Pacun

This is a quote that I liked from another post... "Just like your "personal banker", it's someone who runs interference for management, slows down the process while giving the appearance of being responsive, and forces customers to seek out their own answers rather than bother the Customer Service department with these pesky questions. After all, most Customer Service departments don't have time to waste on the non-productive tasks of actually assisting customers or answering questions - they're too busy upselling." During Tax season, my partner, who doesn't know anything about taxes, answers the phone. At that time, I am "the personal banker". I am not available to most of my clients unless they are new and have a question. I wonder how my existing clients feel about that. What are you doing to avoid lossing your existing clients and improve your customer service?

Whatever works the best for you, it is the best way of doing it. My way works best for me and that's how I use it. Most of the time, the erroneus return is easy to recreate AND don't make start with the state (for example, MD, which uses its own "1040X"), which will make my approach look better that yours.

Where will you get the correct numbers from and type them on the rightmost column on the 1040X? From a 1040 form, correct? Why don't you let ATX shine and use it as a powerful tool. The way I worked my amended returns, I only type on the 1040X, the explanation and a couple of check marks. All other numbers flow correctly to the columns of the 1040X by entering them on the 1040. Amending returns is one of the strongest features of ATX and why not take advantage of it. If your software is not that strong or you have not tested strongly on amended returns, please do so and maybe you can advise us on how to use it.

Do you report the original errors on the 1040X? If not, the 1040X is not properly filled out. I have used ATX for many years and my approach is the one that works best.

If she is not in your computer system for the amended years, create her the way she filed and make sure everything matches and save. Then... Usually I open her return, pull down the file menu and select "amend" and add amended to her name. Change the 1040 from HOH to MFJ and add his info and income. Make sure to attach any schedule that changed and is required under the MFJ status. For 2009, make sure to include the "making work credit" form since it will change from $400 to $800, etc.

Your client doesn't have to pay any of the credit back if the house was sold at a loss. If the gain had been less than the $7,500 her repayment would be limited to the amount of the gain. If she sold it for a loss then none of the credit would have to be repaid. In your case it is clear that the house was sold at a loss.

Windows 7 home will work on networked environments too, but Windows 7 Pro is better to set up and maintain. I have ATX 2007 - 2010 on a Windows 7 Pro 64bit computer and the only problem I have is that it opens too fast and I don't have time for my coffee. My old computer took about 5 minutes to open ATX and it was coffee time. Remember that supporting means nothing. Do you know that Microsoft was scheduled to end support for Windows XP Professional 04/14/2009 and that date was extended to 2014? It didn't mean that Windows XP was going to stop functioning in 2009. What does "we don't support ATX 2008 on Win 7 64bit" mean? It means that if you have serious problems, you will need to reinstall or call your own tech support to solve problems. It doesn't mean that the program will not work with windows 7. Win 7 Pro automatically install all 32 bit programs on the (86) directory. You don't need to do anything just install and Win 7 knows how the new program likes to be treated. Close your eyes and install windows 7 64bit and you will have no problems with ATX. How frequent do you use ATX 2006? Once a year if you are lucky, correct? For that, please keep your old computer (you might have to pay usage state tax) and install ONLY ATX 2008, 2009 and 2010 on you new computer. Remember that you don't to install programs on your new computer that you will use only about 3 times in the next 3 years.

I used to know if the guy was in India when I used the phone. Now I only go to www.support.dell.com and enter my service tag number and all the time I chat with a person in the States. If you want a new motherboard, it is because your computer "only blinks when you power it up and you have tried two different chargers or power cords". You also unhooked the hard drive and memory to no avail. If you need a hard drive, it is because your "hard drive is not detected by the BIOS". If they insist, you run the diagnostics while holding the hard drive on your palm and you give them the error code. Most diagnostics will not detect your hard drive while on your palm (especially if you are using the HD to scratch your belly). If you dropped your computer or dump some water on it, you tell them that your computer suddenly died and you have no idea what happened (That's what users tell me anyways). If you need a keyboard you tell them that "X key came off". When they asked you why the key came off, you don't need to lie and just tell them "poor design that cannot support normal tear and wear" (do not mention that your cat was making a nest on the keyboard or shapenning its paws). I used to be very honest with DELL technicians. When I called for a motherboard, they would spend more than one hour with me testing and explaining... at the very end, they would agree with me that a motherboard was needed. After a bunch of calls and chats like that, I just trust myself and ask for the parts. Now, I don't waste my time and I use shortcuts to get my parts. 99% of the time I have been right with the parts I have requested. I do chat with DELL every week and they seem to provide decent service. The company I work for owns about 7K DELLs and I support about .3 percent of them. Going back to the original question... Please DO NOT order Celeron processors and double the memory that the computer comes with from the shelf. Get Windows 7 Professional 64bit and you should be "in love" very soon.

You are too young to retire. Just raise your price and that will reduce the amount of returns you will prepare and you will make about the same amount of money.

No. She can, however, file injured spouse or something like that. She can ask the court to order husband and wife to amend and pay the debt before splitting the wealth.

Correct. Father cannot claim HH with 49% ever.

Do you have expenses? Didn't you charge them $50 for preparing their C corp last year?

I would take the American Opportunity credit.

Just file and explain later if asked.

I am traveling this Sunday, April 17, to Central America for one week. I will miss two days but it doesn't matter because I hate when people wait to the last minute to prepare their taxes. I am going to study: 1.- Quickbooks 2.- Full Acrobat 3.- ONE tax treaty with the help of a lawyer (who will do it free). I have noticed that most of the tax treaties are about the same. 4.- I will file form 23 to become an Enrolled Agent and I will attend one IRS tax forum. How about you? What will you study? Are you EA or CPA? Thank you for participating.

Correct. I make them sign and date anywhere in the 7004 just in case.

Let's wait for other replies to your post. It is good idea to read between the lines and read what everybody has to say.

Today, I was listening to a latino radio station and a tax preparer was talking about taxes. People were asking questions live. The tax preparer was from a famous latino accounting firm but his answers sounded good but were not correct. I heard about 3 questions and none of them were answered 100% correctly. I thought circular 230 prevented tax preparers from engaging in that type of marketing strategy. We can only air pre-recorded advertisements, is that correct?

Depending on the type of business he engaged... if he made 13K, 3K is easily a necessary and ordinary expenditure. In any event, commuting miles are not deductible but if you have to go to different sites in different cities, you can deduct them. As long as he is willing and engage on the business, he can deduct his tools. This is clearly not a hobby since he more than quadrupled his expenses and had a big profit. If he has losses next year, he should be OK as long as he is ready and willing to continue this line of work. If you feel more comfortable, you can 179 the tools or equipment.

It is very embarrasing to amend a return when the mistake is yours (and your clients for not reporting that they didn't received such a big refund). I think the materiality rule/principle will save you from any trouble, but the correct way is to amend 2009 and report the income in 2010. My first questions to my repeated client are something like... "Was everything OK last year?" "All refunds received?" "Any letters from the IRS or State?". Then I move to the current year.

No HOH status.

Correct, form 1099-S should be filled out. Why do you need that form if you have both HUD-1s?

Report it on Schedule D as short term gain. The attorney is not in a possition to issue a 1099 since he doesn't know what the basis for the seller is. Even if he knew all the details and audited the expenses and cost, attorneys are NOT hire to determine gain on the transaction.

What does your smart client do for a business? If he is a Tax preparer, Sch D. If he is in the business of reconstruction, maybe sch C as Jainen suggested.

nice story. Thanks for sharing it.