Margaret CPA in OH

Thanks again, Eric. Please don't spend any of your precious time on creating a smaller template or whatever when I am the only person with issues. Everyone else is quite pleased with these changes and I can certainly manage. What are "breadcrumbs" in this context? I don't really understand your last paragraph. My browser is full screen on the monitor now. When I press F11, nothing changes. I have conflicts occasionally with Firefox and haven't yet tried Chrome but may do so. Thanks again for your help.

:bday: and many more!

:bday: and many more!

Thanks so much, Eric, for your generous reply. I tried the "ATX Community" option and that looks better although the entire screen is still is filled with the header and closed topics. In fact, when I change the resolution to 1024x768, those things still command 75+% of the screen. Sort of a manageable pain, at least to me. My monitors are both 17" flat panel. I do not have room for 2 larger sized monitors and really love having two monitors. There was good discussion on the value of 2 or even 3 or more in the last few months. Having a single larger monitor does not provide me with the flexibility of having 2 smaller ones. I have investigated the pros and cons of split screens vs dual monitors. So far, all of my software and what I think I will be using (but who knows?) until I retire works quite well, no problems. I have had to change the settings a couple of time when accessing outside content or certain websites at least to open. But then I change it back and all is well. As I said earlier, I understand that this is peculiar to me and my bad eyesight so don't expect the world or this site to revolve around my needs! I do appreciate all you have done and especially for offering additional suggestions. We'll see what happens but I will still be loyal to this forum even if I have to squint or use a magnifier!

OldJack, you are a bolder person than I am. I also prefer the previous version but hesitated to express my opinion in the face of overwhelming praise by so many. It is cleaner looking but, for me, more difficult to navigate and manage. One problem is mine alone so I really cannot complain. Due to less than ideal vision, I have the resolution on my monitors set to 800x600. This setting really helps with virtually everything from internet sites to all my programs. Eric has addressed this by enlarging the entire site, I think, but now it overwhelms my screen. The top, pinned topics and header fill the entire screen so I always have to scroll down to see even the first topic. But, that's my problem, not everyone's issue. It's just that this new design exacerbates it. And I don't know if it is even possible to make this site smaller while allowing all others to remain the size that I can see. Whatever, the content is the most important aspect and to have access to it, well, I will manage with whatever form and format is provided. Thanks again to Eric and ALL who work so diligently to provide this incredible forum for all!

:bday: and many more!

:bday; and many more!

Catherine and Karen Lee, you both have my sympathy. Make sure others do help take care of you both. I'm sure you are principal caregivers and now you need some payback. So far, so good at our house. I had my regular shot in early September. Here's hoping!

Well, it isn't time to file the return just yet so I will keep checking. However, my son checked the WSJ and found: ""Taxpayers taking the credit will also have to furnish proof of purchase. According to Robert Dietz of the National Association of Home Builders, this will usually be a HUD-1 form." Since the word "usually" is present, I will keep my eyes open!

:bday: and many more!

Thanks, Marilyn. It didn't occur to me that "Board Settings" would include time. I guess I just am not curious or clever enough to think of checking each possible link. Thanks again! No more do do do do do do do do (Twilight Zone theme, of course!)

Thanks for the confirmation. I just wasn't positive whether it was the county date or the HUD-1 date. So they lose by a week. Oh well, that wasn't a consideration when they decided to buy. It hadn't even come up in Congress. It just would have been so nice for them. Perhaps it will help with selling their other house now subsidized by the bank of Mom and Dad until it sells!

I just noticed (everything is delayed in Cincinnati) that the time shown on the posts is an hour earlier than my local time. I went to my account but don't see where I can change it to my local time. Is it even possible? It's confusing to see that I posted something an hour earlier than I did!

the week of Nov. 23rd, according to Sandra Blake of TRX. Isent an email asking to plan for W-2 and 1099 prep. I am very anxious to see the program to soothe my angst as to whether is truly is ATX Max.

A little personal interest here - my son and wife closed on their home Friday, Nov. 6. He had owned and lived in his prior home for 5 years, 6 months. The purchase was listed on the county website as date of conveyance Nov. 10. I looked at the new law, faq's, and other places but cannot find a definitive answer as to what "the date" should be. Any chance they could qualify for the $6500 credit? Or should we just sigh and think, "too bad?"

Thanks to all and especially to my son, my nephew and his wife, my older brother, my brother-in-law, my former husband, and my now deceased father-in-law. It gives me pause knowing how many loved ones have served and how many I will never know have provided for my/our security. Thanks, KC, for that link.

In my experience, no IRS agent will talk to you or provide information about a specific client without the client present or a POA. Since your client will be present, you may not need it unless your client expects you to answer. I doubt you would get any documents without the POA. If is was me, I would insist on a POA now or as soon as possible. I agree with OldJack. How can you represent the client without it? I am a bit puzzled, too, as to why you would agree to this with such a recalcitrant client. Why don't you meet with him the evening before or very early in the morning to look over the paperwork and talk straight with the client? You need to be prepared for the client's sake. If the problem is you as far as the agent is concerned, that's another matter completely. I think you don't want either you or your client to be put on the spot. Be prepared!

I find it curious that you haven't seen any of the paperwork, at least as yet. Surely you can get copies from the client immediately, right? You probably have or will very soon have POA so can get copies from IRS, right? I should think it invaluable to be apprised of the issues beforehand. Good luck with whatever happens and let us know the outcome.

Welcome back, Julie! We are so glad you were here in time for your birthday celebration.

If the church staff is knowledgeable, the fund, say the Children's Healthy Heart Fund, will be for any discretionary use by the governing body. Checks will not have an individual's name, for example, as deductible contributions cannot be for specific individuals. The church governing body can then designate the fund distribution but cannot guarantee the recipient. See earlier discussions of this topic.

Groan... My husband is notorious for gawd awful puns, as well. I may choose to not spare this board in the future since you have figuratively broken the ice. You/we may come to rue this day! Or just have good laughs. Thanks for sharing this one. I shall pass it on.

:bday: and many more!

:bday: and many more!

:bday: and many more!

This is tied to the Housing Allowance Exclusion, I believe. Hammar's Church and Clergy Tax Guide addresses this although stating that neither the IRS not a federal court has specifically addressed this issue. He states that "a case can be made that the local telephone expenses are properly includable in the housing allowance calculation. Here's why. Section 107 of the tax code permits a minister to exclude a housing allowance to the extent used by him/her to rent or provide a home. No requirement is made that the expenses be business related. All that is required is that the expenses be incurred to rent or provide a home. Ministers are permitted to exclude the full amount of their mortgage payments, insurance, taxes, electricity, natural gas, and water (assuming these expenses do not exceed the housing allowance)-despite the fact that the vast majority of such expenses are incurred for purely personal reasons having nothing to do with the conduct of the minister's profession." And so on... My question is, what is the housing allowance for your minister? I have two now-retired minister clients. They pay all the bills, submit the calculations to substantiate whether the total exceeds the designated housing allowance or the fair market rental value and the tax chips fall where they may. Since you mention a rectory, similar provisions apply. The parsonage/rectory value is not included as income and the church designates a parsonage allowance, in advance, as a portion of the minister;s compensation to the extent used to pay parsonage-related expenses such as utilities, repairs, and furnishings. Hammar is of the opinion that the first landline is "indispensable to a minister's home" to use for local calls and should be includable in the housing allowance calculation. He goes on to state, "(h)owever, this same reasoning ordinarily would not apply to long-distance telephone calls or cellular phones." I think you get the gist. There is more but it's late. Hope this helps.