Margaret CPA in OH

You could still issue a late W-2 with his SSN knowing there will be a penalty. But then beg forgiveness under the circumstances. Then perhaps you could gift to her from your share of his estate an amount equal to the tax due, both income and SE, up to the $13,000 limit for 2009. At least that's probably how I would proceed. Don't you think she was aware that nothing was being withheld? I would hope that she has something left of that income. And what about state and maybe local tax? I think she needs to accept some responsibility for the situation but you are very generous to take the blame and try to help out. Good luck!

Oooohhhh, I like being called smart and thrifty! I surely don't feel very smart right now, though. Geez, I wish this would end soon but I've got so much to do before then!

I, too, am pondering this turn of events. I thought I read that the $699 package included 1099/W-2 and business efile which would be like ATX MAX. Those are not, I thought I read, in the $299 package. Still, $699 vs $1068... And yet, it is hard to believe there isn't something missing. And, as someone wrote earlier, if we all switch to TRX, where would the incentive be to continue ATX improvements or continue it at all? How many customers does TRX have that they can get such a deal? What if they pull a switch? So many questions, and now is such a hard time to think straight!

Indeed, so sorry for your loss.

:bday: and many more!

Sleep? What's that?

:bday: and many more!

Good hint, KC. I had to search a little to find the Return to Default box to uncheck it as it wasn't in the first tab. But I did find it!

And that's why you get the big bucks! Thanks, MontanaEA! I love learning all these neat tricks. Maybe someday I'll find something that someone else has been looking for and be the one to ride to the rescue - or not.

I'm with you! It makes me a little crazier than I already am. I do hope someone knows that answer and will share.

That is truly awesome! From years ago I learned to attach a statement on the front page allocating the total payments to each taxpayer. Very often from year to year the filing from separate to joint would change and getting this right was a challenge. It's still, unfortunately, a state issue. They really don't like to split combined payments. More than once I've heard that I should have had my clients each pay their own estimates. As if I could predict the totality and optimization for the next year...

Just be sure to change your printer first to pdf. I have made the mistake, more often than I care to admit, of not changing before printing the page because printer choice does not come up with that option, only with print.

Hmmm, jasdim, you are obviously younger than some of us on the board or you didn't watch much television back in the dark ages. There was a cowboy show called "The Cisco Kid." You can catch radio episodes even now on some public radio stations. Some of us thought it was just great!

Thanks to all, indeed! We all needed a really good chuckle about this time and you folks came through big time. My heart still flutters a bit, though...

Drat and I was so hoping for the cookies! How about entering 0 or $1 (to see what happens) in the fields where actual contributions would go? How about deleting the 8582 and re adding it? If afraid, duplicate the return and try these and any other desperate measures in the duplicate. Is there anything at all at the bottom of the Ln 28 worksheet where partnerships are listed? If there are SE earnings, maybe it thinks you must want to have SE retirement contributions. I did override the SIMPLE employer matching contributions on my worksheet because there wasn't one - and I don't feel guilty about making the end result reflect reality. Sometimes, I think we have to do that.

Okay, the chocolate chip cookies got me. I don't think I have the answer and can't easily recreate your whole scenario but I looked at my own return. Have you just tried to enter the contribution to the IRA on the IRA/Roth Wkst form? I don't have any passive activities so adding the 8582 probably didn't really recreate your situation. But when I added the contribution on the IRA/Roth Wkst, it went to line 32 of page 1. Good luck and I hope I win the cookies...but likely not. This answer seems too obvious but you didn't mention having tried it so....

That just goes to show you how really great is this forum! We all help each other by just being here so that we can work through issues in many ways, for example, by typing and posting a problem. Voila! The answer is revealed. Sorry, Helow, just getting punchy.

Weelllll, since you put it like that, why, I suppose we could let it go this time. Sure got me a'goin', though.

Some folks sure know how to have, uh, fun! This was especially clever given the ugly history which brought about this community. I just couldn't/didn't want to believe it could possibly happen again. Please be kinder to those of us of a certain age, though. We tend to shock easily!

Shocked! The blood just drained from my face! Yes, barbecue, steaks, lobster (no, you get better lobster there), please don't toy with us!

Ah, HV Ken, we do the same thing. I always roll over the MFJ return the following year, too, because it often changes year to year. That way, too, I have a good record of the consequences should any questions arise. And with the duplication feature, it's really pretty quick and easy. Just be sure to label the returns so you know who's who!

Thanks for the advice. I went back to line 41 and, sure enough, it says right there everything you said. I like this way better!

What I do is look at the MFJ vs MFS federal worksheet and have created a mini-spreadsheet to input the F and S details to reflect the Ohio tax situation. At the bottom I input the federal tax for joint and see the total liabilities for federal and Ohio. Sometimes it may be better to split but not cost effective to pay for my time. To split, I duplicate the return and delete one of the spouses information and split deductions as appropriate (having coded everything F, S or J already). It doesn't take too much time for me for the few clients that actually benefit. I have used software in the past that made the split automatically but still had to go back and check everything.

Good for you! Who needs, uh, clients, like that. If they were so happy with H&R, why didn't they return there? Hmmph!

Shaking my head...What is it about paying for services provided that some folks don't understand? And if this was a long time client, I'm sure this isn't news to her. I do put into my engagement letter that payment must be made upon receiving the returns but admit I don't enforce it. Luckily I've been stiffed just twice in about 15 years. Good for you for holding that temper!