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A big part of this is showing Laura all these great posts and likes. She said I have a lot of wonderful friends who appreciate a good pair of shoes. I'm still working on understanding that. PS. She says she dresses from the shoes up.

Gorgeous necklace, totally kick-ass killer shoes, and a great story too! Thank you for sharing! I'm so glad it all went so well after your panicked search.

With a mess like this, and what I assume was a "self-prepared" return, he might be better off to try to explain the situation himself to whoever is conducting the correspondence audit and plead ignorance. Could he get a letter from a clergy person that knows of the relationships and the circumstances to write saying that the children were his grandchildren by marriage to their grandmother and that they lived with him over half of the year? Or school records showing his address as the address for the children? And put that with a letter in his own, non-technical words, explaining the situation and then hope for the best. And while he is waiting for a response to that, start saving up to repay some or all of the credits. Who knows, he might get lucky depending on whose desk this lands on.

I think the certificate would indicate who the parents are and would tie him in that way. I may call the division of vital records but am just about shot on this one. I really love my little tax business but I simply now lack the ooomph to deal with these compllicated situations as I once did when I was spry and willing.

SendSafe from CPaperless only works with Outlook - which itself has security flaws big enough to drive a truck through, sideways.

I dress from the shoes up a lot too - but more for comfort than looks. I love that necklace - and the shoes, although i don't wear heels anymore. Your wife has great taste!

I had a client who voluntarily disclosed foreign accounts during the amnesty program and the IRS wanted six back years. (They asked questions about minutia and asked for supporting docs for well over a year before accepting them, so they really did review them with a fine tooth comb.) I had several IRS examiners as classmates in my MS program, and at the time they were being trained in the then new requirements. They told us that the agency was looking for "back door" disclosures, i.e., people suddenly filing with foreign accounts or amending returns to report them. These were to be flagged as violations of FATCA so are not a good way to resolve the delinquency. On the other hand, the IRS's goal is to collect money owed and not to put people in jail or the poor house. All of the good seminars I've attended on this subject were conducted by attorneys, and you might advise your client to consult one. The penalty for not filing is 50% of the highest balance of the account during EACH year. It could quickly drain the account. Even during the amnesty period, when penalties were greatly reduced, my client ended up paying far more than if he had just reported the income each year and paid the tax. Failure to file FBARs is a criminal violation, but during the voluntary compliance programs the IRS agreed not to pursue criminal charges. That is over, another reason why your client should consult an attorney.

Your husband and I have a lot in common

I hid the card and gift under her morning workout clothes as she hits the home gym before I'm up, so she had a nice surprise. That evening we had a great dinner at Caffe Italia in Marblehead. I wanted to see the sunset but the extra glass of wine took precedence. Yes, she was thrilled and very happy, so was I. I knew you would ask so I took a couple of pictures of the Murano glass necklace and her shoes, she loves shoes.

I guess I'm a bit confused. As Rita said, the birth certificate only proves someone was born. In this case, the birth certificate will never prove these children are his. As a step father or step grandfather it seems he can still claim the dependents if all of the requirements are met. However, I think I would run from this as well. The waters are already muddy and it doesn't appear they will clear anytime soon. If you choose to take this on, take Catherine's advice. CYA at all costs, I might even go as far as contacting my E & O insurance if I really thought about doing this.

I checked out obtaining the records from the DMV and examined their required form. I found it inline with what Max stated in his comment. Unless I am greatly mistaken the relatives have to be kin to the grand children genetically. However if you will check their form DMV Virginia Birth Certificate Application and find you agree I would greatly value your opinion. I thought to add it to this comment but find I lack the tech skill to accomplish it. ETA - Link to vital records at VA DMV - https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/general/#vital.html And the form itself with page 2 listing required i.d. and documents acceptable:

Thank you to everyone for all the well wishes and a special thanks to our leader Judy for teaching me an important lesson. Don't trust yourself to remember something that may cause a problem if you forget.

Just WOW! You have excellent taste in gifts. That necklace is stunning. The shoes are beautiful but make my old feet hurt just looking at the pointy toes. I'll bet your wife is beautiful, too, and so appreciative of your generosity and obvious love.

Beautiful, Bill. I am happy for the both of you. And...Many Many more years to nice folks. ?...What'd you get....

I just returned from the CCH User Conference where someone mentioned SendSafe. I know nothing about it other than some CCH users are also using SendSafe for email. I use CCH's SiteBuilder website with FileShare included. I send tax returns and other documents with SSNs or other identifying data only via FileShare. My clients are getting better about sending me their data, signature pages, etc., via FileShare. All they have to do to receive my file is follow the link in the email they receive on my behalf from FileShare (I can edit the default email if I wish, globally or case-by-case). If it's their first time, it's follow the link and choose their own password. I've also been using CCH's eSign to send signature pages/tax return for signatures. Clients have found it easy. (Except teens without a credit history that can't pass the authentication.) NY is the only state that does not accept eSign, so I don't use it for my commuters nor NY residents. I was pleasantly surprised when my first few clients this past season, who were very non-computer literate, had their return plus I had their signature pages back in seconds. The eSign software does all the work of combining spouses' signatures into one form and returning it to me. The client doesn't have to know anything about getting their signatures back to me; no printing, signing, scanning, uploading, etc., on their part.

Thank you so much Judy. It was a long week, and I was a little worried for awhile thinking the necklace will only be found if and when we move. But with all the encouragement around here I could not give up. I also did Elaine's happy dance when I found it!

I can't find anything that defines "grandfather" for purposes of this use. I really tend to agree with you that he is out of luck, since the stepdaughter will not cooperate with him. Perhaps next time he will realize that you were not trying to be difficult when you did not want to claim this credit for his return. Or not - there is always some family member that knows the tax law better than we do.

Bill, your wife certainly has great taste. The necklace and shoes are awesome, as of course, are you! The husband and I were reminiscing after I showed him your wife's shoes because I had a very similar pair that I wore way, way back when we were dating. He said he couldn't take his eyes off of them. Thanks for sharing.

Bill, I'm so glad you found the necklace! I'm back in business too with a new lock, multiple keys stored safely, and the key code written down and registered with the company.

I think you advice to her is excellent, but i have no idea what is considered an acceptable reason for not filing or what the chances are that she will escape penalties. I would love, however, to hear how this turns out.

I think it is a reach. Just an off the cuff unresearched answer. He can't work as a PE without the education, and so the education gives him a new skill. I may be wrong. Tom Modesto, CA

I have for someone with Canadian bank accounts but it was during the amnesty program which has ended. We did the Streamlined Filing program which may or may not be available to your client. She will be liable for some penalties but I think if you have good reason they could be waived, at least that was the case during the amnesty time period. Check out the FBAR website. I also have one with an Italian bank account whose doctor told her not to file, people always listen to their doctors and barbers.

The fist thing I tell my users is to grab the laptop by itself and play Vincente Fernandez from youtube. If they cannot hear a famous voice, most likely they won't hear another user. What is common these days is that users connect a monitor that doesn't have speakers using HDMI cables and they cannot hear anything. As you might know, most users don't, HDMI cables transmit sound to the monitor which lacks an output device. I said laptops because my employer only has laptops.

Yes we do, that's what friends are for.