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I don't know what I did, but it works now. Hubby fiddled around with windows updates, but they were all up to date. But then it all updated and the efiles filed.

Actually winning anything at gambling would also be fictitious if JohnH is involved. Don’t ask me how I know…

Along the same lines but slightly different, my client has signed up for Acorns (that app that lets you round up your purchases and invest the change). And they have like 25 trades of fractional shares of 3 different mutual funds both short and long term and wash sales that don't even add up to $0.50. What a pain for a $2 net loss on the Schedule D. Cost them more for my services than they will ever realize from the investments. Tom Longview, TX

Normally current rates, but if it involves having to refresh your mind with all the covid programs around then, I would charge a lot more.

AND could you ask it to explain to my clients why they have to carry forward part of their foreign tax credit when they didn't have to last year? (I mean, while we're askin')

Okay, if it's not a hobby I guess you can't lump it all together because you can't take any losses, you can only zero out personal items sold at a loss. You need to report the total amount from the Schedule K-1 but you should only pay taxes on the profitable items. The IRS says if you get a 1099-K for a personal item you sold at a loss that you can put it on Schedule 1 (8z) and then put a negative amount on Schedule 1 (24z) to zero it out. This is going to be a big problem going forward and I would look at Schedule 1 before I tried to put everything on the 8949.

It's always one little checkbox, isn't it?? Those things feel like the bane of my existence some days!

"OpenAI's ChatGPT is down for many people worldwide, with users facing multiple problems, including being unable to access their accounts, having their chat history come up empty, and the chat screens not loading properly. When accessing ChatGPT, users may see a blank screen with "How can I help you today?" and, in some cases, a missing chat history" Maybe we haven't been replaced

Cool. Could you ask it how to explain Passive Activity Losses to my client? Tom Longview, TX

If there are bunches, or bleepity-bleep bunches, then do a profit for each month and a loss for each month. In your case of 6 months, you'd have no more than 12 lines, fewer if not all months had both gains and losses. It's almost April, and I do less typing as it gets closer to the deadline. Not right, but it's practical. The more lines I have to type, the longer it takes me to proofread. Don't tell the IRS. Or, my clients!

No offense taken. I've always resented being included among "you guys," perhaps because after growing up in a household of three girls, my own family was all male (even the cat). I did not want to be included with those creatures that eat over the sink, miss the toilet, and think armpit burps are hysterical. I was just trying to inject a bit of fun into the decidedly unfun days we are all having right now. EVERY return I started today had things missing. Grrrrr

My software has one, proseries and i thought atx had one too back when i used it.

You'll still see me using guys or folks. Both, to my mind, are utterly generic - like Kleenex is a tissue, rather than a brand. Y'all is a regional term that I've heard people being castigated for appropriating when they are not from the South. Tough noogies. I got no patience for thin skins when we're all just trying to help each other out, and find getting offended to be offensive.

Does anyone have a Disclosure Form that I can use to have a current client sign giving me permission to disclose info to a new preparer for 3 years? I'm selling a few clients to a nearby preparer with the band width to take on new clients. We don't use the same software, and all clients DO have paper copies of their prior returns. But there will be questions. The new preparer is paying me over 3 years, but I think 1 year would be adequate for answering questions. Any forms you've used. Anything else you want to tell me?!

Just received an email from "Karen" that says "I have uploaded my 2023 tax documents in the workdrive below secure link, please look through it, and let me know if you need any additional information. Also will it cost the same as the last." I'm small enough that I know all my clients and didn't fall for it. Those that deal in volume returns or have staff beware!

Accounting "system"

Client just brought me a $30,000 bill for her rental property she forgot paying (new siding on a brick home per Google Maps). It's handwritten and she thinks it'll wipe out any tax owed on their income. This is the 3rd item she found in the past 2 weeks. And she tells me her husband doesn't understand their accounting system so she has to do it. Two years ago he took over for a year and it was worse.

I agree on the pro/am call. And yes, gambling losses (to the extent they are reporting gambling winnings) can be reported under "Other Itemized Deductions" on Schedule A (IRS Topic no. 419). Also Publication 529

The crisis is over ChatGPT services have been restored

It's a miracle

I think I would include the 3508P but find one of the exceptions to plug in to eliminate the penalty. I think I would try to find any exception that is close to the situation to make the penalty go away while still including the form in the return. My guess, and it is only a guess, it the state will see the penalty on the fed return and generate a letter for the CA penalty. It is easier to respond to a letter with a copy of the filed form and explaining the exception to the penalty than to explain why you did not include a form that explains the tax position taken. You do what you think is best - I have never run into this situation before. Tom Longview, TX

ATX shuts down every so often. It actually gives you a warning to close the program. I just close and reopen. It's a hassle. I just assume with all these programs, they just get overloaded at times. Too many "if, then" statements criss-crossing themselves.

If so, I will apologize for a snarky comment. Very bad afternoon; no patience for anyone or anything right now.

Thank you.

I thought it was a sarcastic comment but perhaps I was mistaken.

I thought most states had reciprocity on pensions, so the tp gets taxed in resident state only rather than issuing state. But I have no understanding of CA other than that "they're special" (or, think they are, and make pro's miserable because of it).

FWIW, I have had a couple of random shutdowns this season, and another couple of random times when the program seemed to freeze - but each time it eventually (probably not more than 30 seconds) responded just fine. I've had to call support a couple of times this year, and each time I've gotten someone on the ball, very helpful, and was able to resolve the issue. One item (don't recall it) took two calls but it was a subtle thing.

Here is the response from Drake's Support about the program freezing or crashing when exiting the Tax Planner; "Good Afternoon, Thank you for contacting support! Here are some troubleshooting tips you can try to fix a freezing computer: 1) Make sure you are connected to a strong internet connection. 2) Switch from Wifi to a hard wired Cable. 3) Restart the computer every night or every morning. 4) Check for third party software that might be interferring. Anit-Virus programs are the most common. 5) VPN and other such things can effect the program running as well. 6) If these do not work, i would suggest local IT support to look at your network etc and see if a setting is affecting the program. I hope this helps! Sincerely, "

Constructive Receipt.

wow

LOTS of these! But I just hover over the email address or compare the email address with the Reply to address and invariably they're not remotely related.