this liberal administration.

I found this site with a complete listing of extension requirements for the States. http://www.irs.com/articles/state-tax-extension-information

I am glad people are coming back to ATX as I predicted it. Nice to have you back and I hope you have a nice 2015.

I have typed so many more posts than I have ever posted. Sometimes, once I have it typed I decide it contributes nothing worthwhile to the discussion and does not need to be added. The easiest way to delete is to never post. Once posted, I don't think I have ever had any reason to go back and delete the post particularly.

In considering whether posters should have the ability to hide or delete their posts, perhaps we need to discuss why this would ever be necessary if we follow Mom's rule. If people here are willing to give their reasons why this is an important function, the decision may be easier for you. For what it's worth, only one other of my current forums allows editing of posts, and that is only until someone responds after, and then editing is no longer available. There have been no other forums that I've ever been involved with that allow hiding or deletion of a post once it is made. One reason that comes to mind of why forums do not allow hiding or deleting is to avoid flouncing. You'd think it wouldn't happen on professional forums, but it does.

CT doesn't have credits, well not much. They did add EIC a couple of years ago. Wish they had not.

It's great to see you back on here, Ron!

Glad to have you back Ron. My husband had an ICD implanted in 2007 and we are forever grateful. I'm glad that his battery has lasted longer than yours. It was changed at five years and paces him 100% of the time. I'm happy that you are doing well.

So good to see you back! You are a great asset and friend to the rest of us.

Or at least seven, because Gail and I spot our own errors at six minutes like clockwork.

Judy, I don't think this is a subject that can be discussed without recognizing the political angle that is an integral part of everything Treasury does and says. I agree it should not devolve into a political thread, but what you are asking is a bit extreme.

I can almost always fold a form to a window envelope. Sometimes I use a sticky-note to hold it in place.

Only 48 states to go. I've been waiting patiently here all day...

Then don't post the political portion. It is IMPOSSIBLE to separate the actions of the IRS from politics. Excuse me for calling it like I see it.

I agree we need to keep discussing this issue so we ALL have a better understanding. It is important to note that for me, when a question arises that I need help with, this is the first and usually the final place for me to get answers. All of the collective research, knowledge and professionalism displayed here makes this one of the most valuable tools we have. Thanks to all involved.

On, December 15th, 2009 client bought a house and used it as his primary residence on the same day. On June 15th, 2012 he moved out and rented the house. He claimed depreciation on the house and on December 15, 2014, he sold the house after being rented for 30 months. Cost of the house: 400K FMV at the time the house was converted to rental 400K. (Meaning that he house didn't increase in price while he lived there) House sold for $845K (Meaning that the price of the house went up while being rented) He changed the roof on the house and it cost him 20K Depreciation allowed or allowable 30K. How much of the gain can he exclude? I have not done any of this using ATX and I would like to know what forms to use and how the gain is reported and where. Thank you to those who are not afraid to give the correct answer and also to the ones who are not afraid to give the wrong answer.

I made some changes to the forum a few days ago.   There is a time limit on how long you can edit your posts.  If you notice mistakes, you can edit your posts to fix them for 5 minutes after the post is made.  I figure we'll try this out for a while, if the time limit needs to be modified, we'll eventually work it out based on feedback.   Second, instead of deleting your own posts, you can hide them.  It's actually not that different than before, since deleting posts didn't actually remove them permanently, just stuck them in a recycle bin of sorts.  Either way, they become invisible to members.   Both of these changes are to discourage extensive editing/deleting of posts which turns entire threads into swiss cheese.  Sometimes the threads don't make any sense anymore because it looks like people are responding to posts that don't exist.   If anyone has any issues with this, this is the place to talk about it.

Only in calories do zero's not really count. We were all taught 0, 1, 2, 3, etc. with 0 being zero and less than one (does NOT apply to checks or money owed to me) Therefore if one would munch on say 3,000 calories then you do not need to count the zero's --- therefore it is just 3 calories !

Me too. I rarely have to call in, but it did work for me with the IRS ... once.

I check the box. Once in a great while, it has let me talk to someone -- usually in a STATE, though. Go figure.

This has been my experience for the past 4 years. Even then, unless you are an EA, CPA or Attorney, they will not discuss the return with you. This is the driving force for acquiring my EA. I am also considering having every client sign a 4868. Keep them in their file, then when an issue arises, I simply fax the form. Saves time, trips and playing phone tag.

I check the box. Does not make any difference. In 13 years, when I call, they want a 2848. "I checked the box!" doesn't that count? No. Reality. I Bill them for waiting on hold. Rich

I always check the box as well. I do take responsibility for the returns that I prepare. To me it is only fair to the client.

Oh dear! Deb, I'm sorry to hear about your eyesight and glad I could help, if only in this small way.

Michael, In the fall of 2014, I closed with my bank, Capital One, on a re-fi. There is NO WAY I would pay for another appraisal. If you are dealing with a major bank, chances are the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. I call my experience "the re-fi from hell", and now that my payments have started, nothing is any better. Hope you aren't dealing with my bank! You might want to mention to someone at the bank that you are contemplating contacting your state's banking commission (or financial commission) to check on the legality of requiring the second appraisal in 2 to 3 weeks.

Anyone who wants something edited after the time limit can always PM Judy or me for help fixing those typos that confuse.

I also have the Lisa Ihm/BrassTax booklet for $20 on my desktop. I've attended her seminars on other topics and like her a lot.

Nothing new for DE for 2014, so the count is down to 44, or less if we take out those states that don't have an income tax return to file. The better research programs should have a section that includes each state's instructions that generally include "What's New" that is a good place to start when handling those state returns we do infrequently.

That's right, e-filing is not all strippers and burritos despite the talking points. And don't forget the chasing for signatures.

This was recommended to me and I bought. Only $20. http://brasstax.com/3115%20Booklet.htm

I just love it when they say 'request free trial' and don't tell you anywhere how much it's going to be for the paid version.

So what was the answer? I believe the military requires over the top but anyone who ever owned a cat knows to hang it under the back.

Well if nobody provides feedback as to why it's important to be able to hide their own posts without the help of a moderator, I'll disable it and wait to see if there are complaints.   As far as editing goes, I believe the only configurable option I have available in that area is a time limit.

Maryland has a lot more Debits... Rich

This is crazy, my first client of the year, drops off his bookkeeping for me to do. I started working on the tax return right after I finished his bookkeeping. Asked him 3 simple questions just to get a better estimate of his tax due/refund. One of which was if he had health insurance this year and where did he get it. This was not a client I thought would be on the exchange. But there he is. Let me know right away that I can make no assumptions about my clients this year. Tom Newark, CA

Marie, If you are creating your efile on ATX for a client, there was a recent post on the ATX Board about this. The ATX Customer Care response was to enter zeros in your EIN field and it should go thru.

I had a mis-match last year between envelopes and printed copies. I used address labels over the window sections so that no ssn's were visible and a full address *was*.

I assume that if we notice a glaring grammatical error 6 minutes after we post, we can still beg one of the moderators to fix it for us. Usually I notice them as I hit post, but you never know.

On the same topic: http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/taxes/prepare-for-devastating-tax-season-irs-watchdog-says/ar-AA8bCMR?ocid=mailsignout ,.. I'm glad I had already decided "no new clients...except for the simple ones"....."raising rates for everyone".....and "not doing anything complex for current clients" (new complexities only). I have a footer on my e-mail for everyone...about rate hikes.

And just in case you need a laugh, I offer you this:

If the IRS will clean up its own house, the top 2 levels of administration, then Congress may see fit to allocate more funds. The IRS has shown repeatedly that is cannot use funds properly or efficiently. These cuts are due to the corruption at the top of the IRS. The only tool Congress has is to cut funding. It is very obvious that the Justice Department has been told to keep hands off any IRS person.

It's all going to be in Pub 974 -- which hasn't been written yet. So, in the immortal words of Zippy the Pinhead: Are we having fun yet?