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I still have questions about this. First, if the tax software has a MFA to access the software (currently I think ATX has only the password), what happens to the Program Files and Program Data that the software stores on my c drive. Isn't that still subject to hackers without opening my software? Second, if I get a MFA app, once I'm into my computer, isn't my computer subject to any of the hacking out there in cyberville? And how can I trust a 3rd party app anymore than my own computer? Third, does Microsoft have somthing like this thru their os system? I'm just wondering why I would need to send myself a code by text to my cell phone in order to access my own computer? And once I have access to my own computer, isn't my computer susceptible to any online hacking that might be going on? I'm just a one person office, no staff. I turn my computer off every night. I come in the next day, use a key for the outside door of the building, use a second key for the inside door of my office, then turn on my computer, enter the password. Isn't that MULTI-FACTOR??? That unlocks the computer and my c drive. I have a second password for a second hard drive (where I store my pdf files and scan client documents). But the software (ATX) I let install where it installs (the c drive) and I let the software program files and program data install where their software tells it to (the c drive). I learned long ago not to mess with changing this.

The problem with going back to writing checks and putting them in the mail, is that the mail is becoming more and more unreliable, at least where I live. When it sometimes takes 3 WEEKS or more for a check to arrive where you mail it, you cannot rely on that method to pay bills on time. And we have had problems with mail being stolen from not just personal mail boxes but from the blue boxes that belong to the postal service. So what are you going to do?

Yes, I am tired of protecting myself from myself. I am tired of running to get my cellphone because someone is sending me a code to get into a site. I, too, am a sole proprietor with my office in an addition built on to my home. Nobody does or has any reason to go anywhere near my work computer. My husband, who is the only other human living in this house, doesn't even know or want to know how to turn it on. There are two other computers in the original part of the office on which we do data entry, bookkeeping, look things up, etc. My office door to the outside has a double lock and a deadbolt. My filing cabinet has a lock. My main desk has a lock. My computer has a password; my cellphone has a password. My safe has a key. We even shut the watermain off when we leave for the weekend. How safe is safe?? Oh, my outside dropbox also is under lock and key.

No, this inheritance tax is NOT a deductible expense on the estate's income tax form 1041. If form 706 had been required, it could have been a deduction there against the gross estate, but not on the 1041. It also is NOT added to the basis of property. If form 706 is not required, then the basis of the property to the heirs is the appraised value at date of death that is used to calculate the inheritance tax. In the case above, the $440K value will be split between the 10 heirs.

Thanks for the direct link. What I had was something from a newsletter where I can only post a snip. In my naiver days, I would sign reports for others (friends I was doing payroll checks, reports, and creating the checks. I stopped once I wised up. I won't even do payroll for friends, but I will teach them how. Anyone about my age or olde will likely "catch" the name of Mertz. The court definitely said "Nertz to Mertz".

This is a pretty clear cut case of someone who knew what he was doing, was one of only 2 persons in the company to sign check and basically admitted to these facts. Here is a pdf of the case. It's only 8 pages long, but the first 2 will give you a complete picture. COA 365480 JEFFERY C MERTZ V MICHIGAN D... - Per Curiam - Unpublished 06_12_2024.pdf

I used the state bar to get a list of locals who were probate specialists. Also reviewed their discipline records.

Even with the FTC requirement, one can still self-manage. MFA is not required, there are other options. But, when the data is not in your direct control (online), things like MFA become reasonable if the software creating said data does not "do" something else, such as self-managed encryption. The other issues. Computers and software are now appliances. They are expected to do all for you with a button push. Learning how to use computers and software is not something people expect to have to do. Thus, a huge part of programming is preventing human actions from causing issues - rather than the user having any responsibility. So a company which stores your data online is not going to want to let you self-manage since they will not want to deal with customers who have forgotten their security code, login, etc. This is where MFA makes it easier for the vendor (with only a tiny fraction of security) since all you need is access to a device or email account (which even a new scammer can get/spoof easier than the public believes). Then, we deal with those we elect who want to "do" something to prove their worth, such as the myriads of local "protection" laws, which do not even make sense (such as requiring data to be kept in the control of the owner, within the local jurisdiction, so no online storage/backup is practical). Here is another wasteful aspect of MFA. I am using a very popular process to share access with a trusted person, to manage our company web site. It has an MFA aspect, which is a mobile app, and I can see the mobile app creates a MFA code even when not asked for. Not sure if it is constant, or only when I open the new password app on my phone, but maybe once every month I need the MFA code, but it generates and times out what appears to be constantly. How secure it that? How wasteful in resources? One may also want to look at the laws for access. IIRC, face lock does not require a warrant, but a pin type code needs to be compelled by warrant. I use both, but my ultimate protection is a boot/IOS code, which is complicated, cannot be brute forced, and no known (to me) hacks when coupled with BootLocker. MFA has and continues to be less worthy.

Well, if the estate wasn't cash poor and had enough to pay the tax prior to final distributions, it would have been paid from estate's liquid assets prior to heirs receiving the property and they would have received the net value. They will end up in the same position once they sell, if they sell, the property. From form 706 instructions

I totally agree, I rarely write a check for either business or personal bills unless there is no other option and then I use my banks bill paying service.

More and more people are wanting to bail out of this electronic age. As the identity theft becomes more astute, websites/providers are having to put up more hoops to jump through all the time. Many folks are going back to simply writing checks and putting them in the mail, and looking for alternatives to electronic obstacle-dodging.

UltraTax has had MFA since the beginning of the year. It's no big deal and takes maybe 15 seconds extra to log in. The big deal is that we only have one cell phone for the office, so everyone had to give Thompson Reuters their personal cell numbers.

Yes, upon termination the unused losses of the trust or estate will pass to the beneficiaries via the final 1041 Sch K-1.

Well the FTC and the IRS apparently think that we aren't intelligent enough to do these things.