Margaret CPA in OH

Thank you! I never would have imagined... Now I wonder why the E-file Manager doesn't deserve it, too. There are more than twice as many records. Oh, well, the 'thought lost' have been found and I can rest easier now. Whew!

So I was scrolling down my list of completed returns to check on one down the alphabet. It seems that only through most of R are shown. I can Find the others by typing the name in the box and they all appear in the completed list of the E-file Manager but where did they go in the Return Manager? And I can't find where they are backed up on my drive although I looked at where I thought they should be. It's a mystery...

It is truly wonderful that this community has remained so strong, thanks primarily to Eric and KC, for so long. It is also wonderful that so many of us go back even further, maybe as far as 1997 when I joined ATX users, and still remain a family, colleagues always ready to help each other and welcome new folks all the time. I know my practice would not be what it is without my virtual office here at this community. Thanks to all for keeping on!

Thanks so much, Eric. Beautiful, indeed. As a diver I can certainly vouch for the beautiful colors when seen with a light shone on the corals. It's amazing the first time one dives to any depth and sees the colors pop out with a bright light. Otherwise things look pretty dull but they are not. Cayman Brac next Saturday WOO HOO! Chuuk Lagoon and Palau in July WOOOOOO HOOOOOO!

At this point in time, I would suggest, no, insist on an extension for 2013 and tackle them all later. Good for client to finally try to get back on track, though, at least before getting nailed. I kinda doubt repayment can be made through payroll deductions but don't know for sure. I am only familiar with direct debit or mailed checks. It may be possible, given time, for client to scrounge up legit deductions that could mitigate the initially obvious tax balance. All the transcripts show is income. What about state tax liability? I'm sure others will chime in. Best of luck to both of you!

JJStephens gave you the whole scoop. I didn't want to scare you will all that detail until/unless you found out whether your client was even in a taxing school district. It is TMI, as he says, but does serve to provoke additional sympathy for those of us in Ohio. All states have issues: CA and NY come to mind. But we got some issues here, too! Let us know whether you have to deal with this. As you can see, help is available!

Ah, but I rarely print the same thing for two clients. I looked at those early on but not for me. Most of my clients are printed only to pdf to email encrypted. It is rare that I print to actual printer which is why I didn't think to check that the box was still checked. If anything I would assume that it would uncheck after printing. I will see if that is an option. But I do know what happens when one assumes....

So I printed client copies for clients to review while here. They signed 8879 went away, efiled. Now I want to print originals of local returns to pick up in a couple of days to save me postage and print 9325 and letters saying efile is successful, you getcher refund, blah blah Yup, press print, walk away, come back to half a ream of client copies - again. This season cannot end too soon.

Thanks, Lion and Judy. I think it's out. Extension is also out as she always owes quite a bit and does a payment plan every single year. Hmmm, this may be the last year for her for me....Thinking, thinking....

Client has severe allergies and had, at doc's recommendation, house inspected for mold. She had some in the basement area (whitish, not the deadly black) and had it removed. Deductible for medical? (yep, same client but she gave in on the Alexander) Also HEPA filters? I had to show her that OTC meds were not deductible just because her doctor recommended Aleve. I couldn't find anything on point about the mold, though.

You need to know the county. All school districts do not have tax, either. Check here page 43 http://www.tax.ohio.gov/portals/0/forms/ohio_individual/individual/2013/PIT_IT1040_Booklet.pdf Check with the client to see which county and whether they live in a taxing school district. Many employers do not withhold for school district anyway so if there is nothing on the W-2 there is no entry on the input. That does not mean the client is not liable for school district tax.

I provide one copy with the pdf I send for client review. They don't get a second copy unless, of course, they print two. I had to edit my email instructions with the pdf to state, in bold, in capital letters to send ONLY Form 88879 (and sometimes another check box). I am so weary of the bank info page coming back or printed page 2 of 1040 (with CLIENT COPY plastered all over it) signed and dated. Only a week, only a week, only a week.....

I did see that the improvements depreciation added to the building depreciation. Took a while to get to that, too, but finally found it. I guess so long as the details are in FA and tied to Home Office, all is good. Just threw me for a loop and not at a good time.

Hah! It seems all I needed to do was shut it down. This morning when I opened the return, all was right with the world. I guess sometimes the calcs need time to simmer. Yes, I did have everything marked as home office. The red warnings took me there. Thanks!

Finally doing my own return. I have qualified home office. This year, depreciation disappeared although data fields are there but locked. So I try to follow the instructions and enter on Fixed Assets. The calcs on the Home Office Exp sheet are wrong. If I enter the full value (minus land), line 38 shows it and line 39 shows the business basis, 6.25%, but the calculation for depreciation, 2.564%, looks to the total basis. If I input the 6.45% amount on fixed assets, line 38 shows that but 39 shows the basis as $615 but then the depreciation calculation is correct at $252, same as last year and other years. Guess I need to call tech support. I hesitate to file with the wrong basis even though I know the depreciation is correct. Thoughts? My first big glitch and I am not thrilled. At least it's my own return.

Client sent me ahead of her appointment list of deductions. On medical, she lists chiropractor, acupuncture and Alexander. I called to ask about Alexander. She assures me it is a medically deductible procedure. I assured her that I did not see it listed anywhere but I would do research. One place I looked included it with Pilates which I doubt is deductible. I think I will stand by my insistence that she must have a physician's prescription before I would consider and then maybe. She will be here in about 45 minutes. I don't relish this as she is constantly trying to deduct everything possible. New LLC in 2012. 2013 - Income, $342. Expenses, $2076. Oh, and that's before the crucial OIH, of course. So Alexander? Anyone?

Client last year missed one as she changed custodians. They messed up. She is 83 and had never missed one until this change in custodians. Her mistake was that she would take it in December so she didn't really notice with year end stuff. She now has it to be distributed in September. IRS waived penalty.

Like at least some, I have had near zero issues this year. But I am right with you, Tom, on the education credit stuff and also the HSA input. I constantly find myself going in circles with each of these. I really miss that neat ed optimizer chart in the past. And I am annoyed that the General City return for Ohio is so crappy. But that is mostly an Ohio issue and ATX was way generous for so many years providing the variety of forms they did. Guess there will always be something to complain about but I haven't yet gotten to complain about the cost for the package, for my business any way.

Client just replied to my near snarky replies to his queries. Thank you for your answers, you will see a few comments below but they are just meant to be responses to your reply which I found to be humorous on what are minor matters. Sorry for wasting your time at this time of year. We will get the paperwork back to you this evening. I feel a little bit better now...

Thanks, pals, I knew you would understand...

This has really been the year for nitpicking questions. Clients file MFS so I have to split everything, of course, with most things jointly held. But for some reason the Average Tax Rate on the Tax Sum/Carry form shows his rate at 18,76% and hers is 18.3%. He wants to know why. Their incomes are close, hers is about $2750 higher but tax is just $40 higher due to bracket. He thinks her rate should be higher. I have no explanation and the field doesn't jump to the calculations. Cap gains rates do not factor here. Any ideas besides telling him a computer error and to white it out? Oh, he just now noticed that there is a possible deduction on A for safe deposit box and wants to know if the feds want the information in case they are hoarding a bunch of money. I think he's serious but am afraid to ask.

A high school student is taking college level classes but not half time - smart kid - but I don't want to spoil the AO credit when the big money payouts begin. Is it appropriate to take Lifetime Learning until he is enrolled as at least half time student?

That was absolutely wonderful! I could say more but am a bit teary about this at the moment. I am so glad that these folks recognized the humanness of the poor, the homeless, the hungry and treated them accordingly. Thanks for sharing, KC.

As I mentioned earlier, this is the first time I have seen this and it was with American Funds. Schwab, Vanguard, LP, others have all provided dollar amounts for both ordinary and qualified divs. I have often had to look up in my Mutual Fund Publishing reference books for Municipals and US Treasuries, but even now firms are doing a much better job with providing those percentages. For example Ohio does not tax interest on US Obligations or municipal income from Ohio or territories (Guam, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico). Many folks will not have this or very little but a handful of my clients have significant investments in such and it does make a difference. And they appreciate that I know about this and look out for their bottom lines. Of course, I am also looking out for mine

Those taxes are county and occupational taxes. There is no option to not pay and there is no filing. You can type in the name and it does flow to 1040 Schedule A as local taxes. Most are percentages but some, mental health maybe and others, are dollar amounts like $25. Nothing to do with any local returns or KY state return.