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So, the law has not changed, and people are supposed to pay a penalty for choosing to forgo paying five prices for health insurance that used to be affordable but isn't now. Now we are in a position to say to them, "You'll get away with it if you don't pay". Actually, we've kinda been in that position the whole time on this one. This is a really crappy position to be in, and I'm wondering if we're also supposed to be telling people who owe income and self-employment taxes that they can just not file for eight years and all will be well. They still owe, the law didn't change, but they'll get away with not paying because IRS won't pursue collection. I mean, if our people who file and pay get wind of this, are they going to sue us, too? And what if we advise people to lay low for eight years, and IRS changes their policy and says, "Nope, the law is the law, we will pursue collections forever"? Do those folks sue us, too? Yes, I am being facetious. A little. But not all that much.

someone referred me (insurance investment guy who has a really great other tax guy) to help them get their income down as they could not afford marketplace - sad story - she now has stage 4 cancer, told hubby to close his car repair business - I thought to take care of her - in their 50's - she plans on beating this.. son, 33 has kidney dialysis - since early age, so her soc sec she is now receiving - had a good job puts them up - along with the rents they receive from the rental - oh 3 rentals at 4,000 income but they are going to sell them probably - she does their own taxes - Have you been depreciating? any of the appliances you purchased? writing off? your husbands capital purchases? building, shop? to high for them to afford marketplace. You know - unless you want to take a chance you will never get audited - the depreciation is allowed or allowable and is income against the sale price - deer in the headlight look and the income needs to come down to offset the interest and dividends and RMD from the million and a half inheritance her husband just received from his dad just passing away.. I am sorry. She said she would just bring the rental part back to me - she would probably email me - I said look up Safe Harbor election - I doubt I will answer her email - silly me and horrible office staff - not totally their fault as she did not want to give any information - do not have any info to bill her - and she absolutely did not give off any vibes that she was going to pay anything - during this time of year - and thank you - I will choose my charities - bad me , bad investment guy - cross him off my list and here I just convinced my brother to let him have my mom's insurance proceeds from her husbands passing - time to let bro have his investor handle it!! write a book!

WI: Ok. Someone referred you someone who needed help. Nothing wrong with that. I would send them a thank you for doing that. The actual person? Maybe they were crazy. Sorry that they are having medical problems. Sorry that she thinks the best thing that they can do is get into the insurance exchange and have the government pay for her cancer treatments, and her son's dialysis. Cry me a river. There are times when I can seem pretty harsh. If she was in my office, I would have sent her on her way. I *can't* help you to commit fraud. I *can't* help you if you don't really want to be help, and you want something that you *can't* have. Which is free money from the government and you don't want to pay your share... Rich

Are you a busy tax preparer and people don't respect your time?, this video is for you:

This isn't a penalty. Penalties can be waived or abated. The individual mandate was ruled by the Supreme Court to be a tax. If they had ruled it to be a penalty, we would not be having this discussion. The individual mandate is a tax, and it is in place as a law. The IRS is charged with enforcing the tax law. The President's duty is to uphold the law. Only Congress has the authority to make or change the law. So, IMHO, we don't have the option of failing to properly report the individual mandate tax if we know or should have known it applies.

Next time they call you back/email ask them to pick a time and method of payment for their appointment.

But would you like them in a group Maybe with some chicken soup? Or would you like them one by one, Maybe that would be some fun. Would you let them on your screen If they helped to keep it clean? Would you like them if they spoke Or perhaps told a funny joke? If none of these can ring your bell Then perhaps the blue triangles can go to .... !

Go to your preference and select client communication and I put a check mark on the box that says will be efiled when 8879 is signed and returned. Otherwise you will have to change it on each client.

The script I posted comes from this video, I recommend you watch it:

I am with you Joe...Let us turn off the Blue Triangles. I know how to search if I need too. I do not need to be reminded on EVERY line item. Sheesh. Stupid programmers. I can build it, I don't have to use it... Rich

Headaches - unending problems - relentless phone calls & emails. Potential PITA right out of the gate.

well I am not clever like that but no! I do not like the blue triangles and even LESS i do not like the pop-up box!!!!

And keep in mind too, that we are preparing 2016 of which Trump was not the president and had no authority, therefore I do not see how an executive order signed the following year when he began his presidency would affect this filing year. Perhaps 2017, but not 2016 unless he signs something else that will retro-active it back to 2016. Just my 2 cents worth!

Do you like Blue triangles? I do not like them, A-T-X. I do not like Blue triangles. Would you like them Here or there? I would not like them Here or there. I would not like them Anywhere. I do not like Blue triangles. I do not like them, A-T-X.

I'm in the same boat as you RitaB. Still getting the red error message when the box is unchecked.

Exactly. And you still have tax preparers telling people not to file that 2007 tax return with taxes due. Not because they don't owe, but because they will get a pass from IRS. And us poor schmucks and our poor schmuck clients who paid up in 2007 just keep our heads down and keep footing all the bills.

Arconis is the software to clone the drive.

I believe it is the $28,995 is the starting point - because if this had been a cash-only transaction, that would have been the price paid i.e., the fmv. After you take that starting point, then you have to deal with the trade-in of the old truck and possible depreciation recapture on it, and all the other adjustments. But start from the final cash price.

I'm Sorry..........

This should come with a warning for epileptics!

I am not using ATX any more so I cannot help you there. However, the law has not changed regarding depreciation. In Drake, I can select any method of depreciation that I want. There may be something or a setting in the ATX program that needs to be changed. Have you tried to contact ATX support??

Because we have easier ways to hurt ourselves...

If these are unrelated people, what you paid after the discounts is the FMV.At that point, the FMV and the cost are the same. After you pull out from the dealer's parking lot, the FMV of the car is less than the cost. So technically, you paid $28K, but if you don't put the truck in service until the following day, depreciation should be calculated at the FMV which will be less than $28K, but no one does that.

other scam - caller says "Can You hear me?" - do not reply yes!!! as then they record...

yes - I would use the $28... think if it was not traded, and paid in cash - you would use the $28,

Deb, Thank you!!!!

Thanks Catherine. That's what I did. Seems like nobody is paying the MSRP, so that is not really the FMV.

YoU aRe GeTtInG SlEePy....SLEEPY...sleepy.....sleepy......sleepy.............

I agree but the client machine would need to update daily and transmit. I wonder if it would be possible to have some type of switch that would allow you to connect and disconnect from the internet when needed. Hmmm

Great idea! I have already been hit once, and I am extremely careful now, but then again I thought I was then too! But the second computer would be great, just don't have it connected to the network or it still could infect the other computers.

Sometimes you just can't help it. So tire you don't have a choice you're body caves in.

The copy sent to the Social Security System must have the entire number on their copy of the W-2. The employees could verify with the employer that his/her number is correct on the SS copy of the W-2 by signing a verification form or what have you. The instructions for the 1099's and 1098's for 2016 are printed on the instructions as follows: Truncating recipient’s taxpayer identification number on paper statements. Pursuant to Treasury Regulations 301.6109-4, all filers of this form may truncate a recipient’s taxpayer identification number (social security number (SSN), individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), adoption taxpayer identification number (ATIN), or employer identification number (EIN)) on payee statements. Truncation is not allowed on any documents the filer files with the IRS. A payer's taxpayer identification number may not be truncated on any form. See part J in the 2017 General Instructions for Certain Information Returns. (This is talking about one of the 1099 series.) Just wondering how in the world would any of crooks get any of the 200+ employees returns accepted inasfar as the dates of birth of the taxpayer and spouse (if any) were nowhere on the W-2's that were mailed out in error. In fact, in all of my years of e-filing, I have never, ever had a date of birth error on the taxpayer and spouse. Seems like I remember reading a dob error on a taxpayer or spouse (not dependents) would not reject returns. If not, willing to bet the majority of the identity theft issues would be moot. What am I missing? If my theory is correct, why in hell is it a requirement to list a dob for the taxpayers on the e-file info page. We were originally told in our seminars that the signature info would help prevent fraud and identity theft...it never did...so something isn't right somewhere! Ok...rant and vent over....carry on!

I wonder how an executive order trumps (no pun intended) existing regulations and code. I would not file a return the way Drake seems to allow.

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.

Back when I was researching this, Foxit Phantom did not have this feature. I use Foxit reader and I had used an old PDF editor of theirs, so I naturally checked with them first. Glad to see that they've added this feature. I'll get a trial after tax season. Thanks!

I decided to get Drake now (Dec), rather than waiting until late Jan as I usually do. The program just blows my mind with its user-friendly features. After paying, the download took 10 - 15 minutes. I set up a few preferences, transferred my macros form last year, and did a printer setup, all in about 30 min. Ran a pro-forma for a client and all looked good. The only thing left to do is install the state programs when they are available. Drake cannot be beat for simplicity and efficiency.