Margaret CPA in OH

So no Schedule C, I guess. My most recent clergy has no outside income either. I suggest you group as logically as you can. It seems odd to need many more lines outside of parsonage expenses.

I had a recently widowed client several years ago with an investment account and so, so many st transactions that had never happened when spouse was alive. I believed the client was being taken advantage of and suggested that she interview a couple of other investment firms to ask how they would manage her account. She swapped brokers within months. Sometimes you just have speak up to alert folks to the possible ramifications of what is happening. It is then their decision to do nothing or take a more active interest. Horse to water, etc.

I seem to recall that happening to me once some time ago. I deleted that return and rolled over again. It was fine then. A one shot event for me. Also pointed again to how we must be aware of what's happening and what to expect as an outcome. For me, I typically do a quick review of client documents and have a (really) rough idea of expected bottom line. Such things as a note for QCD and a state deduction or credit which doesn't show up alerts me to something I may have missed. But really not nice to have data that shouldn't be there before even beginning. Did support have any clues?

The last one I had I put on Sch 1, Page 1, line z, Other Income. You can jump to the list which includes Taxable grants and more but I just added in the bottom space Taxable Scholarship and the amount.

I was just checking this for a possible new client. Per QF, A married taxpayer who is a US citizen or resident during the entire year can file as HOH if all of the following tests are met [IRC Sec.7703(b)]: 1. The taxpayer files a separate return. 2. The taxpayer paid more than half the cost of keeping up the home for the tax year. 3. The spouse did not live in the home during the last six months of the tax year. 4. The taxpayer's home was the main home for more than half the year of the child or .... The child must be a dependent.... It seems that #3 could be the problem in your case. I'm waiting to hear back in my case, not sure when spouse moved out.

My clients so far have been reasonable but a few - the few - seem to take offense when I ask about missing document X and list of Y expenses. And get annoyed when I have to remind them again after they inquire as to the return status. Just a few cranky folks can spoil the day. Then there are the super nice ones who express real gratitude - they are a gift.

Well, Terry, I have been with ATX since 1998 as well and knew all the folks you mentioned. And the roar. And the appreciation barbeque we sent to Maine to those great folks that treated us all as friends and were so kind and helpful. The experience with them made a huge difference in setting up my own practice and having confidence that I wasn't alone. And here some of us still remain. I'm good for maybe 3 more years. The more recent group has also been great and, of course, many of us had a wonderful time in TN a few years ago in the back 40. Memories....

Terry, so glad you resolved this on your own. Yes, for several years I prepared CRUT returns for one client but the last one was 10 years ago. I would have had to go back to refresh the little gray cells and not sure that would be possible. Good memory on your part though! What a team here as resources, right?

Yikes! I hope you managed to shut down everything with lightening speed. Several years ago something similar happened to me and the computer guy said to just shut down everything and bring it in. He checked it all out and said I was lucky. I hope you are, too!

I don't have any MO clients now but on the state tab is there an option to choose Part Year Resident? If so, maybe appropriate schedules will appear. The last one I had was 2016 and used MO Form MO-NRI for an allocation.

LOTS of these! But I just hover over the email address or compare the email address with the Reply to address and invariably they're not remotely related.

They share one main home, the name of one spouse is on the receipt, funds paid from a joint account. I put it on the return with the name matching the receipt. All good! Thanks

Bump Anyone? I've looked everywhere I can think of and can find nothing. It doesn't seem right for each to have $500 credit but if I put in even half the cost for each, the calculation does not take into account that it's the same home. The bought two doors and, if split between them, they still would get $500 each filing separately but only $500 combined if filing joint. This just does not seem right but how to manage if wrong?

My clients really like that, too, and wish the states would do likewise.

First time to have MFS better than MFJ with energy credit. I've read the instructions but cannot find that MFS will reduce the allowed credit in half ($250 each in this case). Before splitting, should it be on just one return or split? The receipt is in only one spouse name, they reside together, joint checking account. Thanks

Many, if not most, 529 plans also allow for those other expenses.

Clients had solar panels installed on the small barn next to the house with wires for electricity connected to supply the house. The original house is quite old with a funky roof, apparently. The instructions require that they be for your 'main home' but also that the costs are 'for property that uses solar energy to generate electricity for use in your home.' So the fact that the panels are on a building adjacent to the main living space should not be a problem, right?

Here you go. 529Worksheet529Exp.xls

I'm not sure why you would have a SD return. It is a separate return. My school district has no tax and I've never filed an SD return in 35 years for myself.

Here is a worksheet that I use for this purpose. 529Worksheet529Exp.xlsx

That would be tech support 800.638.8291 and follow the prompts. A few years ago I encountered an error in programming and reported it. The issue was corrected rather quickly. It was moved up the chain when the first tech didn't quite get it but resolved.

Yes, cover letter, engagement letter and questionnaire as a reminder of things to think about and maybe mark y/n. That's enough.

Thanks for this information. They have been here since 2021 at least. I asked for only the last 2 years of returns so will have to confirm actual date/year of arrival. They did file single, correctly, for 2021 so likely only 2022 is an issue. I think I will advise again to amend 2022 and be done with it. Update: For some reason I didn't post this reply when I wrote it a couple of days ago. I discussed with the clients and they decided they wanted all 2022 returns amended. Pacun, the federal return was NOT filed correctly. They filed all returns as single although married in mid-year 2022. I have now amended the federal and state returns with no change in taxes although the joint MD return would have saved about $100. They chose to correct to MFS for all. I gave them the options. It's done, filed, accepted. Clients are satisfied and I am, too, knowing that they are all now correct. Thanks again!

Clients (green cards, Argentinian, from earlier post) filed single in CT (she lived there) and MD (he lived there and each for federal despite having married in July 2022. I would like to amend their returns all around but there is no tax difference anywhere except for MD and the savings might be about $130. Of course they can choose to not amend or, say, do it themselves. I think paying me more than any possible savings will be a turn off. Amending will be challenging anyway as which would be the 'home' state when they kept separate residences until early 2023? For filing jointly, I don't see how to have a separate residence for each in 2022 although they now have a joint residence. They currently have ample funds and probably want to do the right thing. Am I missing something? Anything bad waiting in the wings if they choose not to amend? When applying for citizenship (their goal and they are research scientists), could that come back to bite them? Boy, I do get them, right?

Well, if the standard deduction isn't enough, I imagine so. As we know, there are many special benefits for churches and clergy and many things 'religious' as for so many other special cases - mortgage interest and property tax among them. Right or wrong, this is the current law.