Janitor Bob

99% of my clients are returning clients so I know their situations and the due diligence is a little easier, but I NEVER prepare returns while clients wait...that just invites technology Karma...printer will jam, PC will lock up, etc....not t mention, I don't like the stress of clients waiting on me.

also...almost none of the cities can be filed electronoically...it is still the old paper returns with W-2s and 1099s attached.

correct...thanks

Mom & Dad are divorced. Child lives with mom all year and mom provides all of child's support. Mom and Dad alternate claiming the dependency exemption for the child. Soooo...every year, Mom can claim HOH filing status, Child Tax Credit, and EIC based on the child. Dad gets to claim the dependency exemption, and any education credits only every other year. Mom only gets to claim education credit when it is her year to claim the dependency exemption. Sound right?

This is entire password required thing is complete BS.... It's just me...in my home-office. I'm OK with password required upon opening the program, but the entire timing-out thing and now being required to change the password? c'mon...tax season is filled with enough tantrum inducing stressors as it is. I'm having a drink

Preparing returns in Ohio does NOT pay well when you factor in the number of taxing authorities that need to be considered. 99% of my clients have Fed, Ohio, School, and city returns...then there are the ones that move mid-year, so there are multiple city and school returns. I'd wager that I spend more time on local tax returns than I do all Fed and State returns combined

yes

Just FYI for my Ohio ATXers.....In some cases (such as with SD7501), the program is pulling incorrect tax rate on the OH SD-100. Instead of using the 2016 rate, the program is using the new higher 2017 rate....Had to overide.

95% of my clients (I only have about 150) handle everything in person. However, I do have several that want me to e-mail them the 8879 so that they can print it, sign it (and have spouse sign), then they can just drop the sign 8879 in my drop-box whenever they want. However, I want the original e-mail to them with the 8879 .pdf file to be secure in the unusual even that the e-mail is "stolen"...can that even happen?

I also use idrive...but I've never had to restore, so can't say how easy/difficult that is with them

I am not active on here as much as others...usually because I'm busy doing taxes. I understand if some very active users need to be less so...but I will miss their presence. I also think this board is a good way to unwind and escape during tax season.

will IRS be expecting a return for the business?

Client informed me that he and a partner started a consulting business in 2016...50/50 partnership. They had start-up expenses (web-site setup, registering the company, etc) and obtained a Fed tax ID#. However, the business never took off and they never did any business. Should a 1065 be filed for the business with K-1s sent to each partner with 50% of the loss. Client does not want to file anything and just forget the entire business idea ever happened.

What do all of you use to send secure e-mail? I do a lot of communication with clients via e-mail including send .pdf attachments. I want to make sure that these e-mails are secure/encrypted, but do not want to spend a small fortune to do so...with by small client base (I only have 120 clients), I can't absorb much cost. Anybody had luck with Virtru?

wow..the questions to muddle through on the 8867 and EIC form this year!....seriously thinking about updating the master to save time

except for a handful of extensions....I'm done for the season!

I have a client who moved from OH to MD in 2015...I told him I could still do his OH returns, but not sure about MD as that is one state I have not done....Is there any special registration required before I can file a MD return?

I also only prepared one NY return and had to register and obtain a NYTPRIN. I attempted to do so on-line, but kept getting errors. I called the number and they got me set up and assigned me a NYTPRIN in a very short time.

Make sure ATX print manager is printing to the correct printer. Since the last update, I noticed that print manager starting sending things to an old non-functional printer instead of the correct one.

Client worked at GameStop last year. Sends me a shoe box full of receipts for video game purchases...He was told they were deductible as "Job Research". If that's the case, I will immediately get a job at my favorite bar.

also...Woody's Market closed...Chaz now stands on the corner by The Rainbow Bar & Grill...still drinking warm Coronas

No...Chaz, the guy who stands on the corner by Woody's Market and drinks warm Corona...despite his many quirks, always files his taxes and never married. He says he is married to his bottle.

Long-time client (and family friend) was in an "unfortunate" marriage for several years. Her spouse earned cash (under the table) and had not filed taxes in 5+ years and was not going to start just because he got married...so I have had to file client's returns MFS even though jointly was better because husband did not want his name ona a return and refused to sign a MFJ return. Client finally divorced the guy (unfortunately not final until January 2016). Client demands to file HOH (daughter lives with her) instead of MFS. The problem is that client already told me in several previous conversations that she did not move out until Sept. 2015....so did NOT live apart last 6 months of the year. After reading some IRS literature I sent, client is now telling me to file HOH under assumption that they did NOT live together last 6 months. I told her I could not file that way, as much as I may want to, because I had reasonable belief that it was false. Client cried Client shouted Client is no longer client but I will sleep well knowing I did not file a false return. I figure she'll find another preparer this year...to whom she will know what not to say...and she will probably be back to me next year. This job.....

I'd tell the wife to enjoy her refund now and be prepared to pay it back plus interest. I would also be tempted to report the other preparer for filing a married person as HOH. unless, of course, they lived apart for the last 6 months of the year and kids lived with her. If this was the case, then clearly they are already "disappointed" with each other.

as a non-credentialed preparer who took the test for RTRP and does continuing education every year, I am all for this.