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This is a beautiful thing. Tom and Judy, you are both awesome.

I can't run, either. Shin splints. Plus I find I am going too fast to enjoy the trees and flowers and other things -- but not fast enough that the view changes very much. Worst of all worlds, for me. I love to walk, though, and can keep that up all day. For faster -- let me near my bike!! In the winter I contra dance.

That is a quote from one my great clients that just walked through the door. The one before him, on the way out says, "don't work too hard and stay out of trouble. Oh, and don't forget to drink some wine." And the one before that, "Please Ron, work your magic again". It is 12 degrees - up from 10 this morning - and the snow is piled so high it is beginning to obscure my building. But the sun is shining bright which will dictate the client's attitude. Speaking of snow piled high, I looked out the window a little bit ago at one of the snow mountains surrounding my parking lot and I started giggling. It reminded me of the "big" little sled riding hill in "Surviving Christmas." Made me want to run and grab my sled. I agree - Stupid Ground Hog!

Help! I'm falling out of these trees and I can't get up!

Amen to rfassett's comments. I too was proactive with learning as much as I could about the ACA before tax season and some of those classes had conflicting information. One of them even calculated the penalty one way in the material and a different way on the quiz. So, once I thought I felt comfortable with what I learned, I quickly found out that I still needed to learn more after I started preparing returns this season. As I said earlier, none of the courses that I took used the subsidy to figure the affordability as far as I can remember. Just learned that two days ago. All of this still makes me nervous and I take time over each return and am still apprehensive as to whether they are prepared right or not.

But the fact of the matter, just like with the Form 3115 issue, the rules were, and in some cases, still are developing. So just like you, I was proactive and learning as much as I could before tax season, as I am sure most all of us here did. Some of us did CPE that just was out and out wrong. Some of us took multiple CPE's that conflicted. This whole thing is still in process of being developed. If the majority of the returns are prepared correctly this year, I will count that a minor miracle.

I envy people that can run. I've tried it, but I just can't get the hang of it. It doesn't feel good to me and destroys my ankles. I would love to burn more calories. My son used to walk with me, but he has discovered that he loves running and I just hold him back. Funny, all those years of being a swimmer and he hated running for dry land. I just walk at least 30-45 minutes daily on my treadmill with a 15% incline to maintain what weight I lost. It's not really fun, but I can watch tv that I missed on my dvr.

I can only speak for myself (of course). But at this point I'm checking the ACA forum more frequently due to the new changes & also because it is a smaller forum. Actually I'm more worried about the repair reg rules than the ACA. Granted it affects a fewer number of clients, but the new repair reg rules are much more confusing (to me) and there seems to be so many contradictions in methods. I'm glad to see some of these posts pinned. Personally, I wouldn't mind a separate forum for the repair regs, but understand that we don't want to have too many separate forums. Just my 2 cents.

I edited the Title to alert anyone where to look if they are looking for any form.

I have heard the same as JB but I make sure my clients know they CANNOT hold me to anything about an anticipated refund date. None of us knows if the return will be pulled for review or whatever reason the IRS chooses.

We are ALL still finding and learning intracasies of the ACA as we go along, and we are just now working with the forms and the worksheets to put it all together. No one here knows it ALL, not even you, Jack, and we all make mistakes from time to time too, so I'll ask you again to please stop with these type of comments. If you don't like my statement or think it doesn't apply to you, I'll gladly recall and review our "discussion" from last month about sec 5000A where you demanded that I find the definition of MAGI as it relates to the shared responsibility payment, which I did do by the way, or more recently where you and I were both wrong about the short coverage gap being "less than 3 months" and not "3 months or less" where you asked Pacun for a cite to prove that to you. No one posting here should be embarrassed, demeaned, or belittled for asking a question or making an incorrect assumption or statement.

I'll bet #14 will sail through without any questions. That's a catch-all big enough to drive a truck through.

OK; I have gone absolutely around in circles here. I've been through CPE on this and I thought it made sense, but this "simple" one has me completely stumped. I have several small businesses that have NO assets that were not fully depreciated years ago. Neither do they own any real property. So there is no question of a 481(a) adjustment needed. All they have is unwritten (now written, but for years not) rules that under $200 or $500 (depending on which business) they expense and do not capitalize. Printers and small tools and office equipment, generally, of the type that dies in a couple years and is then replaced with the latest cheap version. Or do they really mean it when the revproc says "does not apply" to businesses where "...(iii) Amounts paid or incurred to which the taxpayer has elected to apply the de minimis safe harbor under § 1.263(a)-1(f);" -- but then what happens to the rule of thumb that *every* business needs this form? What if all we want is to formally state using the de minimus safe harbor? What do I put on the 3115 then? Some options I have seen proposed for line 1a: "De minimus rule per Sec. 1.263(a)-(1)(f)" "All codes 184-193 per new regs" "arglefraster conforming with new splotnik regs" and for the final question.... laser print it on paper, or print out a blank and fill it in with a quill dipped in my own blood?

Take a just-under-seven-minute break and watch this gorgeous kinetic sculpture at the Singapore Airport.

Just tested it and it immediately creates a backup when you close a client.

Go to MyATX, about 1/2 way down the list at left, click on ATX forms schedule. The page that is displayed shows that the planner is scheduled for release on 2/6.

In a webinar this morning they said... Common elections without 3115 1. De Minimus Safe Harbor for otherwise capitalized expense. 2. Safe Harbor for qualifiying buildings 3. Capitalize repairs and maintenance Common 3115 changes in Accounting Method 1. Compliance with overall Regs (designated change # 184) 2. Disposal of UoP (#196) 3. Materials and Supplies Election (#186) Changes by Implementation 1. Materials and Supplies (100 vs 200) 2. Rotable and Temporary Parts 3. Forward looking Partial Distributions I don't begin to understand it all...

Send the paper one with the 8453 to the address for sending the 8453.

In the class that I went several weeks ago, the presenter/coauthor said that in a situation like this no 3115 is required or needed. Just elect the safe harbors which apply to your taxpayer's situation.

I agree with Tom completely.

You have 2 issues here. You have the cost basis from when they bought the house and land, and the depreciable basis from when they transferred the home to a rental. If those 2 amounts are the same, and I would suggest they should not be, the disposition is simple. If you don't have the land on the fixed asset schedule, put it on and do a bulk disposition. Everything will flow through the software. If there was a difference between the cost and the depreciable basis, because when it was put into rental status, the value was less than the cost, then you need to make an adjustment to the basis to get the proper amount of gain on the sale to flow through. Tom Newark, CA

Well, at least he offered to pay.... Get your check. Get an advance on 2013/14 and roll on! Rich

Not so fast there mi amigo Jack: From IRS.GOV You may deduct a charitable contribution made to, or for the use of, any of the following organizations that otherwise are qualified under section 170(c ) of the Internal Revenue Code: A state or United States possession (or political subdivision thereof), or the United States or the District of Columbia, if made exclusively for public purposes; A community chest, corporation, trust, fund, or foundation, organized or created in the United States or its possessions, or under the laws of the United States, any state, the District of Columbia or any possession of the United States, and organized and operated exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, scientific, or literary purposes, or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals; A church, synagogue, or other religious organization; A war veterans' organization or its post, auxiliary, trust, or foundation organized in the United States or its possessions; A nonprofit volunteer fire company; A civil defense organization created under federal, state, or local law (this includes unreimbursed expenses of civil defense volunteers that are directly connected with and solely attributable to their volunteer services); A domestic fraternal society, operating under the lodge system, but only if the contribution is to be used exclusively for charitable purposes; A nonprofit cemetery company if the funds are irrevocably dedicated to the perpetual care of the cemetery as a whole and not a particular lot or mausoleum crypt. Not saying the present case is deductible - but not not deductible because it does not involve a 501(c )(3). (PS - I love double negatives.)

And when they do, their price goes UP -- and yet somehow then they don't complain. They have learned that "going cheap" always costs WAY more.

Now this is my kind of Marathon ---- I cannot find it on any of my USA listings, where have you seen it --- I like Shawn & Gus but being a guy --- like Julie more --- anyway, when is it on? Thanks.

I would love a day with the snow falling; no drop-ins; no phone calls. February is nearly booked solid; not counting the mail-ins. Then people call and can't understand why they can't get in "today or tomorrow". All of these appts leave me little time to work and the sound of the phone is starting to make my skin crawl. Last night I had a call at 7:30 PM. I knew who was calling so I said, "The office closed at 5". After all the "I'm sorries", I took her information as long as I had her on the line. Turns out she wanted to let me know that she was getting married this summer. Has been a widow for a while. And, would I be able to do her fiancé's taxes too? What a life.

Oh...OK...and a good idea. I got so busy I put him out of my mind. FYI...there is a little known NJ...J-1 treaty. They don't pay tax, ever. However...NJ really goes over those returns. This guy just got his 2013 refund last week! But...he kept e-mailing me...and implying (not implying..actually said) that I screwed up and that's why it was taking so long...and calling NJ and fighting with them was part of my job. I told him my job was to prepare the return....that's it. That's when I offered him his money back. Now imagine...if he gave me such aggrevation over $2000...and if I do the return and he gets "caught" (I'm reasonably sure he'll get audited)...what he would do when he owes about $20,000. When I get some time off...I'm gonna sit down and write a nice..."I suggest you get a second opinion. If there are problems down the road, I don't want to be held accountable" e-mail.

Good thing they only ask about smoking. This stuff is going to drive me to drink like a fish since I am not allowed to smoke like a chimney. /s

I signed up for the Psych marathon on USA Network. May follow it up with concentrating on the back of my eyelids. Good for you, Bob. The janitor life agrees with you, apparently.

We tried that..............The ones in yellow hats are still in traction...

Ms Tabby, I hear you loud and clear about not wanting to be any more involved or waste more time. If you do cut him loose, I would at a minimum write him a letter making him aware that because he overstayed, that taxes may be assessed on those prior years. If you don't want to run those calculations, at least make the situation known to him so to put that responsibility back to him, not on you for not making him aware.

Can not speak to the tax aspect but knowing a bit about you from your posts, says you will do what is legally and morally correct. The "feeling bad" on your part is unwarranted --- he knew the requirements about the two years and CHOSE to stay. If he has problems with that, that is not you --- that is was his choice and is between him and the country. Feel proud and well that you are giving him good council ---- regardless of his bad decisions.

I feel I have put up a valiant effort for my client...I always want to make them happy...but more importantly I want to prepare their taxes correctly. After reviewing all the publications and regulations in depth and getting opinions here and elsewhere, I am back to my original opinion...MFS with no EIC. I just don't think I will sleep well preparing a return that I do not believe would stand up to IRS audit/scrutiny....and the penalties for me and client are too great when it comes to EIC. I got the client to understand that the absence is due to military service and thus nullifies the exception....she just has a problem with the term "temporary"...because in her words "it's not temporary, its for almost 1-1/2 years because he will be stationed there until 10/15/16". But it is not forever...this temporary. Thanks again to all on here for helping me through this....Your combined wisdom and knowledge is both valuable and humbling.

JB, One night can mean everything --- if they had married (been pronounced) on December 31 at one minute before midnight, they would be considered 'married" for the entire year. I know this as a personal fact as I married two attorneys at 1 minute after midnight on technically January 1 (I specifically asked and they wanted to be the "first married couple" for that year, rather than the last couple for the previous year). NOTE: I made sure and had the attorney's also research --- as I do not like to do something an attorney can come back on --- say, if the date of marriage, etc. might eventually mean something. If the IRS considers the very last moment of the year as "marriage", would they not consider a few minutes, etc. as "living together" and scuttle your HOH? Therefore --- yes, just one night, moment, etc. can count. MFS or MFJ --- NOT HOH.

This calculator does all the magic: http://www.valuepenguin.com/ppaca/exchanges/ I played with it today for a few hours, verified calculations by checking healthcare.gov Bronze and SLCSP rates for several scenarios and everything was matching.