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Well said, John; well said. Many thanks for your kind words (you hand out more grease than we render from a hog-killin'). While, like that country singer, I have (sometimes high) friends in low places; a bank president also once availed himself of my services (wished to confirm that April 15th thing). But anyway, to save you the drive, I'll just furnish a quick summary: Re: taxes - (a) file promptly and (b) UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES sign up to "pay pennies on the dollar". Re: investments - I find it best to buy low, sell high. If you still feel the need for outside assistance please send me your pedigree/particulars via PM (don't forget hair color/ favorite ice cream flavor) and I will forward then to Ms. Tennessee on her very next call.

It may not be a scam. I, for one, would drive to Arkansas from NC to avail myself of your services if I needed tax advice. Money would be no object, and distance would not discourage me. It's entirely possible that there's someone else out there having the same level of discernment that I possess.

As you know there are news stories lately about fraudsters targeting tax preparers. I think my secretary (okay, okay; so it's my wife) may have heard from one this week. She said it was a lady from somewhere in Tennessee who said she'd found our office on Google (news to me - I'm not there unless IRS gave me up). Gosh, it's kind of flattering even if you know it's a lie -- to think my infamy has preceded me to the extent someone's willing to drive hundreds of miles to Hole-in-the-Road, AR to in hopes of accessing my extraordinary 1040 skills . Oh well; them's the breaks!

Cmwtw1t0! Now that's a great password.

No go here either with ATX. Even with a blank 8965 it won't work. Jack must have the magic touch! Most clients say it's unaffordable regardless of the 8.13%. If only we could use "client math" instead.

Telling the client that the money becomes taxable income may be the impetus she needs to suddenly find "copies she had forgotten about" or to get new ones from the day care provider.

After a good night's sleep we all realize LOTS of things that we should have known.

Taxwise won't allow an efile without it, either.

Your client could check with the county (superior) court to try to find out if it's been settled. If it hasn't and if a co-executor was named then that person would be asked to take over the duties. If no co-executor and not settled, then the court must appoint someone. It wouldn't fall on your client, but she could petition the court to be considered for the role.

It did cause excitement, just not the kind ATX was hoping for.

Well, My take is that we do not have any official memo from IRS that we should stop ACA related calculation. I am worried about circular 230 problem. I will continue to follow the current rule at the time of filing. My ATX MAX does scream if box is not checked or 8965 or 8962 calculation.

I got an email earlier this week: Sender: Cadwalader, Wickersham and Taft LLP Subject: Fraudulent card charge Message: Who the f&@k are you and why is there a charge from att.net on my card? Here you can view my statement, get back to me asap. Link to "b of a card statement" Thank You Fred Evans This one almost got me. I never click on links (as many of you here know - even on this board I am very careful). So I hit the reply button and very politely explained that if there was a charge by my company on his card he should send the information in the body of the email. The reply email was undeliverable, meaning this was a scam. There was nothing in the email header to tip me off that this was not a legitimate email. It was only the link in the message that sent up my radar on this one. Be careful out there folks. It is getting harder and harder to see this crap. Remember when it was only the African princes who needed us to cash their checks for them? It ain't like that no more. Tom Newark, CA

The RE taxes go on Sch A but the mortgage interest can only go to Sch A if they don't already have a second home.

Thanks for the heads up. Almost makes one start to think that two separate systems are needed for us in this business. One that has absolutely no client information on it that can be used for email and web surfing. And one strictly for doing client work.

He did not do any work for them but if the payment was to replace lost business due to their blocking his door and preventing customers from entering, would it not just be run in with the other receipts of the restaurant? I can't say that I have had this situation so I might be wrong.

I got that same one last week.

I am just reading this thread for the first time right now. I got the red error when checking the return this morning. Did not try to efile without it because I just forgot to check the box on line 61. Assume it would not have let me create the efile with that red error. I update every time I open the software. Tom Newark, CA

I am jealous that you are getting a good night sleep. Tom Newark, CA

No go on my ATX either.

I can't create without the checkbox or form. I get the error message also, and yes I have auto set for updates and get them several times throughout the day as well. So I think right now it is just a Drake thing. I do not have a clue how Jack is getting them thru.

Enter Zero for Business Use % Enter 0.001 to make the business use % zero.

Well, my version is still 16.5.6229.31762. Is anyone besides Jack able to create an e-file for a non-dependent in ATX while ignoring the issue of health insurance? If not, I'm keeping my trap shut to clients until something changes. No need in getting them excited about a return I can't even e-file.

Yes.

They are an expense on the books but aren't deductible on the return. Nondeductibles are reported on Sch K, line 18c that then flow to a similar line on the K-1s, and is also included on M-1 line 4 if the partnership is required to complete that schedule.

^ that. BHoffman is correct that the IRS system will still accept an extension even if a return has already been filed. Haven't some here filed extensions for clients that haven't brought data in when it gets close to the filing deadline, not knowing whether or not those clients will be coming in or have moved on to other preparers? In those cases, the preparer filing an extension in that circumstance doesn't know if a return was filed by someone else or not.

Maine NR Worksheet B. Rent loss goes in col E. Wages should automatically be in Col D.

She may be able to check the court records if she knows the location to see if final documents were filed and release was provided. Does she know of any relatives of the deceased? I wouldn't think this client would have any personal obligations to the other estate but, well, I'm not a lawyer (love saying that!).

Thanks! That killed if off and is one of the better tips I ever got. That dadgum thing was like the horror movie - "IT FOLLOWS".

Aren't you devious. Me too, but I one-upped you by adding a dollar sign to mine and it flew on through. They'll never break our James Bond style secret codes now with all this disguising stuff.

I haven't had the exact issue, but a friend of mine did not get her SS check one month because SSA said she was dead. She had to take all of her information to the local social security office and prove she wasn't before they started her checks again. Good thing she is not one of those people who have absolutely nothing every month until their check comes in.

Thanks for all the replies. I have located 2005 from a local preparer. I have my old XP laptop that I will install it on. So thanks for all the help. NY wants it. The client hasn't filed in 10 years. So they have figured his taxes for him and he owes quite a bit. First he has to get his paperwork in order and I'm not doing that for him, not my problem. I've done 2006 - 2016 for him but he has to find his 2005 W-2 or get it from somewhere. I'm not doing it for him.

I went through the process when I originally got the letter. Couldn't get through on line, so I called the number and was verified there. Now I'm evidently suspended. The IRS representative assured me that all was OK at the time. Why can't they even deal with their own procedures?

Extensions can be efiled and accepted AFTER the return has been efiled and accepted. The extension will not be rejected. I have done it myself on my own return by mistake

The Taxpayer Protection Program is used only after the client receives a notice from IRS. I wouldn't automatically assume fraud. After all, whoever opened the mail did put it back into the postal system. I'd think a fraudster would not have done that. I would urge the client to get the return finished sooner than later, and if the efile is rejected then I'd re-file with 14039. I wouldn't go through the hassle of filing an incomplete return with the intention of later filing an amended return.

Has there been an update? I am still getting a red error when I try to create an e-file without line 61 checked and no 8965.