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Interesting. I had a client bring in the same type of notice yesterday that listed all all of the income from the 1099Rs and 1099SSA as being reported to the IRS but not included on the return. It almost looked as though the return was not filed at all because the only other income on the return was income that would not have been reported to the IRS at all (farming, etc). The return was electronically filed with that income, so the taxpayer was going to go home and put his feet up to call them and see what they could tell him about why he got the letter. I am waiting to hear what he finds out.

Over the years I have learned that helping clients with quasi related legal issues is that they avoid retaining competent legal help, which in the long run shoots themselves in the foot and gives us big headaches.

If, BIG IF, this bill passes, looks like ERC claims will be shut down on 1/31/2024. Statute of limitations will be extended on all ERC claims. Tom Longview, TX

With the likely nest version of Windows this fall, I started looking. I always get a new box with the new Windows, avoids update issues, and is a good minimum time to get a fresh box. What I want is the new surface studio because it is the most powerful, bigger screen than the other models, and the kbd folds out of the way, but the price has me pausing. I'll likely try a surface laptop this time, and live with not being able to fold or remove the kbd, as the specs are good, and the screen is a little bigger than the surface pro. Old eyes are more of a "focus" these days...

My office, 15 preparers, only use laptops with docking stations. We all have 2-4 screens on the dock along with label printers, quality speakers and other assorted peripherals. Don't skimp on quality, we use Lenovo's only. i have over 12 tax years and every QB program from 2016 on. Everything gets backed up or stored on a server but my hard drive has about 300 returns and their last 8 years of returns and data on my hard drive. That way i have anything I could need while out in the field.

If you have looked over the issue from a CP2057 notice and determined the original return is correct you do not NEED to do anything. However, if you want to I'd send page 1 of 1040 along with the 2 1099R's.

Try Duckduckgo search engine and web browser for browsing the jungle.

If you filed it correctly then there is nothing to do but move on.

In my experience, not all brokers are knowledgeable. A few years ago I had a client whose broker advised her incorrectly about her RMD. She didn't really understand so I had to email the broker with a copy of the rules that applied to her situation.

Nope, and we use 2 factor authentication so you need the laptop and the user's cell phone to get in.

No. The laptop is encrypted so data on it would be worthless to whoever stole it. (unless they figured out my password) Any desktop could be stolen out of an office just as easily. If I'm gone for a few days, I'll lock my laptop in my desk.

That's a confidence builder

Copied from the website of Current Federal Tax Developments: "Tax Relief for Working Families This title encompasses provisions aimed at expanding the refundable portion of the Child Tax Credit, as specified in IRC §24. The following changes would be made to the Child Tax Credit under the bill. Per-Child Basis Calculation of Maximum Child Tax Credit. The maximum amount of the child tax credit that can be refunded would be determined by multiplying the earned income of the taxpayer exceeding $2,500 by 15% and then multiplying that result by the number of qualifying children. At present, the number of qualifying children does not affect the calculation of the maximum refundable child tax credit. This provision would be in effect from 2023 to 2025. [Act Section 101] Aggregate Restriction for Refundable Child Tax Credit: In addition to the aforementioned cap, the maximum reimbursable child tax credit is further bounded by a fixed monetary sum per child, which is currently set at $1,600 per child, as per the existing law. The bill proposes to elevate the maximum reimbursable amount per child to $1,800 for 2023, $1,900 for 2024, and $2,000 in 2025, along with an inflation modification for 2024 and 2025. [Act Section 102] Inflation Adjustment. The amount of the child tax credit, which is currently set at $2,000, would be indexed to inflation for the years 2024 and 2025, with the result rounded down to the nearest $100. [Act Section 103] Election to Use Prior Year’s Earned Income. Taxpayers will have the opportunity to participate in an election in 2024 and 2025 to utilize the earned income from the preceding year when calculating the child tax credit. This election is available if the taxpayer’s earned income in the current year is lower than the earned income in the previous year. [Act Section 104] IRS to Attempt to Automatically Issue Refunds to Early 2023 Filers. The implementation of these proposed legislative amendments, should they be enacted, would occur, at best, several weeks into the year 2024. Consequently, a substantial number of taxpayers, particularly those anticipating a tax refund, will likely file their tax returns before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is prepared to process returns claiming the revised Child Tax Credit. In order to address this issue, Section 105 of the Act stipulates that, to the greatest extent feasible, the IRS must recalculate the Child Tax Credit based on the aforementioned amendments and any information provided by the taxpayer. In the event that this recalculation results in a refund, the agency is obligated to issue said refund or credit as expeditiously as possible."

If this bill becomes law, hopefully the IRS will handle it like they handled the early filers with Unemployment Compensation in their returns several years ago. The IRS did not require amendments and the IRS handled the tax recalculations internally and refunded the tax overpayments in the late summer and early fall of that year.

Exactly!!!!!

For surface, depending on the model, something like the image is handy to add other items. I use BT for keyboard and mouse wheel. Plugged into the adapter are HDMI monitor, SD card (for a local backup), ethernet, label printer, USB stick (second local backup), USB drive (third local backup), and when needed, a code signing dongle (USB). This way, I can add more than typical, and only have to plug in one item when I grab the surface "to go". I keep a second power adapter in our motorhome, and a third in my suitcase. I will often take the periphal adapter with me, as it also has two USB C ports, in case we don't have enough to charge phones where we are at. The surface keyboard stays behind the device (on my desk). I also have an HDMI cable with me when er are away, so I can plug it into whatever monitor is available. I will also bring my main keyboard and mouse wheel with me. The mouse wheel means I do not need any space for it as it can sit on my knee, on a couch/chair arm, anywhere I can reach, even if not smooth and flat. Much of the time I "write" via voice, so a keyboard can be moot too. My prior surface (6 I think) had an SD slot, the current ones do not. I also have a single phone with ATT and Verizon on it, which can switch real time to the best connection, and we bring along a starlink when not on a hotel trip. Handy at home too as I can run it off batts, generator, or from EV power. I would never go back to a desktop, worrying about a UPS to prevent loss from power outages and such. The surface also automatically limits charge to 80% when connected to power long term, which is less bad for the batt - and an easy click to make it charge to 100% when desired. Now, if the surface was water resistant, that would be a game changer, since hot tub breaks I would not have to "work" via phone/splashtop! I have played with huge monitors, dual monitors, curved monitors. I prefer a single flat 27 diagonal gaming monitor, landscape. I want something I can see with just eye movement. Some of the large ones, maybe most, the resolution is too high, making things look too small unless one artificially reduces res or increases magnification/font size. Old eye syndrome... Not that I know it all or have the perfect, it just works for me.

I know some people (not many) who are running their desktop from a tablet. Either use wireless hardware or get a USB splitter that will accommodate several plugins. Hence, the value of using a Surface, as Margaret said. You can do as little or as much as you want. Pretty much any scenario is possible. My problem is that when we added on my office addition, we should have gone BIGGER. My assistant brought this home when she mentioned the other day that she wished she had more room on her desk.

I've been using laptops for 20 years. In the office my laptop is set up as if I had a desktop computer with 2 external monitors, wireless keyboard and mouse. When I take the laptop with me I can run my office completely and client's have no idea. This past summer we took a vacation to Normandy France and Paris - took my laptop and could answer client questions each day. After dinner I'd get online for 20-30 minutes and get everything caught up so I didn't have a pile on my desk.

I use a 17" Acer laptop with the pointer turned off and use the keyboard. This is not my main computer, BUT, could be. Any bookwork or returns prepared on the laptop are exported to a jump drive and imported into my desktop for revue and filing. Even with my diagnosis of Macular Degeneration; I don't, as yet, have a problem with the 17" screen and it is running Windows 11. I could add another monitor if I had the room. I also would need to get a wireless printer, but there is no need at this point. Each computer in my office has its own printer at the moment. Good luck with whichever way you choose to go. Generally, I believe that if I want to do something, such as tax prep, I will find a way to do it. So far, I haven't let age or left-handedness hold me back.

During Covid isolation,we set my brother up with a laptop, two 27" monitors, wireiess keyboard, remoting into his desktop in office. Occasionly, had to call me to reboot his desktop. Probably 250 returns prepared remotely.

Move to a laptop with a docking station, two monitors and wireless keyboard and mouse. (this is something for everybody to consider a few years prior to retirement, so you do it on your own time when it is time for the last computer purchase). When are in the office, you dock your laptop and use the wireless keyboard for extra flexibility. When you are out of the office, you can carry your laptop and connect to your cell's hotspot features to efile. The only problem I have noticed with this set up is that my computer doesn't list my cell as an option for internet access. Most of the time, I have to turn off and on wireless on my laptop and I also turn off and on my hotspot feature on my phone. Another disadvantage with this is the fact that you might lose your laptop and then it will be a bad time to retire but an option.

I have a Surface Pro 7+ and love it. It's my second Surface Pro, needed to upgrade to Win 11 and more. My main desktop is custom built by my computer guru, no games, etc. and he knows everything about it because he built it.

Surface pro 8 is my main. When static, I plug it into a big monitor. When mobile, it works fine too. Prob swapping to surface studio when W12 hits. A slightly bigger display when mobile. I don’t like tablets unless they are convertible - sans keyboard - as they take up too much space on my desk. I like one specific keyboard layout, not what they use on a laptop. The other brand machines seem less sturdy and the built into surface is a plus. If you get a surface pro you get the good pro security without having to upgrade windows.

Thanks all for rearranging my perspective. The client used the term 'donation' to the producer and I didn't think through the issue. I will be back in touch to confirm the likely scenario described by Lion EA which I think is correct. The fact that the producer is a personal friend of like mind and wants to help should not color the situation. Yes, my church (treasurer here) uses a for profit company owned by a member for printing materials. I just have too many things rattling around in the brain at this time. This forum is such a gem!