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While reviewing a client's return yesterday, I noticed that my software (Drake) had switched him to using the sales tax deduction, even though he had significant income withholding. It took me a while to figure this out, but I finally noticed that it was related to the fact that he had paid about $ 8,500 in property tax. His sales tax table deduction was slightly higher than the remaining space between his property taxes and the $10K SALT limitation, so Drake switched him over without any input from me. That eliminates jumping through any hoops to calculate the taxable portion of the state income tax deduction next year. I suppose most tax software would take that same approach. Nice touch.

Gail, exercising the good manners bred into us here in Virginia has failed to mention that we may have no governor to sign the enacted legislation.

It can matter if there is a state tax refund. Claiming sales tax makes the state refund not taxable next year. And my state (MD) allows sales tax as an itemized deduction but not income tax, so it can save state taxes too! On one return this year, I did an analysis to see if it was better to force itemized (it was) and then if it was better to take sales tax instead of income tax (it wasn't). It's not as simple of a decision as it seems on the surface.

Needed half a filing cabinet to contain it all...........

I had to read this a few times, and thought about my past, and it definitely rings true! Then I grew up.

A man finds it very easy to misunderstand something when he senses that understanding it is going to cost him money.

They'll get the janitor in to sign it, or something.

I'll Google and bookmark their website. I found one in my own Taxbook publication which I am wondering why I did not check initially. I rarely have reason to calculate support for any dependents as the great majority of folks I deal with have none.

http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?191+sum+SB1372 I think this is the senate bill that is going forward, if you want to track it Monday.

My mistake - the two committees approved it Friday and the bill is expected to be passed and sent to the Governor Monday. https://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/Agreement-on-Virginia-tax-relief-includes-October-refunds-505570781.html Lnik is to local news story.

Thankfully, NC changed its rules to allow taxpayers who claim the standard deduction on the Federal to switch to itemized on the state if it works to their advantage. There are still some adjustments to be made on the state return, but it's worth evaluating.

However, there are cases where the girlfriend qualifies the taxpayer as HOH under the rules of Other Relative. For instance; if she is not required to file a tax return.

That's sweet! TaxWise doesn't do that.

Yes, I noticed that but "Filing as surviving spouse" does show up in signature space. At least it's half right, or half empty.

I don't know what it stands for, but if you google CFS Tax Software, you should be able to find them. They are a company that makes software to support tax preparers. Tax Tools is their most commonly used program, and is really a program that has a lot of useful utility programs such as loan amortization calculator, flowcharts, worksheets, some tax forms, etc.