Christian

Today I tried to rollover a 2012 return to file an extended return for a client and got a connection error notice. Anyone else having this problem ?

A client's father died on 4/2/13. He has just now come in wanting to file the fiduciary form (Form 1041). I rarely handle these so I thought I would be well advised to seek additional input. After looking over the info he has brought I find that the estate has no income for the period 4/2/13 - 4/2/14 but did incur a few expenses. He will close the estate within the next year and because there is no income to report I see no need to file a return. There will be a need to file one after closure as the estate will have some income to report for the period 4/2/14 until closure. I am wondering if I cannot put the few expenses paid in the estate's first year into the final filing or if I file an interim 1041 showing these costs will they then carryover to the final filing in the period 4/2/14 until closure ? Any input is appreciated.

That was my reading of it as well Jack. I was only too happy to read your comment.

In looking over the draft Form 1040 for 2014 I note that for most of my clients the simple check box for full coverage will cover most of them (whew). For the others lacking coverage one of the specified exemptions will cover them. As for the one or two getting credit assistance through the federal exchange I expect the insurance carrier will forward documents which will enable me to complete their info. Maybe next tax season will not be the nightmare I was afraid might occur.

Yup, kinda do.

Thanks to all. In adding up my thirty five years of payments and dividing by 35 I come up with a figure larger than what this part time work amounts to. Oh well, it never hurts to check these things and I still enjoy the work.

On a personal note, I retired from a regular job some six years ago. I began drawing full social security benefits at that time. My tax prep business was and is a part time endeavor going back some thirty plus years. Like everyone I continue paying social security taxes on my self employment income. I was under the impression that after three years or so I would receive an adjustment for my continuing payments to the system as my dad did when he continued working after formal retirement. To date I have received not a dime of increase after having paid in some five more years. In talking to social security I did not receive what I considered a great explanation of why my benefits have not increased. Just wondering if any of you have had this experience and what you found out about your situation.

Thanks Jack. I'll put a note in her file. It's no biggy but every little bit helps, right? This is for 2014.

She advises it will be around $100 or so.

A client called asking if a software program needed for taking a daughter's college course is deductible. Her daughter is in her junior year of a four year degree program. Why this software is not included in her college expenses is not clear to me but she advises it is needed for this course and is not provided by the school. I am wondering if this is a Schedule A deduction or can it be taken off elsewhere. This for me is one of those seldom encountered items since my clients are primarily older folks.

My client file backups have always been in the client's name.

Thanks guys. This is a 64 bit machine running win 7 pro. In view of what was said I think I'll leave well enough alone.

I notice ATX has left the 2013 hardware requirements in place for next year. I am thinking of adding 4gb of ram to my existing 4gb which will give me 8gb in total. Has anyone else found this upgrade to materially increase the speed of their machine ?

Maybe but it does not sign me in on any other site I use.

I have noticed that entering the forum I am already signed in. I always sign out on leaving. Is this a new feature ?

Egad ! I may at some point have assigned 7 year status to a structural component.

MY thoughts are never random.

NOW that's what I call a reply !

Only the IRS could construe a Dead Horse statute enacted in 1884 to pay for deceased livestock as a justification to regulate some 700,000 or so tax practitioners in the 21st century.

Good luck Rita on the huge discount olive branch.

I renew by credit card each year. I've never known them not to take the full amount in the month I renew which has always has been May for as long as I can recall.

My Lord ! Well I finally received my quote and have decided to renew with ATX. When I said form entry I meant entry on the W-2 ,1099-Int or whatever. I review the 1040 line by line as I progress. I may opt to change vendors down the road I simply was not familiar with their system and will need time to make myself comfortable with it . Like many of you I started in the pen and ink era with the tax computed manually or from the IRS tables.

I guess some of us are low on the totem pole. Usually you get a renewal offer from ATX by now but I have seen no mailing or email. How about y'all ? I checked out a competing software but they do not allow direct form entry which I much prefer.

I have been with ATX before there was an ATX since about 1990. I am going to check out OLTPRO just to see what they have. I had planned to renew but looking at an alternative can't hurt. I downloaded the 2013 program from the ATX website. Even though this is an option they still hit you with the delivery fee for a cd.

Good grief. We are not expected to fill in two additional federal forms for EACH client Jack ? Somehow I feel faint.