JJStephens

Well, way to go Jer ... I dilly-dallyed around with moving (home & office) and an unusually large number of extended tax returns and didn't get back around to this until the early renewal offer had expired. I need a vacation.

I'm befuddled. (Yeah, I know. What else is new?!?!) Long time client (an elderly unmarried woman) passed away earlier this year. Her daughter is personal rep. In the past I've frequently e-filed for deceased taxpayers. However, I'm now presented with multiple red errors in ATX saying things like "Court-appointed or certified personal representative can not electronically file. File a paper return" and "IRS e-file exclusion: When filing status is not Married Filing Joint, filer's date of death is entered and a refund amount is present, then Form 1310 must be included with Box C checked." Q1 Can this return be e-filed? Q2 1310 is present; however, box B is checked (because the daughter is the court appointed personal rep). The error checker is requiring the valid proof of death box in Part II be checked, even though the Part II instructions say to complete that Part ONLY if Part I box C is checked (it is not). What am I missing? Am I really required to indicate there is no court-appointed rep and complete Part II?

I just got a PTIN renewal notice from our friends at the IRS. I know some legal actions are pending that challenge whether the IRS has the authority to charge a fee or even to require PTINs. I have mixed thoughts about the likelihood of those lawsuits prevailing. I usually renew early just to get it out of the way (and not forget!). This year I'm thinking about waiting to see if something comes of these court cases. Where are some of the rest of you? Are you waiting or biting the bullet with an early renewal and hoping for a refund if the thing gets struck down?

I have never held state returns and have never had any trouble . . . until this year. In the past week I've had four state rejects because the fed e-file list wasn't timely updated. I simply recreated the state e-file and it was promptly accepted. All the rest were accepted as filed. Nonetheless, I'm curious if I'm doing something wrong. Like I said, over the years, I've probably e-filed 1500+ this way with nary a problem. What's the rationale for holding?

I've been mulling firing my all-time worst client--this guy is the very last one in every stinkin' year--and never pays a dime. Me.

Yeah, I was counting unique clients too. I have clients in about 20 states but a couple are in no-income-tax states. All my Ohio clients also have a state return and most have a city return; about half have a school district return. I suppose that adds up to 350-400 total returns.

Weigh in with your prediction of when you'll turn off the light and close the door on another year of mayhem and return to the world of the living. Grand prize to the one whose prediction is closest: 365 days of bragging rights and the unfeigned awe of all your colleagues! I"m going with a wildly optimistic prediction that I'll tansmit my last extension (probably my own!) at 7:52 PM The only thing I'm certain of right now is that I should not have gotten up with my granddaughter to try to see the eclipse this morning (had to watch a live feed on line because it was completely overcast here). Actually, I never got to sleep before hand--was up until about 3:15. Ughh!!! I just hope I last until 7:52pm!

(Yahoo! Just got one of the little buggers! One down, one to go! See OP) Thanks for the feedback. My first thought was to implement a late arrival surcharge . . . but I was afraid it might come across as punitive. I guess that's what it really is intended to be but I feared it that might just deter some folks from coming in at all. I was thinking the across the board increase with a early-bird discount would be more palatable. But maybe I'm just being paranoid/wishy-washy. What think ye?

How about "I guarantee to get you a refund if you overpaid your liability and don't have a prior year balance due."

It worked. I'm jealous! I did manage a 5 minute nap yesterday afternoon!

This was a weird year. I had an unusually heavy early surge and then got really worried as things slowed to a trickle. Then around March 25 they started showing up. About 40% of my regulars showed up on/after April 1! For the second year in a row (and third out of the last four) I'm going to have a record number of extensions. Next year I thinking about implementing an across the board $25 fee hike and then offer a $25 early bird discount for anyone who gets me all their stuff by March 25. I don't really want the extra money--just trying incentivize getting the materials earlier. I realize for some folks $25 is not a lot of money but in my niche, it's a prety good chunk of change. Does anyone else do that? How has it worked out? Any other ideas to accomplish the same thing? On another matter, I need someone to feel really really sorry for me. My home/office is in the middle of seven major egg farms. In spite of the horrendous winter, flies have been especially bad this year. As if it wasn't bad enough dealing with the joys of April 14, I have two of these demonic little critters flying around my office annoying me to death! I'd kill 'em if I could . . . but they've eluded me so far! (Argggh--just missed one of the little beasties!)

I'm not going to Vegas or DisneyWorld or anywhere else. I'm going to bed!

I'm a part-timer. I specialize in clergy returns but take all comers. At one time I was doing about 150 (my best ever was 442 back in the pre-computer hand prep days). I'm currently doing about 110 plus a handful of biz returns and about 40 non-profit 990s.

Only a denominational pension qualifies to be treated as housing allowance and then only if the denomination has so designated it (most do). 403b's do not qualify for this treatment.

Arrghh! I knew that! It's not so much that I forgot . . . I merely failed to remember Seems I have that failure a lot this time of year. Thanks KC. You're my hero!

It's late. My brain is fried. I've done this before but I'm drawing a blank. I need a clear-headed hero to come to my rescue. Client sold a rental house. When I set up the fixed asset I recorded the depreciable basis as $134,100 ($149,000 cost less the land value of $14,900). How do I get the land value back into the equation now that is has been sold? I thought I entered it as a basis adustment on the disposition form (at least that's what I think I remember doing in the past). But when I enter the $14,900 figure it has no impact on the gain/loss computation. Where am I going wrong?

TMI? I was just trying to put on a false front of modesty. I thought it was a masterpiece of prose! Yeah, I know. TMI

I did a complete reboot after I updated some other software. I did not have the problem the rest of the day . . . or this morning. Alas, it just happened again. Must be getting close to the deadline. The gremlins are getting active!

If the taxpayer resides in a taxing school district, a SD return probably must be filed. In most cases, the SD return begins with Ohio AGI (which, in turn, is based in part on federal AGI). Therefore, the fact that the W2 showed no income may not be the determining factor in whether to file a SD return. A couple Ohio tax issues are kind funky. School district tax is one of them. I know this is TMI . . . but here it is anyway. School district tax is based on the school district in which the taxpayer resides. Not all school districts have a tax (I don't know the exact ratio but my guess is it's about 50-50). Further, income for most school district income taxes is based on Ohio AGI (comes from the Ohio income tax return) but a handful are earned income only (i.e., only wages, self-employment, farm income are taxed). Another wrinkle is that the only withholding that can be applied is that which was withheld for the correct district. Withholding for another district cannot be applied. If tax is withheld for the wrong district, the taxpayer has to go back to their employer to get the incorrect withholding amount refunded. City tax withholding is based on the municipality in which the taxpayer works. The workplace city is permitted to keep the entire amount withheld/remitted by the employer. If the taxpayer's residence city has a city income tax, the taxpayer must complete a city tax return (a few cities waive the filing requirement if the taxpayer's only taxable income already had city tax withheld for the residence city). Each city is allowed to choose to give full, partial or even no (!) credit for workplace city tax withheld. In any event, no city allows a credit greater than its own tax rate (i.e., a taxpayer who works in a 2% taxing city will not get a refund if (s)he lives in a 1% city). It really sucks when a person works in a city with a 2 or 2.5% city tax and their residence city gives no credit--especially if the residence city rate is high. Taxable income includes wages, self-employment, farm, and rental. Self-employment, farm and rental losses cannot reduce wage income. Most cities allow for a 2106 deduction if a 2106 is required to filed with the federal return (if the 2106 is optional, the 2106 credit is disallowed).

Ooh, Jack. I like that! As long as it's someone else, of course. I'll have to give that a try!

I've only had one failed e-file transmission all year. I've had four today. Not a good time for this to be happening! I hope it's a problem at the EFC and not something on my end. Anyone else having trouble?

This is on one me. In addition to tax prep/accounting, I'm also a pastor. Sunday morning our children's ministry leader thought it would be hilarious to hide my Bible and sermon notes! I didn't find them until about five minutes before service time! I didn't think that was near as funny as the time I did the same thing to someone else !

Back by popular demand. . . . In recognition of newly recognized executive powers to modify the law any old way I feel like, any time I feel like it, with or without congressional approval . . . (see, I was against that before I just now decided I'm for it! I just didn't properly understand its benefits ). My earlier 10 minute power nap pronouncement is hereby made a daily requirement for the duration of tax season (including extensions and loading/testing of next year's software) for all tax preparers and is extended to a minimum of 25 minutes. Sweet dreams!

By the power vested in me by MM&I, I hereby direct that all tax preparers shall immediately upon reading this proclamation take a ten minute power nap break. If your supervisor objects, tell him/her you're merely adhering to an official proclamation and that(s)he is also covered by it. If that doesn't work, just have him/her call me . . . . 555-1212 (ask for Jerry).

I ran into a similar thing a year or two ago. The bank wanted to take the easy way out. We finally forced their hand on issuing a corrected 1099-R (alas, it took them two months to do it). That's what I'd suggest.