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Thanks to all of you. I have been telling him for years that I would be uncomfortable with handling any changes with income out of the country, so it should not be a total shock to him that I don't want to take this on. Just handling all of the ongoing changes in this country gives me more than enough to do.

Maybe one of the executors will be the designed "Tax Matters Executor" and the other the designated driver when they come to your office. I am assuming that this should work like two partners filing form 1065.

Your clients need to know if they are due a refund or face a potential tax liability. You are looking out for the interest of your new clients. If you are straight forward with them and sensitive to the situation (which you obviously are), they will respect you for it.

Totally agree. There will be a lot more to this than FACTA reporting, e.g., foreign payroll taxes for employees. I have a couple of clients with foreign business income, but both have an accountant in the other country handle the accounting, compliance, and tax returns. All I get is the final return with the income and foreign taxes paid so it's not too bad. Well, then there's the bank statements and currency conversions. If you are not comfortable bow out gracefully. I would turn this one away too.

Easytax, you forgot the ornament. Here's one for your new tree:

I hope this has not happened to any of you, but if it did I would like to hear from you what happened. I received an email from a client that was suppose to be a document he forwarded to me via drop box. Like an idiot I followed the directions and signed into what I thought was drop box via my email account. After looking at the document I thought it was a bit strange, yet still related to tax issues and sort of in character for this client, so I paid it no mind. This morning in another email account that I only use for things that are not important (never given to clients) a similar email showed up, this time however it was flagged (different email provider) as potential spam, so I did not open it. Then came the dawn. I immediately went to reset my pass word to my email account but before I could finish a flood of emails were sent to my contacts containing this same file. I proceeded to reset my password, sent a warning email to all contacts not to open it, and took my computer down to my IT guy who is currently checking it for viruses ect..... My concern is that this is going to turn out to be a Ransom Ware problem, not just an email hack. Has anyone else had this happened (I hope not, and I feel so stupid because I am extremely cautious and careful in this regard, and should have known better, as this is not how DropBox works)? Did you find out anything? I am so nervous right now all I want to do is cry, and I don't cry easy!

When I log on to e-services, I've always been a little puzzled by why it has 3 names listed for me, and which one I should select. First is my nmae as an individual; next is my complete firm name; and last is the complete firm name followed by my address. Today I logged on using the third one with the address and tried to apply for the TIN matching service, I didn't get passed the first screen where a pop up box told me I wasn't allowed to use this service or that it didn't like my firm EIN. Now, I'm sure that I entered everything correctly and I think I should be able to apply for the TIN matching. What am I doing wrong besides trying to interact with IRS' computer on a Monday?!

Ringers, If you "lose" another line ---- consider doing the verification via phone (answer yes to all beginning questions on "do you have") and go through the verification online. Once you get to the phone part, enter your number --- let the system tell you your phone does not qualify //// at which time it, when you try again --- it will tell you they have confirmed you BUT that they (IRS) will mail you the verification code since the phone you have will not work. It works, as I am awaiting my "mail" code now. My phone is listed to me BUT apparently was not acceptable to the IRS -- so they just gave me the "mail" code. My question to them is (answers are unclear) will I be able to use MY PHONE to get future codes since I am verified or will I NEED a VERIFIED to me phone? Initial verification is clear --- NEEDED /// but follow-up for doc's etc. is muddy in the instructions. By the way JKLcpa, I am listed as an ERO (what I use e-services for, EFIN, etc.) but received the letter to "verify" under the GET-Transcripts or lose e-services via my IRS letter ---- which is only reason I used the procedure --- all my e-services login's etc. have never mentioned getting verified /// just the Get-Transcripts; which I several years ago started to use / but never did (except for messages - system down, back up, etc.). and have several names under e-services ----- all with same login, etc.. so it may be your system (unless they have some of the names you have listed as in-active or out of business).

I have one family that owns a hotel out of the country. FACTA and FinCen and 5471 and more. However, the hotel's books are taken care of by a high-end firm in that country, and they have a currency pegged to the US Dollar so no conversion issues. I get audited financials for the 5471 (that I double-check but do not prepare), I warn all members to file their FBAR/FinCen forms. The one member who has most responsibility has his own tax guy but I do provide the 5471. Other than the 5471 the whole set of returns is pretty straightforward. That's as far as I go. Another client had some joint ventures out of the country and I told him flat-out to get someone else. Foreign operations, foreign employees, currency conversions, foreign taxes, foreign assets (including possibly buildings and land as well as equipment), treaties with multiple nations -- nope. There isn't enough hair dye in the world for me to get involved.

IL Society of CPAs has a link to "Rules for the Administration of the Illinois Public Accounting Act" where it took me to this page: http://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/068/068014200000700R.html On that page I found this: Based on the above, it appears that webinars would count as a "live" program if they are by a NASBA approved sponsor, but definitely check with the webinar vendor. As Black Bart says, they may be able to tell you more. Sorry about the lousy formatting. Once I copied/pasted, this board tried to keep that formatting for my commentary as well.

An engagement filled with potential land mines. I had a similar situation many years ago with a long-time client who was a trusted friend. After I spent a few hours researching it, I told him there was no way I'd be involved. He needed someone with vastly more experience and much deeper pockets. And even if you get it right on this end, you have to be sure and get it right on the other end. This was a fairly simple operation overall, but not worth the risk.

You won't have any trouble eating all your Christmas cookies with that kind of tree around giving you the munchies.

Me, too! .