Margaret CPA in OH

Thanks Lynn, for reminding me of the simplification. For over a year I have been filing only my own and forgot that the change wasn't due to that but a general change. I also have the 8879-EMP in my own return to authorize myself. It really is time to fade into the sunset... Sorry ILLMAS, so good to have others chiming in. To efile W-2's, though, is it still necessary to register with BSO and use that pin? Guess I will find out when I try to efile my own for this year.

I have been using the 941, 1099 and W-2 efile for years and really like it. I can't speak to a QB comparison, though. You fill in the form in the program using the client supplied payroll information. The SS and MC amounts due are calculated automatically. If monthly payers, you have to input the amount paid of liability monthly and also the amount and date paid for each month. Same with semiweekly. To efile, each business must have a 10 digit pin assigned by IRS for which you can apply online through the program. For one client it never worked despite repeated attempts but that was an anomaly. This pin should take about 10 days to be received and goes to the client. Then you can efile 940, 941 and 944. If you are the Reporting Agent and have that pin, each business doesn't need a separate one. It's great to have confirmation of taxes remitted though EFTPS, and make pdf's of the forms to save electronically. I like it. To efile W-2's, you need to register with Business Services Online (Social Security Administration) to get a pin or ID which must be included with each submission.

Now for the one about 3115 and repairs regs....

I'm with you. I have been to 2 seminars that went into some detail and will attend another in a couple of weeks that includes this. Nothing seems to be sticking in my brain as to exactly what to do. I have just drafted a letter to appropriate clients going out this week that they may well be extended and we need to work together for data and decisions. I am first working through my own this week. I've never had to deal with 3115 before so it will be interesting! And we thought the ACA was a challenge... Maybe someone will come up with a neato chart about what to do with what as was done for ACA.

Download went smoothly - neither validation codes works. RATS!

Judy, I do know the issue you have raised and have documented same to the son. He has not yet acted on it and, at least for 2013, dad was competent enough to sign the returns. I am uncertain for 2014 at this time and have already alerted son about the likelihood of getting conservancy for mother and maybe father, too, while he's at it. I also stated that returns will be extended if he doesn't have proper documentation. I just wasn't sure about the address to use on the return. Seemed odd to me, that's all. Thanks for input!

I have done this when all live in the same state but he lives out west, far away. Not a problem?

Clients are quite elderly although the man is still very sharp. In early 2014 he had a health incident which put him into a nursing home likely until he dies. He is 93 now. His wife has been in a home for several years with Alzheimer's. Son who lives out of state now has durable POA to sign everything. For 2013 I used the client's family home address (it was thought early on he might return there), but that home has now been sold. Client and wife live in separate nursing homes. Which address to use on return for 2014? They still file jointly.

Right about MAX. I was confused about this as I have never paid a fee. But I have also never used Fee Collect or any bank products. Earlier today I called and it was confirmed that there are no efile charges with MAX.

It's beautiful and now you are moving? We did something similar before moving from Boston to Cincinnati. Beautiful tile in the entry, remodeled the half bath, then moved. So sorry we didn't get much use out of it but know it helped sell the house.

I think it may depend on how the states determine that credit. I do several with part-year Ohio. The Ohio returns calculates Ohio tax on all income, considers the amount earned out of state, then calculates the tax as a relative percentage of the total. I can't speak for all states as I don't know how all states determine the credit. Forms and credits differ.

With new or prospective clients, I always provide the first hour free. I put it on the invoice then back it out as a discount to show the value. I don't recall ever charging for occasional calls throughout the year, (usually get emails anyway) as I think my regular fees include that. I do now am trustee on 6 trusts, 4 for 4 more years, set up by a now deceased client. For these, I am keeping track of the calls and emails in 15 minute increments as 2 of the beneficiaries are creating many complications. But then, I will get paid from the income, they have no choice and they will no longer be clients in 4 more years. I am being scrupulously fair in documentation so they can see the invoices, though. And I do lump together multiple emails and calls over time to make the 15 minutes.

Eric, things on Chat seem to be working now except for the 2 topics that were misbehaving. I marked them yesterday as read and then missed later posts. Now I have marked them to follow, thanks. I'll check Off Topic now. Thanks again!

Thanks, that worked for the General Chat but not Off Topic. When I click on that, the bold disappears but when I go to Chat, it returns and 3 topics are still bolded. Maybe tomorrow...

Whew! I am always so relieved when it isn't just my problem! I emailed Eric so he surely will look into it as he always does. Meanwhile, anyone know how to mark an entire topic as read? I thought there was a way to do that but don't recall how.

For some reason the topics about the organizers and ACA refuse to go to the 'read' status no matter what I do. Clues, anyone? I can't tell whether there is a new comment.

Marilyn, all you say is completely true which is why I am here virtually every day. I have two tabs on my browser which appear on opening: this and IRS. My intention was to stress that the company employees/support that we had back then will likely not be experienced again. I, too, am a sole proprietor and rely on this esteemed collection of experienced professionals in many ways. You are correct about the 'family' feel here, too. I kind of miss the birthday greetings but it was getting a bit unwieldy. I really like during the off season and other times the sharing of our lives that takes place with pictures yet! I'm not sure I can leave this place even if/when I retire - too many friends to lose at once. We have to find out how certain 'kids' fare in college, for example, don't we?

Ah, the good 'ol days.... Never have I felt such a connection with service providers that were nearly like family.

I think those of us here using Square are not using a terminal and do not have or expect monthly fees. It just costs 2.75% per swipe. The card reader is free, at least mine was. So my cost is just 2.75% of the transaction. One transaction for $100, $2.75 cost. I don't know where you are getting a rate of $37.50 and a terminal cost. That's not what it costs me and I have no terminal, just a little card reader for free.

I've used it on my Android smartphone, sparingly but with no problems.

Wouldn't it be unethical to ask the parents about son's income? It appears as though this potential client is an adult. I would never ask the parent of an adult client about the adult child's financial matters without that parent having durable power of attorney. For the record, I would decline to accept this client. I can be objective and perform due diligence but I do not do EIC returns without a prior longstanding client relationship and that happened exactly once in 15 years. My business is in my home though mostly electronic and I only take referrals and do not accept all of those. I do not typically document my reasons.

I never even looked to see if I could add an organizer yet until Lynn's note. Sure enough, both organizers are there for tax year 2014. I didn't look in the Forms because the Organizer to add all at once is still grayed out. In the Forms though are the 1040 Organizer and the 1040 Comprehensive Organizer. The one called just Organizer has only 32 general questions and 12 business questions. The one call Comprehensive has LOTS more questions and I really like how you can now add some of your own. Hooray! I don't have to cut and paste my Use Tax question any more! What I don't see are any ACA questions, not even the one above but you would be able to word and include your own, it seems. I think I can get busy after all. Or wait a couple more days to see what appears...

Are you sure they are available? I didn't see them. In any event, in the program mark all the returns you wish to have organizers, then click on Returns. Jus above Change Printers is the Organizer option. Mine is still grayed out but if you have them, follow the arrow and add. In prior years, don't yet know for this year, that added only the organizer which I didn't like so I print out selected pages for specific clients. I also print the questionnaire as a blank and include it in with my engagement letters. The cover sheet advises that anyone who would like an organizer should contact me for either a mailed or emailed copy. No one ever has.

Jack from Ohio, there are business expenses and personal expenses. You may be referring to my whine about missing a bit more of the price reduction on ATX MAX while spending quite a bit more on the Surface Pro 2. The software is a business expense and an annual one on a declining client base. The second is an upper grade 'toy' expected to last at least as long as my now dead 6-7 year old laptop and it is far more versatile than the business software or that old laptop. My husband also uses it as it is personal with minimal outside (no deduction) business use. My dive trips to quite exotic places are comparatively very costly but I buy most of my clothes from KMart and such places. I value experiences more than most stuff but the Surface Pro gives me wonderful experiences not possible with the tax software. And the lower my business expenses, the more money I have for fun stuff and experiences! Said earlier, your mileage may vary.

ILLMAS, I have a Surface Pro 2. It has Intel i5-4300u @ 1.90 Gh, 2.5 Gh (whatever that means, not sure why it shows 2 speeds); 4G RAM; 64 bit; 112 G hard drive with 35 G still free; IE 11. Surface Pro 3 may have better numbers. I have the attached keyboard which I love. I couldn't stand to use the onscreen keyboard. I bought it for miscellaneous business (dive and CPR instruction) but mostly as a replacement for a heavy, dead laptop and nonfunctional little laptop replacements (can't even recall what they are called). Frankly, I use my Kindle Fire more but now have an attachment that I can use to connect to my television when I want to watch missed network programs that aren't on my Prime subscription. I don't think I could use it for tax prep, at least not routinely, but my eyes are getting bad. The screen resolution is sharp and my computer guy tweaked it a tad bit. It has Bluetooth and wifi so prints to any printer I have.