TaxMan60601

Nice. Useful too. It works, so it seems like now really there is a place where one can check the status of Amended return and in the same time a word to spread among the clients. Thanks for the feedback.

Just curious. Has someone been able to review the functionality of the tool so far?... My clients with amended returns do not meet the criteria so they are unable to use the link and check their status. Is it showing any specific and make sense data at the end or?

Exactly! That are my understandings too. I also presume that since the page seems to have been 'reviewed or last updated on 21-May-2013', could it be a brand new service!? Anyway, you are correct - there is no such visible and working link on the web-site at the moment. But it is okay since all these online tools starts with a 'Planned Outage' note. Will wait and see ...

You can use this path: Filing -> Individuals -> 1040 Central -> "Use Online Tools - below is just a sample of what's available" (by the way, very useful area, I think) -> 4-th is the link we are looking for: Where's My Amended Return?

That's my advice too - got 12.15 when it was released and as of today program seems stable and I have no probs. Thanks God, I saw Jack's post before I went to Download Center for 12.16 update ... phew Will wait and see

" ... but I will not answer any "tax theory" questions." - that is my belief too - tax theory questions have always been a lost cause, I think. Because all they want is to whine a bit ... Depends on the circumstances but what I do most often is to give the clients as much as possible, clear and fast and compliant with the law, solutions of their issue (without giving them the details) so that they can make a decision on their own. But this only in case you are dealing with a human being in front of you, you know what I mean And if it is not the season now! Otherwise, all I do is to give them the right hints and the exact statements and advice so that they can reach the initially set conclusion by themselves In this case I am also for a list with expenses, or estimated payments. Otherwise, "constantly increasing fees" or "sorry buddy, but I won't be able this year" - a huge backlog or something similar is always working ... Funny, but citations of court cases is also working flawlessly so far ...

Wow, just found this, right after the 'Closed May 24' announcement in the IRS e-bulletin ... http://www.irs.gov/uac/IRS-Statement-on-Court-Ruling-Related-to-Return-Preparers - Fee amounts collected for scheduled registered tax return preparer test appointments canceled due to the court ordered injunction are being refunded. Additionally, fees collected from return preparers who tested on or after January 18, 2013, the date the test was enjoined, are also being refunded. Good news

Exactly! Does anyone know/have an idea how much approx will be saved up this way? ... ... well, here we are the answer: http://www.irs.gov/uac/IRS-Achieves-$1-Billion-in-Cost-Savings-and-Efficiencies check this too: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/05/15/1209332/-IRS-To-Be-Closed-May-24-Four-Other-Days-Due-to-Budget-and-Sequester Very 'funny'!

... it is a pity ... very very sad story ... Thanks for the warn, Jack! I don't even wish to think about it but what if they intend to eliminate the server installation and go on with the standalone set up only, for the future ... Is this possible scenario, how cost effective it could be for them .... what about the different features within both installations and the consequences they will face doing this!?! I can't believe they are doing their best to lose the last loyal clients who have left them ....

Don't be so 'optimistic', Taxed! USA have signed tax treaties with 64 countries and there is an article for teachers in almost all of them, it is not only China. This is rather a matter of protocol, economic interests and negotiations but not only of negotiations .... Unfortunately, teachers are one of the lowest paid professions all over the world, and (strange but) because there had been some sanity left in politicians long ago in days when first treaties were negotiated (not today!), when they used to sign the protocols, they decided to grant some relief not only to teachers but also to lecturers, students, trainees, physicians, researchers(not all) artists and athletes... There are tax treaties for your foreign dividends or royalties, your pension or social security benefits, and even for gambling winnings, lol These are standard agreements which are constantly evolving. Two last points, Jack. Check within regs and instructions if State of Ohio allow tax treaties in the same way as Federal, otherwise you will need to report her OH income on the state return no matter she has no Fed AGI. "She can have two years of exemptions, then she is taxed like all other non-resident aliens." - if she prolonged the period, she may have to pay back retroactively all taxes due for the first two years. And as far as I see, exempt years are three not two ... but you better check this by yourself. Just my 2 cents.

HA HA HA! You must be joking! ... No, seriously, the truth is that actually the Service are really trying to do some things but with variable success. Eventually, the black stamp on the visa is one of the solutions ... or sometimes they impose to levy on any foreign taxpayers assets incidentally left in US. The real issue is that compared to residents, problems with nonresident tax returns are much more less, in the same time ROI is low, so they can not afford to waste time and money to chase them ... You know, average fed tax refund for nonresident is several hundred dollars, and average fed tax refund for resident in 2012 is ~ $2300!? No sense to talk further Most of them, in fact almost all of them are doing their tax returns just for the refund. And because the Department of State requests it with their next visa applications. Not because they want to be tax compliant with the US tax law ...

That's all correct - no long term clients, no planning, no relationship - just you, income, some expenses (possibly) and tax treaties, lol ... Of course, the variety of weird scenarios is more than imposing. First, there are trainees and business apprentices who are in the States for more that a year; teachers, artists and athletes, gamblers, students (the longest term). On another hand, there always are students who "forgot" to leave the country or got second student visa, OPT students, workers on tourist visa, models who spontaneously decided to stay and live in the US, green card lottery, investors, political asylum, intracompany transfers, and so many many other ways to make, you know, your American Dream come true! The "good" thing is that finally all of them ends in one and the same way - resident 1040 tax return ... Furthermore, there are enough online tax prep softwares for non-residents out there, who are ready to prepare their NR forms for a 10 or 20 bucks discount coupon, so in general it is not a good stake at all ... unless you have a list with lets say 10k foreign students who 'desperately' need their 1040NR tax returns

Got this yesterday, via email. http://globaledusa.com/prometric/tax.html Then check the IRS Tax Pros section and found "Update: On Friday, Feb. 1, the court modified its order to clarify that the order does not affect the requirement for all paid tax return preparers to obtain a preparer tax identification number (PTIN). Consistent with this modification, the IRS has reopened the online PTIN system" Although still under constructions, there are new features shown on the website, like View Returns Filed Per PTIN and View My Continuing Education Credits, including useful explanation about program number.

Can't cite a quote from the Code, but generally agree with both of you - at least this is what my experience shows. Year ago I had a client who was "advised" to file amended returns for 2001 and 2006 - they report a huge owed amount on record for 2006 ... And another one who was "advised" to file all his tax returns since 2003, having in mind the fact that I KNOW that he is a regular and correct filer since 2006 - seems like it was not the case before 2006 Anyway, I see that IRS are chasing the obligation and force any actions up to ten years after the event. After that they 'officially' close the case. Actually they 'pass' the debt to private collectors ... Anyone with more experience on this or anyone who can post a link with more info on the above will be highly appreciated. Thanks.

well, I am not sure ... Again, be careful with this one, Jack. There is no sense to compare itemized and standard for non-residents at all just because they can't avail on standard one and that's all! Unless they are from India. Still, they can avail on many other deductions, and ref and nonref credits but it depends on circumstances - residency first (that's why I wrote to check the SPTest first), nationality, program type, income type, etc. ... and what itemized deductions on ez form!? ... have no idea ...

Except her visa type, you need also her DS-2019 form - for program type, box 4. Depends on circumstances - generally exempt from FICA but not from income taxes ... More info here: http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Exempt-Individual----Who-is-a-Student You also may need her nationality before prepare 1040NR return for her, in case she can avail on tax treaty - pub 901. Be careful about SPTest first.

Well, if become a reality, no doubt it will truly fit the IRS plan for e-filing of ALL tax returns starting TY 2014 ... In fact, the method is widely used all over the world and in particular in Europe - best practices - Belgium, Netherlands, Norway ... But if you check the number of tax returns filed in these countries you will be able to answer to a lot of questions by yourself. As far as I know, method is partially in use in Czech Rep, RSA, Korea or Japan. Some similar ideas are in India, I think ... Either way, many questions and problems arise now, as a result ... Ha ha ha - "and the IRS has to be both the "paid preparer" and the prosecutor for the taxpayer. Will the IRS be subject to penalties for not asking all the questions and obtaining the documentation" - very current and clever indeed! "2) At best it can crank out a 1040EZ type form with standard deduction." - I agree with this too - there will be very basic returns produced at the beginning and a lot of attendant issues ... It's true that the Tax Code is complicated enough, but even today, you know, (for better or worse, who knows) there are many softwares that have the Fed Code and more than 50 State Codes implemented in the background and working. This is not the issued and everyone here knows this . The key, the point is with the small things, and that's why are the accountants and tax preparers, after all, isn't it? Two suggestions ... The deadlines should be very clear and complied, and no exceptions! For example, in Belgium there are approx 5 mil required to file and the deadline is on case by case basis, starting June! Ends somewhere about in November and, if everything is okay, you'll get your notice/refund, next Spring!! What about NYC ... or CA or TX!? "... and a computer-readable form that would be compatible with existing tax preparation software" AND could be imported into these softwares and used as a base for upgrading to a more complicated tax returns, as the case might be. And then ready to tax compliance check and sign. I know this is kinda utopia, but the best option for me is prepaid service - I mean the IRS may have agreements with the tax software vendors and tax preparers including transferring of tax related information, so finally the only obligation of the taxpayer to be to ensure that all the income and deductions are fully reported! And to confirm the responsibility by signing the return. No need to worry about the compliance with the code, or for the tax prep fees Wow, it scares even me now, lol

Seems like still it wont happened .... At least hope so. ----------- Correct me if I am wrong but 12.13: Cosmetic Issue when creating certain e-files issued on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 is the most recent ATX post on this matter, right ...

"I had a client once (a favour for a friend): ...." no way!! no comment. Generally agree with mrichman333. What if you submit 1099-misc (or even better 1042-S with income code 50 ), tax him at backup tax, and voila`. Or ask for w-9 .... Just thinking of ...

Have a client who made about a dozen transactions in the year - options sales, and you know, next to 'Form 8949 Box' drop-down menu, there is another one 'Transaction Type'. Now I am in concern now which code to use in ATX - 1 - Non-business gain or loss, or - 14 - Short sales. There is no 'Option sales' in the list. Actually my question is what is this "14 - Short sales" for? As always, thank you in adv for the priceless help.

Well, sleep well JB! I think you are free to do whatever you want - you can either capitalize or expense! For those who have more time to read: http://www.irs.gov/irb/2012-14_IRB/ar05.html and http://www.irs.gov/irb/2013-03_IRB/ar13.html "D. Safe harbor for routine maintenance ... Because buildings typically have a long class life (for example, 39.5 years for nonresidential real property), many remodeling projects arguably could be deducted under the safe harbor, regardless of the nature or extent of the work involved. For example, if a taxpayer expected to replace a major component, such as a roof, an HVAC system, or an electrical system, more than once during the long class life of the building, then the costs of such replacements generally would have been deductible under the safe harbor. Allowing a deduction for costs attributable to these types of projects is inconsistent with much of the case law addressing building improvements. Generally, the courts have held that amounts paid for replacements of major components or substantial structural parts of buildings and their structural components are capital expenditures." and "The temporary regulations revise the 2008 standards in several respects to achieve results that are more consistent with current law. The temporary regulations retain the general rule that the unit of property for a building is comprised of the building and its structural components. The temporary regulations, however, require that a taxpayer apply the improvement standards separately to the primary components of the building, that is, the building structure or any of the specifically defined building systems. Thus, a cost is treated as a capital expenditure if it results in an improvement to the building structure or to any of the specifically enumerated building systems. The temporary regulations define the building structure as the building (as defined in §1.48-1(e)(1)) and its structural components (as defined in §1.48-1(e)(2)) other than the components specifically enumerated as building systems. The temporary regulations define building systems to include (1) the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (“HVAC”); (2) the plumbing systems; (3) the electrical systems; (4) all escalators; (5) all elevators; (6) the fire protection and alarm systems; (7) the security systems; (8) the gas distribution systems; and (9) any other systems identified in published guidance." Pheew .... I never knew that one can expense purchase of a 20 brand new elevators ... in case that one is for example the biggest US construction corp doing the highest and most expensive skyscraper ever, with lets say 1000 of them A big Thank you to Slippery Pencil and all of you for the very useful shared experience on this theme! mcb39: "This entire thread has been argument for the sake of argument. Consider each case separately. If it was a repair, it was a repair. If it was a newly constructed roof, imo; it is depreciated. In this part of the country, it is possible to totally reconstruct a really decent roof for $6000." I think these are the key words here, in this thread. Just my 2p.

That's correct. Also every brokerage house issue annual 1099 consolidated report/forms which includes wash sales activities with the relevant code so if you just enter the full and correct info in the ATX you will get the correct return, as per the new reporting requirements.

Notice 2013-24 provides transitional relief for additions to tax under section 6651(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code due to the delayed publication of some IRS forms relating to the 2012 tax year. Notice 2013-24 will be in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2013-16, dated April 15, 2013.

That's correct - becoming a Canadian citizen wont save the TP declaring his Canadian(foreign) income on US return, unless he gave up his US citizenship! Decision like this is always hard to do and depends on many factors like other US assets, if any other type of US income to report, if any ownership, annual salary at new job, emplr contributions, future plans, even old social ties! etc. ... There is a tax treaty of course but again it depends on the circumstances. If I am not wrong Canadian tax rates are lower - this may be a factor too. Just my 2 cents.

https://www.beyond415.com/knowledgecenter/article/take-a-closer-look-at-these-four-clients Found it somehow useful ...