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Thanks Gail. I actually had an IT person login remotely and check my computer yesterday afternoon into the evening. He used Teamviewer. He was able to see that the program would not allow me to create any efiles. We created a new file and got the same message "none of the forms in the file are eligible for efile" He also watched me go to EFile Manager and attempt to send a file that I had created the day before. He saw that it showed "unable to transmit error in file" even though the federal had transmitted at midnight the night before. He ran virus detection with BitDefender and no issues there. He found in a blog online a suggestion to re-download forms. So We also tried re-downloading all forms for the return using Support/Customer Support Utilities/Redownload forms in marked returns. That also did not work. In desperation, I logged onto ATX and opened a case and explained in detail my issues. Low and behold this morning I went into my program and was able to create an efile with the same file that it rejected yesterday, I then went to EFile manager and was able to send the return it said yesterday that had an error. I also transmitted the new file I created today. I am unsure what happened overnight but I feel so blessed that my program is now working. Thank you everyone for the replies to my desperate message!

https://www.natlawreview.com/article/cares-act-relevant-tax-summary

I don't know how people bill in short time increments at all. Don't you spend so much time keeping track of time that it's hard to get any work done? We try to keep track of our time but actually bill clients by complexity. I start a return, get two must-take phone calls, a client or two drop in with docs and questions, the printer jams, a colleague needs help, the boss drops in to vent or tell a joke.... Three hours later how do I know how much time I devoted to the return on my desk? And did I have to keep track of the time spent on those calls or drop ins to bill those clients? Do you keep a stop watch on your desk? I once got the probate filings for an estate, and the attorney's bill actually listed the time spent on opening the mail. I am really curious about how those of you who bill in short time intervals do it.

I have multiple lawyer friends / coworker arrangements and 15 minutes is pretty normal. You do a 2 minute call - bam $75 charged. I had a lawyer in my office on Monday late in the day and we talked about nothing for an hour. On Wednesday I ask if he was ever going to get me that folder of documents and he says he gave it to me Monday - that's why he was at my office. I tear up my office looking for this huge file - nope. I KNOW he didn't give it to me but he's sure he did. He looks everywhere in his home, office, car on Thursday and can't find it. It's got to be in my office. His dad calls me this morning and asks why a huge folder of tax documents meant for me is sitting on his recliner. Heart attack averted.

I cannot post to Judy or to Catherine or to the topic ATX 1040 Tax Covers or start a new topic. This began the day the ATX 1040 Tax Covers began and has progressed to this afternoon, blocking me from more and more threads and more and more members. I don't know why I'm blocked. I would appreciate any help posting on the board.

This just came from Drake. Beware of Stimulus Payment Scams Tax Professionals — here’s what taxpayers need to know about stimulus payment processing in order to protect themselves from scammers: Be alert for phone scams. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury Department, or any other government agency will not contact you by phone to collect information for stimulus payment processing. Period. Be alert for phishing scams. Government agencies will not email or text you to collect information for stimulus payment processing. Watch for suspicious emails or texts with links or attachments requesting information for processing stimulus deposits or checks. If you receive one, do not click the link or open the attachment. It’s a scam. Delete it. Be alert for state-related scams. State agencies will also not call, email or text you to collect information or a fee to process a stimulus payment. To date, no state has introduced their own version of a stimulus payment. As of now, we are only aware of one communication a taxpayer will receive from the IRS. No later than 15 days after distributing a stimulus payment, the IRS is required to mail a notice to the taxpayer indicating the payment amount, whether the payment was mailed or deposited, and a phone number to call if the taxpayer did not receive the payment. Victims or targets of stimulus payment scams should report it immediately to the Federal Trade Commission, www.ftc.gov/complaint.

I've been keeping tax returns open (in Drake) while doing anything for the client. Drake tracks time per return. Helps me decide who gets discounts, and whose bill gets none, and what clients are definitely more trouble than they are worth.

This was through an email from my state society. There was a link with other IRS changes that I'll post about separately in a different topic.

I'm finishing up a joint return for a couple both under 65 and who were about $600 shy of exceeding the standard deduction. It appeared on the surface that the standard deduction would give the higher refund, however there was a need to "force" itemizing temporarily (or so I thought!) in order to split the data and create a separate file in my program for only the wife to generate her married-separate nonresident DE return, and then I planned to remove the checkbox to again switch back to the (higher) standard deduction. When I went back to the joint federal return, I found that their refund had increased by over $2,200 because using the slightly lower itemized deduction figure allows them to claim and use up the remaining AMT credit carryover on form 8801. If the wife didn't benefit by filing that nonresident state return on a separate basis, I may have missed this and the $2,200+ credit would have continued to carry over.

I've seen AMT credits in the past. I've also seen instances where MFS works better. Odd, sometimes, how tax rules, phase-outs, and limitations interact.

That looks to be what I am trying to do. The last time I had this issue I had to get info on how the scholashps were applied. The scholarships requiring the payment of tuition and related expenses must be considered tax free I am assuming. Other scholarships not so construed I assume could be shown as taxable income to the student and payments made by the parents for books and a computer would apppear to qualify for the AOC. In this instance the scholarships are far in excess of the tuition expense and would easily cover the books and computer they bought for their daughter. In point of fact the scholarship income exceeds not only the computer but not a few peripheral items as well which leads me to feel they have no AOC due.

1.- Maryland has declared tax preparation as essential 2.- State refunds are barely taxable because of the 10K limitation on Sch A 3.- ATX is not allowing me to select a date after April 15 to pay 1040 amount due, despite the fact that due data is July 15.

Well, I work for myself without employees so its a lot easier for me. Also, I don't usually interrupt a current work project to take phone calls and try to work straight through a block of time on a project. I don't charge for quick phone calls either and only keep track if the call is lengthy. When I worked in firms, I did have to write it all down and kept the timesheet or my appt book handy. Doing it all at the end of the day would have been a chore and would have missed some things. It's just something we all got used to.

In 15 minute increments?

Did you charge him for the time spent looking for the file? Tom Modesto, CA

When the smallest increment is 15 minutes, it's easy to add up to more than 8 hrs in an 8 hr day, especially if working for a firm that doesn't allow for much, if any, administrative time. The last 2 firms I worked for billed by time in 10ths of an hour, every 6 minutes, and that's how I still track my time too.

They call those people LAWYERS. Tom Modesto, CA

Yes, the IRS coronavirus FAQs confirm that 2016 amended refund statute of limitations is 4/15/20, not 7/15/20.

It's those peripheral functions, such as PTIN, FOIA, etc., that seem to call. The IRS for income tax related issues does not initiate contact via telephone. I've had IRS call after an issue is being worked on via mail, email, etc. (I did have a treasury agent knock on my door at 7:30 am one year; I wish he'd called. Scared my husband.)

This is true. Some years ago I posted here that I had a message from the PTIN desk that my PTIN may have been compromised. I called them with the number I had on file and sure enough they issued me a new PTIN. And as a note, there were no fraudulent returns filed under my number so their system worked well, for me anyway.

I have some clients who are jerks. Oops, that's a typo. I have some former clients who are jerks.

I had a couple of sharks sitting in my office, and I got so mad, I stood up, slammed my hand on the desk, and said, "Look. Pay me whatever you think is fair and get the F*** OUT OF MY OFFICE!" They silently laid a check on my desk and left without saying a word. My employee sitting at reception... her eyes were as wide as saucers. Felt good. Felt really good. Those sharks soon left town after wearing out their welcome with everyone, and almost bankrupting a local nonprofit they were 'managing'.

They really can be jerks. This is the client who gets the nice letter from me: "It's me, not you (it's you). My business is going in a new direction (away from you). Best wishes for your continued success (aggravating the next poor soul to death)."

They're 'mental health aids'.

I'm not getting the "home and bored" calls, just dozens of panicked emails from small business clients who are trying not to go under, with questions about all the various provisions. There's so much news floating around, plus all the things that 45 says and I have to explain to clients aren't actually real, or are only proposals. It's all a muddle at this point! I'm high-risk, so I'm only going to the post (where I can drop off and pick up without going to the counter or standing in line), the bank drive thru, and my chiro doc. But like many of you, I'm a natural introvert, so this isn't that different from usual. I do have a niece nearby who I'll ask to do some shopping for me at some point. But it being tax season, i was already stocked up pretty well. A lot of restaurants here are trying to survive by switching to curbside pickup, or delivery, so trying to support them. I do find I really want good hearty comfort food! Otherwise, I'm still trying to get caught up with the returns I have. I'll probably send out reminder emails later this week to the folks who haven't come in yet, reminding them that if they get refunds, or have estimated taxes, we want to get those returns done, and they should mail or drop off their stuff.

Turn off the ringers on your phones.

It is very good to see some of us pausing in these terrible times to talk to each other, and advise of problems we're having. Misfortune has fallen on some of our most familiar forum members. If we live very long (as most of us have), we've been through storms of life. Some periods of time are just horribly difficult. These critical times don't happen every year, in fact just a few times in our lifetime. The tough times in my life are different than yours. Different than my next door neighbor - but he has been through the storms of life just like the rest of us. I have been through a few of these major events - and I'm not just talking inconvenient nuisances - I talking about times so bad I didn't know how to get through. They don't happen to us very often, but the kind of people we are deep inside are what pulls us through. One of my favorite bluegrass songs is "Mansion on the Hill" where a father and daughter drive to the edge of town and look high upon the hill where sits a mansion behind copper gates. They wish they could be like the residents and wish for their riches and lifestyle. But they have no idea what these wealthy people have going on in their lives - very possible those rich folks would prefer to swap lives with the father and daughter down below. For Posse and Judy, and anyone else with trying times, it is good that you take the time to advise us of what's going on. Gives many forum members the chance to show they really care. In particular Judy - some of you know that Judy and I have had a number of knock-down, drag-out disagreements. But all of you know that there is none among us more professional, more knowledgeable, or more helpful than she. And I join the rest of you in hoping for the best possible results in her corner of the world. Happy that many of you have belief in prayer - I'm not saying that I don't - but somewhat perplexed about my own effectiveness. We have some great people among us, and I'm told that the prayers of righteous people are heard.