Margaret CPA in OH

No, I didn't file 2010-2012 - yet. Honestly I didn't think it would matter but, you are correct, it might. There won't be any refund coming and so sad she is losing out on so much money but it wouldn't hurt to just mail them in, I guess. She doesn't have the W-2 from 2010, though, so not sure about filing without it. Thanks for the suggestion!

Thanks for all your replies. As it happens, I was at a function today sitting next to a local CPA who uses c/o her business address for several of her clients with dementia and efiles. As the client uses direct deposit, I have now offered that option to her as she expects to return next spring. She isn't here to set up a PO Box and who would be the designated receiver? I had forgotten that prior years can be efiled! So 2014 and 2015 can both be efiled through ATX? That would simplify so much! Thanks for all these replies.

Resident alien client, new to me, has not filed since here in the US since arriving in 2010. She has lost nearly $10K in refunds as her salary was over-withheld. She is now coming clean but had to leave the US as the university where she teaches forgot to do something about her visa. So she currently is in Berlin (originally from Australia) and will be there until about April establishing temporary residence to apply for her green card here (apparently this is not uncommon). We filed her 2013 returns in April just in time for the SOL and she received the refunds by check. Now we are ready to file 2014, 2015 and 2016. For 2016 we can efile and she can have direct deposit for federal refund but Ohio has to be a check as her driver's license expired Dec. 31, 2016. She owns a home here, paid off, but is looking to lease it while out of the country. What address should be used? She has every intention of returning to Ohio and still is on staff at the university teaching from Berlin and doing research so a temporary absence. She does have really good friends here whose address she probably could use for mailing purposes. She is just worried that things might go missing if her house is leased. She asked if my address could be used - not sure that's a good idea, though. Ideas?

Thanks for all that research, FDNY. I still think more should have been put into program improvements we've been requesting forever. Maybe next year - nah, not likely.

I wondered what type entity was CCH/Wolters Kluwer so looked it up. As it is an international company it does have shareholders so perhaps, to please investors, profits were passed through to shareholders. With the profit increase given the current status, why would they not just make the shareholders happy instead of the customers? Isn't that sort of the capitalist way? I'm thinking the figures cited above support whatever it is they are doing or not doing and our pleas to make our lives better as tax preparers are not as loud as the shareholder's voices. Just guessing.

Clearly we have too much time on our hands, are bored, or tired, or looking for diversions, or ....

Abby Normal, would you please spell out a bit the link you listed above? When I click on it, the login doesn't like me. I logged in directly with no problems but now don't see an obvious place that would list enhancements. Thanks!

Is this a gaggle of nerds or what?

In a previous life, I was a research assistant in genetic engineering in molecular biology. This 'recipe' is not so foreign sounding. To this day I have to measure liquids at the bottom of the meniscus at eye level.

Ain't it the truth about so many, many things: follow the money!

I've taken several courses from them. Some have been quite good with good reference material, others not so much. I try to steer away from the blatant sales oriented ones but the price is right. Among my favorites are KPMG and IRS SBSE Stakeholder Liaison Field webinars.

Thanks, SaraEA, for qualifying what we have 'easy.' The catch in Ohio is that we have to take a specific ethics course, not just any. And what comes prior to the ethics courses throughout our careers is not so easy hence the Can't Pass Again designation, at least for me! When I took the exam, it was 2 1/2 days to cover all parts at once. Now candidates can take one part at a time online. I understand it is more challenging now but to have to know it all (Auditing, Business Law, Accounting Theory and Accounting Practice) and spit it out in 2 1/2 days is something I really never want to do again.

Thanks, easytax, for reclassifying at least some CPA's. Generally the requirements for a license are similar across the states but not identical. In Ohio, where I passed in 1993 (Can't Pass Again test), one needed just 4 years of college with appropriate courses, 24 semester hours in recognized accounting courses or completed examination demonstrating equivalency plus 2 years of public accounting experience or a master's in accounting or business admin with a minimum of 6 semester hours of recognized graduate level accounting courses plus one year of public accounting experience. Currently a master's degree or 5 years is required, I believe, by all states. We also have a 120 hour CPE requirement over 3 years with a minimum of 20 hours annually (no packing the last year). If one performs tax work, 24 hours of taxation are required; if accounting and auditing, 24 hours of A&A are required. With either, 3 hours of Ethics are required. All CPE must be accredited by NASBA and certificates presented to the board every 3 years. Any attest work (compilation, review, or audit) requires peer review. Even retired CPA's (less than 1000 hours annually, such as tax season) must meet the CPE requirement so I take as many online freebies as possible. Thankfully many are now available. I do take at least 8 hours annually in a classroom setting with the new regs, etc. to have an opportunity to meet with colleagues. I am biased, admittedly, but think CPA's do know a lot and those who specialize in tax do so because they love it and love learning about it. My MBA is with a taxation specialty and my favorite course was learning about tax court.

Thanks for the support but I am in near retirement mode now. This incident was several years ago and I primarily do only individual returns for long time clients. There are a few Sch. C's and 2 partnership LLC's that do not have these issues but I won't be taking on more. I was just reinforcing your comments about basis issues and partnership wrinkles in general. They do exist and can be pretty unpleasant!

Edsel, You are so on point about so many things here. Especially the point about "... most partnerships do not last very long ..." and "... six months later they hate each other." My now former clients fit this description to a T. They thought they were so clever to have the partnership (LLC but they didn't know it would be a partnership - duh) agreement prepared by an attorney who knew nothing about basis. One partner provided $200,000 cash, the other fully depreciated equipment originally valued at $200,000. It was bad enough when I explained the tax ramifications initially but guess which one was furious when the K-1's were prepared and the tax deductions were so different on their individual returns. I vowed no more partnerships after that. It was ugly.

No, I don't think it is a scam. The letters are in duplicate (not sure a scammer would waste the paper) and the return address to mail documents is the IRS address listed online down to the zip code. On reflection, I think what may have happened is that we sent an amended return about 5 weeks after the original return was efiled. I had omitted Form 8962 as the client had provided erroneous information caught later. So she owed money from that but then could avail herself of the energy tax credit. I wrongly assumed that the efiled return would be in the system by then. Apparently the amended return folks thought the 1040X was her original return - or something. Don't know but am sending the requested forms along with the 1099 various supporting documents showing the source of the amounts questioned. I'm not worried although it seems it will take some time to sort it out. The client is unhappy, though. Then again, she is a chronic complainer about high her taxes are so I should be used to it.

Catherine, I have done virtually all the things that you listed. I called the number on the letter, the agent saw that the return was efiled, couldn't understand what was being asked but couldn't really help. The letter was from a different department, Operations Manager Input Correction, ICO Rejects Team FSPC. When I explained that I called the number on the letter, well, you can guess that went nowhere. I would love to just fax all this but, of course, '(d)ue to high volume, we can't acknowledge receipt of your fax..." At least I'm not too busy now but the client is really unhappy and won't enjoy the postage.

Unhappy client brought IRS letter that lists several forms, etc. 'missing' from the return which was efiled. The tab that shows efiled forms lists them all. The letter also states the return doesn't have the original signature - duh! Should I just fax an entire printed return along with the efile acceptance? I now have to have her sign a 2848 and go through that aggravation. Other suggestions? I've never seen this in all the many years of efiling.

I just updated but haven't used it yet, still waiting for client data. I had no problem getting into the community board. Keep trying?

This is all good to know and adds to my knowledge base. I have not before heard of this but most likely because none of my clients received one of these - or didn't tell me! Does this count for CPE?

I've not heard of that and think it a scam. Ask what the return address was and on what the form number was. Every document from IRS has a form number, I think. If she calls (and I wouldn't advise it as the usual response is to mail in or fax information), she may want to say that her POA will handle the issue (may scare them off) as she has turned it over to you.

I recently renewed my ATX MAX package though still grumbling about the exclusion of the Ohio RITA efile ability. Today I received in the mail the 2017 State Tax Handbook published December 2016 and the Deluxe!!! Edition of The Taxbook for tax year 2016. Why? Does this mean I won't get these for the year for which I renewed or that they are just now being sent for the 2016 package I used for, well, 2016? Left hand, meet the right hand.

Ahh, the memories, indeed! Thanks for them, Elrod.

Yes, some of us do need that per diem!

And don't you just hate it when things are thrown in that are unneeded but really important stuff (as advertised and listed on my renewal form) are left out to be obtained separately. I am in a not very nice back and forth again really angry that online and on my renewal form ATX advertises for ATX MAX Package, "Unlimited individual and business e-file returns for preparing federal, state, and municipal forms." Except one has to purchase a separate Ohio package to efile RITA returns. And more municipalities are going to RITA annually. What is it about the English language that WK cannot understand about '(u)nlimited individual and business e-file returns ...municipal forms?' RITA forms are for municipal returns. I believe this is false advertising and am just so annoyed. And it isn't even listed on my renewal form. One might think, with an Ohio address, that I just might need or use that software. Grrr...