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If only the folks at ATX/CCH/Conglomerate would come down and spend some time with folks like us USING the software, and find out what they could fix to make it better. Dreaming.... Pass the scotch, JB

Never moving to OH.... or PA, NJ or NY. FL sounds good, though!

And I love the reminder that cats were once worshipped as gods - and they've never forgotten this.

How true BHoffman, and noble servants we are. And the more we spoil them the more they expect. I remember a comedy skit where it was said that if aliens were watching us walking behind our animals picking up after them, the aliens would think the animals were the rulers of this world. Maybe they're not so far off for some of us. I hope this makes you smile Joan, because aliens would probably see us emptying litter boxes too.

Thanks...That is what I was thinking...MFS unless they have a child that qualifies her for HOH.

Pete was nearly 14, and last year it was Tasha who I got in the same week back in 2002. Still around is Pete's twin brother, Repete. And Spot, my feral, and CJ, who my ex dumped on me. Plus Sweetie Pie, my EXTREMELY elderly dog - I have no idea of her age, but she showed up in 2005. Already old. My other dog died last July (yes it's been one after the other but I had a lot of seniors) and in November I went to the shelter and got Tiggy, a pit bull that's as bouncy as Tigger in Winnie the Pooh. And goofy, smart, and the instigator of many Viscous Pit Bull Attacks....most of which involve much licking

Now that there just hurt my feeling! :) What's wrong with the great Commonwealth of PA? Oh, wait - I know. The whole taxing system!

Thanks, Jack. As a practitioner in Ohio for 20+ years, I am very well aware of the taxing (in both senses of the word) situation among localities. A former client who installed and serviced commercial watering systems had to file 20 returns one year. Unhappy camper for sure!

I registered and obtained my NYTPRIN.....my registration got "locked up/lost"..had to call the department, get transferred several times...wait on hold for what seemed like forever...but it's done. All of this for one client...for a one-time part-year return. I should have charged more. I need a drink

If she has a child she can file HOH, otherwise it's MFS. Sorry.

I spent all day Friday at the vet with a kitty that took sick, put him to sleep yesterday and buried him today. Got a bunch of returns and even thinking about the 2k + vet bill isn't getting me up off the couch. I know you guys will understand. On a nice note, one of the clients I saw yesterday brought in their 8 week old Rotweiler puppy, and cute puppy was really welcome knowing what I was probably facing later in the afternoon.. This is is the third February in a row that I've had fatally ill kitties.

As cities become more desperate for revenue, they actually have people noting service trucks and document presence. Sometimes it's a spot check, sometimes it's heavy monitoring for days or weeks. Construction sites are monitored and other businesses may be as in the case of my former client. Sometimes businesses will issue Forms 1099MISC and file copies with the municipalities. The city then looks for the matching tax returns. If they don't appear, correspondence ensues. It's happened.

Scenarios like these are why I have filed taxes in so many different states

I am not a Germany expert so cannot help you there. Unless any of the States are reciprocating states (like OHIO/PA) he most likely will have a filing requirement in each State he worked. I have my share of boiler maker clients that work all over the country and we file for every State that they work in. And if he did not work in Ohio, then I would think the only local you will be concerned about is the one where he lives. It is not his choice as to whether he files where he is suppose to. His choice is to follow the law or not. Your choice is to whether you are interested in aiding and abetting him if he chooses to not file where he is suppose to. Not sure any of that helps, but those are my thoughts.

Enter all the info on the dependent tab on the 1040 and check not to claim this year, then check the box qualifies for EIC. Keeps all the info off the 1040 but shows up on the EIC schedule.

If the taxpayer qualifies for the unaffordable exception, they don't any effort on their part. The unaffordability is calculated at the end of the year when they have all income together. During the year, they only have a crystal ball.

So sorry to hear about your mom, too. Always during tax season, it seems.

It was a hard year for me with the pets and family too. Last year 2 of my 4 dogs passed that I still miss terribly, and then a third dog started battling CHF late in the year. Yesterday she collapsed twice from lack of oxygen for which I gave extra doses of lasix over the course of the day and evening that brought her out of her difficulties. Those incidents are hard to watch and definitely make it hard to concentrate. On top of that, for those that didn't see on facebook, my mom fell after Th'giving and had 3 fractures that earned her an 8+ week stay in rehab. Because of intense pain early on, she really only had 3 weeks of therapy before her release last week, so although she is home again and mostly healed, she needs additional strengthening, some amount of help, and for someone to look in on her periodically over the coming weeks as she goes through home-based therapy and transitions fully back to independent living. It's been endless hours with things related to her care, meetings and numerous phone calls, caring for her dog and her house too. I am also the one that accompanies her to all doctor appts, meetings, and wherever else she needs to go. Thank goodness she only lives around the corner from me, and thankfully my oldest sister has stayed at mom's house for the last week. I've never been physically and mentally exhausted like this going into tax season. Send extra chocolate, would ya? I'm going to need more than ever.

An unexpected error is usually some sort of major fail, for which there is no common message to show. Consider such message as neither the application nor operating system having any idea how to gracefully get past the error, usually caused by a programming error in the current application, or another which happens to be running. I would not count on anything working properly after closing the message.

Me, too. But a close second are the ones filing early and in a mad rush to get their free money. I actually like it when they get another form after filing. I get another tax return to do and can recover some of my own tax dollars.

Placebo effect?

Sympathies on the problems with your mom, Judy.

The boiler makers work in several states for one employer one year and several states for different employers another year and one state for different employers another year. There is no rhyme or reason. I would not send your client packing too soon. Print out a couple of States filing requirements and show them to him. Most States, if not all, have a non-resident form or schedule. By deductive reasoning (if he is an IT guy, he should understand that term), that must mean the States want non-residents to report their income earned in that State. Here is a link to a place in my website where you can click on the different States to get some information. I would show him a couple of filing requirements and let him decide whether he wants to continue to be your client. http://fassettandassociatescpa.com/statetaxforms.php

Thanks, rfassett. My inklings were correct. Were those boiler maker clients (not sure what that is) W-2 employees for several different companies and sent to different locations? I suspect that there may be the comeback that no one else files other states but, of course, I don't really care what others do or not do. And, while I am always open to learning new things, I kinda resented that he would direct me to his HRB return to see 'how to do it.' He may not stay a client, sad to say. I really like him and his wife.

I had to leave a message and am waiting for the call back. Stay tuned... you may see a smoke plume rising. Hope not!

Same here! I posted on the other board and was told it would be fixed on the next update. I was told until then to increase the time set on auto save. I did that and so far it seems to be helping.

February is always my longest, shortest month! Only 10 days in and I'm so looking forward to April!

If they don't have children, only two choices: MFJ or MFS

I agree with you, Max. Another way to put it is "separate maintenance decree."

I, too, am physically and mentally exhausted already. Just told my husband this AM that I am not sure I will be able to make it. Can you believe that already by Feb 8, people are calling to see if their taxes are done yet. I made a firm resolve this year to finish each one as they come in; no exceptions. However, I HATE that kind of pressure. The assistant I hired last year doesn't want to get her feet wet even after taking the HRB course. Today, she will be doing my ironing; which at least is something. It is terrible to wake up exhausted. Let's hope it's just a bad mood day.

If she has not lived with him for the last 6 months of the year, she can file single or HOH if she had a qualified child. Under the heading of filing status, check the rules for "considered unmarried" to find this. This has been in place for many years. Must be 6 full months and not one single night of being together during the 6 months.

If client is separated under an interlocutory (not final) decree of divorce, it can be fied as single. Same thing if the court requires ex to pay spousal support.

I hope it's only that an install code is needed, not that you have to purchase a separate package. I don't blame you for being mad; I would be too.

Well, there are those pesky affordability worksheets that must be filled out that are in the Form 8965 instructions. If the person doesn't meet the criteria for unaffordability or one of the other exemptions, then the SRP (the penalty) is assessed.

I just got off with tech support and am borderline furious. I have MAX and have had for many years. The tech is now telling me that I have to purchase a separate Ohio cities package that my rep 'must have forgotten to tell me' or didn't include the install code. On the website, MAX shows it includes ALL localities, ALL states, and ALL efiling. And now I have to wait until tomorrow to contact dear Kyle, my rep. Grrrrr......

It happens to me mostly when I'm in a Detail screen and I do some mouse click or keyboard combination the programmers hadn't anticipated. I'm hard on software. I'd make a good tester!

here is an idea,,,, https://www.hamrick.com/

Like some others, I use Fujitsu ScanSnap and the software that comes with it. My model is S1500 but I think it has been superseded. I love it as it is fast, scans both sides and is compact. Best $400 I spent in my practice. I also have Win 7 Pro, they play very well together for me. I also have Scansoft Paperport which came with my Brother MFC. Works great, too.

Thanks to Lynn! She is one of the best aspects of this great board. So sorry that she is in New Orleans, Mardi Gras central, and working. Let's hope she gets at least a little fun in yet. Lynn, thanks again for your assistance!

I think Janitor Bob employs the right tactic here.

had to re-enter installation codes. Seems to be working now.

My sense of wonder about all things computer tells me that I am grateful for the opportunity to click on the red "x" and am more grateful when nothing blows up. If I pass that hurdle, I test the waters no further. I simply save and close the return and then the program and then re-open. The urge is there to keep working. But as Medlin mentions, that is probably not the best approach.

No, but I have.

BTW- If anyone has looked at the MFJ vs MFS comparison tool, it is working right this year. So, another area fixed.

Hey Abby, I was actually able to right-click within the print packets and re-arrange the 8879, client letter, comparison, and coversheet to print (in that order) for all returns. I haven't had to re-sort any returns yet. I got a 5 year veteran on the phone and he explained that one to me and shook his head (over the phone) that the previous CS Rep had told me it wasn't possible. I love getting people that know what they're paid to know.

Then there's the ones that take 8 months to get you their info, all along sending emails and placing phones calls to your office. When they finally give everything to you they then expect to be your top priority, and be ready for filing. I wish all forms had to be mailed out by 01/31/2015 subject to automatic penalty without waiver, and that the personal return deadline could be changed to the end of May, and lastly, that all refunds were held and mailed on the last day of tax season to eliminate 99% of the fraud cases. Maybe that makes too much sense though.

I haven't done it but seen it done with the mother & son owning the home and mother taking out the mortgage due to son's credit. Search on Equitable Ownership. At least one good Tax Court case about this issue. Did the son act like the owner, paying all the bills, maintaining the home, working on his credit to be able to refinance in his name only, etc.?

This doesn't help your situation but a reminder to clients to keep all their annual statements for annuities and insurance policies. With these companies merging so much, it may be impossible to get a history of your accounts.

I don't believe the IRS will negotiate a cost basis because you are required to have documentation proving your cost basis or your basis is $0. That's what I was taught in my EA training Did you take a total distribution? Did you take a distribution on one of those early transfers? It could have been that you distributed your entire original cost basis and it was all gains rolling forward from there on out. Annuities purchased in 1982 and before have different tax rules that would have been realized upon the first rollover or a distribution. If you took a distribution on one of those early annuities - it's very possible you used up the initial cost basis to avoid paying tax and have forgotten you did this. Things are different today than they were back in 1982.

I am not an insurance agent. Have the taxpayer contact his employer and ask for documentation that the plan offered to him met MEC. If the employer indicates that the plan did meet MEC specs, then the taxpayer is out of luck. It is not likely that the plan did not meet MEC. Obamacare regulations require that any employer provided plan be MEC compliant. The person at the marketplace has no possible way to determine if the plan offered by the employer is MEC compliant or not. There is missing information in this story. It is not our place to police the insurance part of the law. I refuse to do so.