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Sorry. It was a thought. It is what it is. Ask lots of questions to understand their situation. Then stand your ground. Don't let your clients or their investment advisor push you to report anything incorrectly.

We use www.yearli.com which is own by Greatland which use to be Nelco. Lordy...getting old. I remember efiling with dial up with Nelco. What a long strange trip its been !!!

They may have a balance due when 2024 is filed, but if they have paid in 100% (110%) of 2023 liability they won't have a penalty.

This increase is part of the potential agreement for another Continuing Resolution to avert the looming government shutdown on January 19. "If Congress reaches a deal on the child tax credit by Jan. 29, lawmakers say eligible families could benefit as soon as next month. That’s because the credit would be available for the 2023 tax year (for tax returns filed early in 2024). However, the expansion, if it does happen, won’t reach as far as it did under President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan. Here are some of the possibilities Congress is discussing: Ensuring families with the lowest incomes will qualify for the credit by removing the minimum taxable income threshold Allowing families to submit prior year tax returns to claim the expanded credit Increasing the refundable portion of the child tax credit None of the above possibilities are official, and the details could change as Congress continues to discuss the matter. However, families with the lowest incomes would likely benefit the most." Just what we need another last second change in tax law

I think efiling for Fed tax returns was Jan 23. But I wasn't sure if that meant the states were out til then too? Edit: Answered my own question. - Nope -Can't efile state.

It's not you.... now ATX is saying it will be available tomorrow.... I guess we shall see. I don't recall ever having such a delay in prior years.

If they're not selling until 2024-25, lay out the definition of primary residence for them, and they can make it fit -- or not. They can record where they sleep each night, adjust paperwork to receive bills and statements at that address, garage their cars there for insurance, pension check and SS are probably direct deposit anyway, truly move themselves for 730 (or is is 731 when a leap year intrudes?) days out of the five years prior to the sale date. If they are using one out of two houses as their primary residence, then they should be using the address of their primary residence on their tax returns.

I have submitted several. In general, they wait until nearer the deadline to submit, in case you have changes. Once they submit and the files are accepted, they email you the submission confirmation (by order number). That delay has proven useful in the past. Post-deadline, reporting to the IRS is done within 24 hours.

Be careful if it looks like one house is their principal residence, but they told their state &/or locality that the other house qualifies for a homestead credit or senior tax relief or.... Is this a new/potential client? If so, you might want to decline if you don't feel they are giving you the whole story. If this is a continuing client, you probably have a good feel for which is their principal residence. What address was on their tax returns? Other official documents? Mailing address for important things like bills? Does their insurance company list a principal residence and a second home; an address where their cars are garaged? How far apart are their houses? Do they go to doctors, church, recreation near one house. Which house has their good furniture, artwork, photo albums, near & dear stuff? GLG gave you the code section.

Read section 1.121-1(b)2: (b) Residence—(1) In general. Whether property is used by the taxpayer as the taxpayer's residence depends upon all the facts and circumstances. A property used by the taxpayer as the taxpayer's residence may include a houseboat, a house trailer, or the house or apartment that the taxpayer is entitled to occupy as a tenant-stockholder in a cooperative housing corporation (as those terms are defined in section 216(b)(1) and (2)). Property used by the taxpayer as the taxpayer's residence does not include personal property that is not a fixture under local law. (2) Principal residence. In the case of a taxpayer using more than one property as a residence, whether property is used by the taxpayer as the taxpayer's principal residence depends upon all the facts and circumstances. If a taxpayer alternates between 2 properties, using each as a residence for successive periods of time, the property that the taxpayer uses a majority of the time during the year ordinarily will be considered the taxpayer's principal residence. In addition to the taxpayer's use of the property, relevant factors in determining a taxpayer's principal residence, include, but are not limited to— (i) The taxpayer's place of employment; (ii) The principal place of abode of the taxpayer's family members; (iii) The address listed on the taxpayer's federal and state tax returns, driver's license, automobile registration, and voter registration card; (iv) The taxpayer's mailing address for bills and correspondence; (v) The location of the taxpayer's banks; and (vi) The location of religious organizations and recreational clubs with which the taxpayer is affiliated.

Are they in the same state or different states? If different, the state they file tax as a resident, where cars are plated, voter registration, etc. should tell you which is main home. Also, many states offer some kind of RE tax exemption for primary or main residence which would indicate which is the main home.