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Sad news on his passing today. Remarkable, as well, that he kept his battle with cancer secret for the last couple of years. Also glad that he was surrounded by family. There are far worse ways to go than surrounded by those you love, right after a major album release, and without having made a spectacle of your illness. Also nice that unlike far too many musicians, he died of a disease rather than suddenly by drug overdose. Sigh.

I don't own shares but Medtronic is near and dear to my heart. No, I mean it is near and dear to my heart. That is the brand of pacemaker that keeps my heart beating. Without my Medtronic pacemaker, I would beat no more.

You are right Gail. Most IRS communications are written upside down anyways.

I think a lot of tax preparers probably have this talent from lots of practice either reading the forms our clients are holding in their hot little hands and reading to us, or turning forms around so the clients can see and then explaining them while they are upside down.

If you're one of the millions of Americans who are asking, "When can I expect my income tax refund?" we have the answer. It depends on a couple of things, but the good news is that there are several tools to help find out. First of all, taxpayers who use a professional, such as a CPA or EA, can ask that professional for an estimated date. Taxpayers who've already filed can also go to the Internal Revenue Service's website, which has a tool designed specifically for that called, "Where's My Refund?" IRS accepts your return (by 11:00 am) between… Estimated Direct Deposit Sent Estimated Paper Check Mailed Before Jan 31 2016 2/5/2016 2/7/2016 January 29 and Feb 05 2016 2/12/2016 2/14/2016 Feb 07 and Feb 15 2016 2/19/2016 2/21/2016 Feb 16 and Feb 22 2016 2/26/2016 2/28/2016 Feb 23 and Mar 01 2016 3/5/2016 3/7/2016 Mar 02 and Mar 08 2016 3/12/2016 3/14/2016 Mar 09 and Mar 15 2016 3/19/2016 3/21/2016 Mar 16 and Mar 22 2016 3/26/2016 3/28/2016 Mar 23 and Mar 29 2016 4/2/2016 4/4/2016 Mar 30 and April 03 2016 4/9/2016 4/11/2016 April 04 and April 08 2016 4/16/2016 4/18/2016 April 10 and April 15 2016 4/23/2016 4/25/2016 April 18 and April 26 2016 4/30/2016 5/2/2016 April 27 and May 03 2016 5/7/2016 5/9/2016 May 04 and May 10 2016 5/14/2016 5/16/2016 May 11 and May 17 2016 5/21/2016 5/23/2016 May 18 and May 24 2016 5/28/2016 5/30/2016 May 25 and May 31 2016 6/4/2016 6/6/2016 June 01 and June 07 2016 6/11/2016 6/13/2016 June 08 and June 14 2016 6/18/2016 6/20/2016 June 15 and June 21 2016 6/25/2016 6/27/2016 June 22 and June 28 2016 7/2/2016 7/4/2016 June 29 and July 05 2016 7/9/2016 7/11/2016 July 06 and July 12 2016 7/16/2016 7/18/2016 July 13 and July 19 2016 7/23/2016 7/25/2016 July 20 and July 26 2016 7/30/2016 8/1/2016 July 27 and Aug 02 2016 8/6/2016 8/8/2016 Aug 03 and Aug 09 2016 8/13/2016 8/15/2016 Aug 10 and Aug 16 2016 8/20/2016 8/22/2016 Aug 17 and Aug 23 2016 8/27/2016 8/29/2016 Aug 24 and Aug 30 2016 9/3/2016 9/5/2016 Aug 31 and Sept 06 2016 9/10/2016 9/12/2016 Sept 07 and Sept 13 2016 9/17/2016 9/19/2016 Sept 14 and Sept 20 2016 9/24/2016 9/26/2016 Sept 21 and Sept 27 2016 10/1/2016 10/3/2016 Sept 28 and Oct 04 2016 10/8/2016 10/10/2016 Oct 05 and Oct 11 2016 10/15/2016 10/17/2016 Oct 12 and Oct 18 2016 10/22/2016 10/24/2016 Oct 19 and Oct 25 2016 10/29/2016 10/31/2016 Oct 26 and Nov 01 2016 11/5/2016 11/7/2016 Nov 02 and Nov 08 2016 11/12/2016 11/14/2016 Nov 09 and Nov 15 2016 11/19/2016 11/21/2016 Nov 16 and Nov 22 2016 11/26/2016 11/28/2016 Nov 23 and Nov 29 2016 12/3/2016 12/5/2016 Nov 30 and Dec 06 2016 12/10/2016 12/12/2016 Dec 07 and Dec 13 2016 12/17/2016 12/19/2016 Dec 14 and Dec 20 2016 12/24/2016 12/26/2016 Dec 21 and Dec 27 2016 12/31/2016 1/2/2017 The IRS will begin processing tax returns on January 19, 2016, for taxes paid/owed in 2015. In general, the IRS says that returns with refunds are processed and payments issued within 21 days. For paper filers, this can take much longer, however. The IRS and tax professionals strongly encourage electronic filing. How quickly a taxpayer receives a refund also depends on when they file and whether they have requested a direct deposit of their refund, or a paper check. This is because during some time frames there is increased traffic, with more filers getting their forms in. The busiest time, and which can experience longer waits on refunds, is usually for those who file in the last week before the April 15 deadline. The chart above provides a general estimate of when taxpayers can expect their refund, based on date filed and type of refund payment. The chart is also available at: http://refundschedule.com/2016-irs-e-file-chart.

I watched a couple videos on David Bowie Saturday night and was saying that I need to add more Bowie songs to my playlists. Bowie always did his own thing and it was usually brilliant. RIP. Asanti!

I have always asked my clients to get the student's account from the bursar with dates, amounts, etc. Some colleges actually print it out on the back of the 1098 or include in the same mailing. In a time pinch I have settled for clients going through their check registers for amounts paid. And, like our Dear Abby says, most of my students are at schools with tuition in the tens of thousands of dollars with little in the way of scholarships, so just checking that the student didn't pay it all himself via student loans is really enough. Except for the last year when tuition was probably paid the previous December.... But, that student at a community college, I really wait for the bursar statement for anyone that might possibly have paid less than $4,000 out of pocket. As a rule of thumb, if tuition is less than $20,000 I need to see a breakout of who paid what and when and how much. See it now or see it later when the IRS letter arrives!

I am sure many of you are aware of the changes surrounding the tangible property safe harbor rules and limits beginning 2016. However, I posted this link just in case anyone missed it or would like a reference to the changes for tax payers with or without an AFS. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-15-82.pdf

Eric, That is perfect!! I contacted MS and told them to give me an option to click on to NEVER, EVER see this reminder again. I have Win 10 on one of my laptops, but I told them I will never install it on my main business computer. The local computer store is backlogged removing Windows 10 and restoring their customer's previous operating system.

For anyone who hasn't ordered needed toner cartridges, here's a pretty good place to get them reasonably. SuppliesOutlet.com is the website - they're in Memphis. It's refills, not original equipment, but are very good quality. I've been using them for about five years and no problems so far. Over the years I tried almost all the used ones (remanufactured or "Remans" they call them) but something was always wrong (shipping mistakes, half-filled cartridges, prices not much cheaper than originals), so I finally gave up and started buying OEMs at Sam's Club ($68 each). Then somebody told me about this place. A package of five for my LaserJet HP1102w printer is $70 total and a set of 2 for my Canon 4770n copier is $34 total. I just ordered some and hopefully everything will be as good as last year. I got a coupon from Offers.com which took $15 off the total (it's AMZ15 and I just typed it in) which worked for me, but, as you probably know, those things work sometimes and sometimes not. Anyhow, just thought I'd pass that on to anybody interested and (Disclaimer) no, I don't get anything off for references.

Ground control to Major Tom...

Now I like Medtronic!

I don't think they worry about 1098Ts with 30k billed, because they know the education credits/deductions have such low limits. They probably assume, like I do, that the taxpayer definitely paid at least 4K, unless it was all paid with scholarships. It's the 1098Ts with 5K in tuition that may be claiming too much credit/deduction.

Yes, often they know the cost of the most recent semester, and take that times 2, rather than dig out the checks or charge card statements, not realizing that it's often in different years, and/or varies from semester due to different classes requiring different costs for labs or such. The school has all that already, by student, so they should, at today's inflated rates, be required to provide it.

I got my 1095-B from the VA covering the whole year about a week ago. I haven't got the one from medicare yet but it will also be for the whole year. Can I take double credit? Will I get a refund? Maybe I should just be thankful that I have coverage. A lot of people don't.

H.R.1223 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prevent the retroactive claim of the earned income tax credit after issuance of a social security number. https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/1223/text

My hubby's first ICD was a Medtronic, but they replaced it with a St. Jude. We are so grateful for each of them!

I believe this was passed as part of the passage of the Highway Bill or the Budget Reconciliation Bill several months ago.

Well, he is a dear and lot better looking than his photo!

I have more info on what to do about it, please PM me and I will send you the information.

^^ that, what Lion said! Laughed at this:

easy should be ease

We have clients who have kids in colleges that REFUSE to issue 1098-T citing some rule about not required to, if the scholarships exceed the amounts billed. Colleges' apathy and carelessness are as much to blame for all the mess as the inconsistency of the IRS about this.

Without a 1095-B, how is a preparer to know how many months the taxpayer was covered by Medicare? This discussion is overthinking and underthinking the question. Being on Medicare does NOT automatically mean the taxpayer was covered all year. Form 1099-SSA does NOT indicate all the information needed to verify coverage for all 12 months. Now my rant... As long as the IRS continues to grant reprives, move deadlines and ignore all the rules and penalties, there is no reason for anyone to do more than a cursory job of due diligence on this matter. The IRS does not know how and where things are at now, nor for the last 3 years, nor where they are going, how in the world are they going to police all these.

One of the most useless forms ever.

The 1098T has been a problem ever since it was introduced. Remember when it first came out all the schools had to fill in was the full-time student box? The rest of the form was blank. Now all they've been filling out is the "amount billed." Means nothing. The IRS has audited lots of our clients, asking for proof of amount paid. When the clients request their record of account from the school, guess what? They often didn't pay the amount billed within the calendar year and owe some tax. It's about time the schools have to fill in all the boxes. My question is why the heck did it take so long? I can't guess why the IRS issued a form and for years hasn't required it to be completed in its entirety. This has led to a lot of audit letters and wasted IRS resources and wasted tax pro time and cost taxpayers interest. (Silly them, they trusted the official form.)

My husband's Medicare coverage started in Aug 2015 and he got one too with boxes checked for Aug through Dec. Too bad Part III was completely blank so that it didn't indicate the issuer of the form or coverage provider. I guess that would be too much to expect.

'James Counts II, CPA CTFA' [email protected] [TaxProExchange] <[email protected]> 10:44 AM (1 minute ago) to TaxProExchange As many of you are aware I am on the IRS National Public Liaison Practitioner Committee and also on a Security Summit SubGroup for Tax Practitioners. I mention that because the SubGroup has put together a Survey that we would like tax practitioners of all levels to take. It is 13 questions and for me it took about 3 minutes. We are trying to get information about ID theft and the impact on practitioners with this survey. In the future we expect to have more surveys on other issues. Because of the requirements by the IRS on what they need to do to get a survey approved etc. this survey is by our group. Please pass this along to other practitioners, including your firm practitioners, and ask they take just a few minutes to take the survey. You do not disclose your private information not does the survey capture any information other than the answers to the questions. So help us by taking a few minutes to take the survey. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PractitionerIndustrySurvey Jim James C Counts II, CPA CTFA Mailing: P O Box 369, Hemet, CA 92546-0369 Physical: 655 Deardorff Dr, Hemet, CA (not a mailing address) Phone: 951.929.1330

Sounds like it's time to bring back EAR (Electronic Account Resolution)! It was part of eServices but most of my colleagues (ahem) didn't use it so they dropped it. It was so sweet to email the IRS and get a reply sometimes within hours.

Yes, it's pretty easy to cusomize all kinds of reports. If you have converted the returns into the 2014 program, open that and do the following. (** You can also use the 2015 program that will search for the 2014 data by going through the process below, and I've indicated below the additional checkbox that is needed.) From the toolbar, select Reports, then Report Manager. Expand "My Reports" to save it there. Click "New Report". Radio button "Tax Return Data" checked. Give the report a name. Under the columns selection, leave it as the default "All Categories". Next selection is for the additional columns. The list is in alphabetical order. Scroll to select and add to the report the Taxpayer Last Name, taxpayer first name, (if you want also add Spouse last name, and spouse first name), then select and add Schedule C. You have the option to also select the Sch C total income and Sch C net income also, if you wish. At the bottom, click "Next" On the next screen under Filter selection, use the drop down box to select only "Clients with Schedule C". (** It's at this point, if you are using the 2015 program for a report of data in 2014 returns, that you would also check the box "use data from 2014). Click "Save" The program will return to the first Reports box that opened. At the bottom, click "View Report". It is also saved if you want to use it again.