Margaret CPA in OH

Y'know, it might be funny but it's real to them and me and, while I sense great sympathy along with gratitude that they aren't your clients, I am still hoping for some genuine suggestions here. I can be pretty creative at times but this can of worms is a bit much for me. If they weren't all such super nice folks, I would send them away but I am just certain, that with a little or lot of help from my friends here, solutions can be found. Let's think outside the box but within the regs, of course, and be sensible, too. I'm inclined to skip the tenant in OH for 3 months as basically a house sitter but do need to do something with her Berlin condo. For the OH house, it really is a 2018 issue so maybe I'll retire first . Thanks for whatever you might offer - really!

Want to trade for my German and Aussie clients?

Yep, tell me about it. A few years ago one came to me and suddenly I am the foreign tax expert and they keep coming. Being German (not the Aussie), they are incredibly organized and precise but also arty type folks so we often really don't speak the same language! The Aussie - she's a real problem child and not even in the country. She came to me last year never having filed since being in the country since 2011. So we caught her up as she was trying to get her green card and was worried not having filed could be a bad thing (ya think?). Some years were out of statute but filed fed and state anyway and she got back over $10,000. She loves me now.

I just haven't gotten around to changing the master for that box yet. I've changed several other things though. And yes, RITA is a royal pain in the RITA anyway and it irks me that it costs extra to efile it. Fortunately the few folks I have just take it to the local office where they prepare it for free. I encourage that because I really don't like it.

This is complicated so please bear with me. Couple from Germany (she a professor, he a house husband now) lived in KY, she worked in OH. Last year they bought a12 room house in OH needing major rehabbing done by husband. Two rooms were available in October and a third in November so another German professor moved in although house was not yet really ready. She needed a new place to live. Couple says KY house rented as of Jan. 1, 2018 to students. So they apparently became OH residents at that time (haven't changed driver's licenses, etc. yet). House in KY was bought with cash and husband rehabbed so basis is really low. Tenant of rooms in the OH house has been paying (by way of debt forgiveness of loan from couple) $650 per month. The value of the property changes almost monthly due to ongoing rehab. Getting a value as of October is a challenge at the least. Second professor (tenant of rooms in OH house) has a condo in Germany rented now by third professor (from Australia, but that's another story) waiting for her visa to be renewed. Condo owner charges tenant moving amount monthly depending on utilities and other factors. Also, the condo is legally owned by parents but she pays the mortgage (private loan from rich Swiss uncle) and all the bills. The value of the condo has doubled since owner first purchased it. She thinks market rate rental is fair at about $500 per month. So ideas on valuation of KY property (they haven't kept all the expenses put into the house)? Valuation for 2 then 3 rooms in a house not really ready for prime time inhabiting? Allocation of expenses? (I'm inclined to call this 'house sitting' or something since no money changed hands and for other reasons.) What about the condo in Berlin? Seems I have to report income but what about expenses that she pays but is not legally required to? My brain hurts. It's a good thing these are all super nice folks. Then the Australian has a house here in OH that she had to rent because she had to be out of the country for a year. Sheesh! I'll worry about that one tomorrow.

And now the box whether in the office or remotely prepared. What about clients that come into the office to drop off stuff but are not present when returns are prepared? Where's that box? And to efile Ohio, there is now a User Consent box: "By using a computer system and software to prepare and transmit my client's return electronically, I consent to the disclosure of all information pertaining to my use of the system and software to create my client's return and to the electronic transmission of my client's tax return to the Ohio Department of Taxation, as applicable by law." ARRRGGGGHHH

I posted that too quickly just responding to what NC DOR rep told me. I kept pursuing the KB which referenced something from TaxWise in 2015 but decided to look further into it. Although the field for standard deduction had 8750 in it, I didn't check the box at the top of the page to take the standard deduction - of 8750 - which populated that field. Then went through. Why the hoops? Tech support said something couldn't be fixed about it. At least it's done and I got to vent a bit although needlessly.

What a revoltin' development this is! I just got a rejection for a guy leaving for 6 months for England and now he has to paper file. I've efiled his returns to NC for several years. Why wouldn't a client (me) be notified that suddenly this super software is not approved for at least this state? I wonder how many other states have not approved ATX. Grrr....

My insurance is through AICPA, brought to me by Aon, underwritten by CNA (whatever all that means). It's the AICPA CPA Value Plan. I really only do taxes now with minimal bookkeeping for certain tax clients and no other assurance work. As my gross income is pathetically low, my fees are too. Hey, as long as the profit pays for my dive trips

I did get it this year for $190. Network protection limits of liability $100,000; Deductible per claim $1000; Extortion $15,000; Deductible per claim $1000; Privacy event expense $100,000; no deductible. As with all insurance, I sincerely hope to never have to use it.

Bring some to Rita's in June!

Hah! Got it! Recalling that the 2441 fields were blue (can fill in) I just typed in child's information. If taken as dependent, that fills in automatically. How grateful that I can still learn something new!

Hmmm, client says they split exactly 50-50 but in any event, she is considered the custodial parent. She has relinquished claiming the dependency exemption for 2017 as they alternate claiming the child. But QF references Notice 2006-86 that the 'custodial parent's release of an exemption to the noncustodial parent only applies for claiming a dependency exemption credit and child tax credit for the child.' It has a little chart (love those little charts!) showing that release of exemption for the custodial parent still qualifies that parent to claim child as qualifying child for dependent care. I just don't know how to make that happen in ATX. I thought by indicating HOH and putting child's name there, that would work but it didn't. No easy answers for me today!

New client has child care expenses, splits custody down the middle, so claimed, and alternates taking dependent exemption. So this year she does not claim dependent and my QF handbook shows she can still claim child care expense but not child tax credit. However, I can't figure out how to have ATX Max allow child care expense with no child. I have child listed with HOH but doesn't show up as Qualifying Person for care. What am I missing? New to me, most of my clients are older with no children at home.

Yes, I was thinking there should be a 1099-R, too, but there isn't except, except one from a Life Ins Co with a code 4D. However, none of the figures anywhere even remotely resemble the ones I posted. Plus there is tax withheld. Well, on my list - a long one - of missing info. Sigh...

Client included in papers from Lincoln Financial Group a 4th quarter annuity statement. It shows Contributions $33,124.75, Total Withdrawals $10,000, YTD Withdrawals $10,000, Cost Basis $4,998.58, Gain/Loss $9600.76. The next line says Your Tax Information YTD Taxable Amount $10,000, TYD Non-Taxable $0, Fed and state no taxes withheld. I've never seen such a thing. The only other annuity withdrawals I've seen have been reported on a 1099R form. I believe client's father died so may be relevant. For cost basis and gain/loss, well, I can't figure out how that was derived. If the basis was $4998.58, I can't make my calculator come up with a gain of $9600.76. Ideas?

Great response! Indeed, as you opined elsewhere, priorities are important and putting up with boorish behavior is not a job requirement. NON-VOTING POST

Oh, my - so much loss. My heart goes out to you. Yes, rethinking priorities is also on my mind. BHoffman, be sure to take care of yourself.

We'll have lots of good hugs in June....

My very messy desk along with the primary cat (as in my avatar photo), calculator on the left (I trained myself to use the left hand so I wouldn't have to put down my pencil), little rolodex on the righ (shhh, all my logins and passwords).

Not to mention overloaded brains long 'bout now... It's a village here and we look out for each other, no worries!

EITC has no place at all in this scenario. Both are retired and financially stable. I was just asking about proper assignment of real estate taxes paid. Thanks for all this input but I think we've come to a resolution, easier than I thought. Back to the really hard issues now - they always appear later in the season when we are crunched for time and brain power, right?

I just knew I should have written county auditor. Haste makes waste and a bit of humor here.

I just discovered that I unchecked "Show popup tooltips..." NOT "Display Tax Research..." I happened to be on the phone with tech support about RITA 37 and a malfunction still and asked about the blue triangles. She directed me to the right place. Happy camper here

Yes, I did. And I can't go back and redo because it is grayed out. I could only 'reinstate' what I thought I deleted to redelete. But that didn't work either. I've been using this program since 1997 so am sort of familiar with how things work although don't know everything - and there is always some new thing. Like now on Sch. A for Tax preparation fee, you can't just put in the number. There is a whole new link to billing. Yes, I can put in the number at the top but it is one more click I don't need. Rant over....