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Well, as you can see, everyone has their likes and dislikes. It's sort of like fried eggs. You can have 'em sunnyside up, over easy, runny or solid, or you can have 'em the Spanish way. Now, the Spanish way is the way my wife used to cook them, because - well because, she is Spanish. They get fried at a high heat so the underside gets a little burnt and the white gets bubbles in them that break open and turn into something like hardened plastic as they get filled with frying oil. Took a while, maybe 10 years or so, before she finally got the hang of it. That's when I went back to eating fried eggs. (Every once in a while she slips up, but I forgive her for it. (Old habits are hard to kick).

In a live course, the line for the women's room during a break is around the block!

Hi Jack, Like Edsel, I still like you too. For one, I used to swipe your tax tips off another board years ago. For two, as lots of people know, you're a pretty nice guy even though being a Missourian "show-me" sort. This is not to say Max is mean (he once spoke kindly to me) or wrong about his tough Sequoia stuff (sounds like deep-reading) but I kinda had it figured like you that if it wasn't "live" it wasn't so hot. When I used to go to seminars I couldn't always "spot" a slacker or (like the ex-president) "look into the soul" of a classmate, but a husband and wife team came every year - she pulled out her knitting needles and clickety-clacked away (didn't bother to open her book) for two days while he took notes. That seemed spot-worthy. But (and telling you this is like being sent to the principal's office) I'm "buying" all my hours now by mail from some off-the-wall outfit in California. It's expensive, but it's open-book and as a rep once told me "Nobody's ever flunked these courses!" However, I did once give a scathing review to a receptionist who was rude to me. Anyway, I'm still speakin' even if we're in opposite camps. By the way, I think Edsel's right about the dress code. While I used to get to wear my dapper ties 'n' threads to seminars, now I've reverted to somethin' like -- hmm...there's an old Turner Classic movie wherein the departing colonial bwana of a Malaysian rubber plantation deep in the jungle says to the newly-arrived overseer, "First, you'll stop shaving...... P.S. Max- you can scramble the eggs in a paper bowl & microwave for 100 seconds - not as good/bad as Spanish fried, but it'll do. ____________________________________________ "Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife." Gray - Elegy in a Country Churchyard

Jack, everyone else is beating up on you - not me!! I believe in personally attending and not selling out to the electronic lemming-like slide into oblivion. I can go to sleep either way - listening to some boring presenter or bleary-eyed listening to a webinar. Most of the people I get to listen to are great and colorful speakers. Very few put me to sleep. Can't agree on live schooled being easier to spot, however. I can imagine what you're saying - those who go to live seminars are bright-eyed, well dressed, lilt in their step, and identify with the beautiful people. Sorry about you folks who listen in on webinars - obviously you slouch around in disheveled clothing, walk around with three days growth of beard, maybe even have athlete's feet or something. Not me and Jack, proud exhibitors of what is best in the world!!

I've personally found the online, webinar or self-study to require more "concentration" than going to a live event. I've gone to many live CPE classes offered by the well known course providers, including CPA Societies. Many of the individuals who attend these live events are either doing personal work or surfing the Internet. At least self-study requires some type of validation, either through a test of some means of substantiating your participation. Anyone who wants to simply "buy" their CPE will do so whether they attend in person or purchase self-study.

The only live seminars that I go to anymore are Basics & Beyond. I have attended them since the 90s when they were called Back to Basics and I always learn good stuff. They have live webinars also and I have purchased some of them. Most of their speakers are funny and entertaining so I don't have to fight sleep until after lunch. I don't recognize as many people as I used to when I go so they either got smart and retired, died or are taking their CPE online. I do take a courses online every year with Vern Hoven and Sharon Krieder and many free ones from CPA Acadamy. I do enjoy the live webinars, because I can wear my sweats and fix my own lunch. I take the classes from my liability insurance every couple of years and I always want to go work anywhere else because they petrify me.

Right after a pop-up test. I've never seen two in less than five minutes' time.

That plus the nice long password! Take 'em home and stick 'em in your sock drawer. Make sure the note says "Joe & Sally" somewhere so even if it's found it looks like it's not yours.

Sneak out 15min before the break is scheduled. Or, in a hotel, there are usually other floors with conference rooms - try those halls (scope out ahead of time).

Business Tax Update Online Workshops 16 CPE for AFSP, CFP®, EA, CPA, CRTP Proposed regulations for how to navigate §199A and the Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction were recently released by the IRS, and the document totals 184 pages. 184 pages is a lot of information to understand and comprehend, especially as you’re gearing up for tax season. The good news is you don’t have to do it alone. Join us for our two-day Business Tax Update Online Workshop and we’ll go through the details of the changes to §199A and how it affects most small businesses. Instructors will cover partnerships and S corporations, their elections and adjustments, as well as how the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will affect them. In day two, you’ll receive a hands-on review of QBI. The instructor will help you complete several case studies that involve QBI and decisions related to entity selection to help your clients maximize deductions for partners and shareholders. We're offering this online workshop on Sept. 6 & 7, Oct. 3 & 4 or on-demand. Sept. 6 & 7 Oct. 3 & 4 Pre-order the on-demand version Register > Our researchers will be on-hand to answer your questions throughout the live presentation, and you'll even receive a copy of their answers! This workshop includes a PDF of the presentation slides and access to the recording. CPE Approved Provider

Sorry I would obtain a 2848 signe by represenative call PPL and see what IRS has on file for income. They will have the original 1099's and social security.

Wow! I thought the modem went the way of B&W TV. The last time I used one was in 1978. It was 300 bauds/s. It took so long to paint the screen I could shave and brush my teeth, while it was doing so.

Thank, Judy. I called the State Treasurer's Office, and they told me that they do not issue 1099s. I could try again and see if there is some way I can get a breakdown of the Dividends by year. They are individual stock dividends, and I think it is likely that many if not all are qualified. I'll give it a shot. Thanks again!

I guess it is too late to donate that money to the PACUN foundation vs giving it to the IRS. The first thing I would do is to file Form 4506T option 8 and maybe ALSO request a copy of any tax returns available from the IRS. Let's say that those dividends were split in 10 years, maybe that money was available for deceased and therefore you will have to file 10 years of taxes for 10K each year. That will increase your fee and reduce their taxes. Remember the doctrine of constructive receipt.

I had another thought on this too. Are you sure that no 1099-DIV was issued by whatever state paid out the unclaimed funds? I know that here DE does issue 1099s for any divs that are more than $10 and issues other 1099s just like the company or original holder would have. Perhaps that is worth contacting the state to see if there is any additional information it would be willing to provide so that as much of that $100K as is possible can be taxed as qualified dividends using the lower cap gain rate.

My computer is hardwired, not wifi, so when I send/receive faxes/email they are safer than wifi, just like using my free-standing fax/all-in-one machine that's hardwired. But, nothing is totally safe. I usually use FileShare and encourage my clients to use it also, because it's hosted by CCH, the same that e-files their tax returns. Again, nothing is totally safe, but FileShare makes my clients and me feel more comfortable.

Super easy. It takes a short while to perform the initial encryption, depending on drive size and speed, but you basically just turn it on and give it a nice long password and you're all set. Make sure you save your recovery key someplace safe.

That's why my eservices account is so important to me. When I get a new client I want to make sure everything is as it should be.

I never even considered EFT payments as an option because it just seemed like so much could go wrong. Besides, clients can now schedule estimated payments directly with the IRS.

This is why I no longer do EFT payments. It gets you stuck in the middle and spending time on something you are doing gratis. It is bad enough when an EFT is set up for an installment agreement and the client is constantly calling you to know when it is going to be set up and why haven't they gotten the IRS letter confirming the date of withdrawal.

I too switched from ATX to Drake back in 2013 and did not purchase ATX since. There were a few hiccups as can be expected with any conversion however Drake support is the best! Good luck.

I do my required hours in a quick / cheap manner right after tax season. Many outlets sell the CE, not the training itself so if you don't need the CE credits, it's free. The IRS itself gives away a TON of free stuff if you don't need to get the CE credits. Our local bar association, CPA firms and university do the same thing. University of Missouri puts on a farm / tax seminar. Everyone is sleeping after lunch and they have a break half way through the afternoon where you are handed out your little CE sheet and announced you are given the credit. More than half the participants skiped the last 90 minutes the one year I attended.

Exactly. I've been to seminars where I didn't learn a thing and I've been to ones where I learned a lot. I prefer the low cost of online courses, plus I use the course materials for reference materials. Online schooling is the way of the future. Even live seminars should be done online to save travel costs, pollution, spread of the flu, etc., and I've done a few live online seminars. They pop up a 'test' to make sure you're still there. Bathroom breaks need to be timed carefully, though.

Mainly people "buy" a certain number of hours but they are required to take courses and take exams to get those hours. Without doing that, the money was wasted and there are no hours to show for it. I've sat through mind-numbingly BORING live seminars, fallen asleep at times (hey, there's - or was - a picture of Jack crashed out at a seminar somewhere, I recall; it was very funny), and been aggravated at pathetically slow pace on others. Some online classes have been stupid, some fabulous. Some self-study has been not worth the effort to click through it, and some has been terrific. I have not found good classes, that appeal to me, on the new law as applied to corp's and p-ships. I want some, and figured I'd ask. The worth to ME is in what I learn - and I don't much give a hoot as to the style (self, webinar, live, trapeze), as long as it's well-done.

When I go to live seminaries, the first thing I do is to find out what's for lunch while I get some coffee and "continental" breakfast. The next thing I remember is that I am sleeping after drinking my coffee. Then it is lunch time, I normally eat a lot so a nap is in order. After my nap, I go and sign my name on the attendance list and voila... the organizers are happy because they got my money, I am happy that I got 8 CPE credits and the IRS is happy because I am studying. I guess I agree with Jack, seminaries make everybody happy. I know Jack... I should request a refund because I didn't learn anything... but then again, why will I risk my 8 CPE credits? I have used www.webce.com/ (apluscpe.com) some years and some other years I have attended Bob Jennings of TaxSpeaker seminars, I have taken live seminars and on line courses from www.natptax.com and I have taken live courses from the Maryland Society of Accounting and Tax Professionals. All of them have some good stuff but Taxspeaker seminars are a bit expensive and again you will get 8 credits as long as you keep your chair warm.

I have efiled about a half dozen 2015's in the last two months. They can be efiled up to mid-Nov when the IRS closes down efiling.