Wayne Brasch

MAS, I guess I'm a little confused about your question. Partnerships don't have a Retained Earnings account. That is for corporations. Partnerships call it Partners' Equity. Wayne Brasch

Sorry for the confusion. Wayne Brasch

Kerry, I'm always glad to hear from you any time of the year. Wayne Brasch

I agree completely with Taxbilly. I've never had an auditor refuse to accept a time and date after April 15 especially after I've contacted their supervisor and gotten the time changed. IRS supervisors are very helpful in this regard at least until this point for me. Wayne Brasch

Taxbilly, Thank you very much! ATX programmers are very busy, I guess. Two updates of the ATX program in the same day. Wayne Brasch

I believe no such cases exist. Wayne Brasch

Marilyn, Have you reported this problem to ATX rather than just stating your problem in this forum? They should be notified so that if there is a problem, they can fix it. Wayne Brasch

Maribeth, That's very strange. I downloaded the program update this morning, got out of the program later this morning, came back later in the day, clicked on Tax 2008 in my Vista Start Menu and MAX started back up without any problems of any kind. I can't imagine why you had to go through these extra steps you described. Wayne Brasch

Program Version 2008.8.146, Release 20081111, Dated 03/18/2009, Build 11420 is now available. Wayne Brasch

That's one reason I always file extensions on paper timely mailed to IRS and the applicable State. Too many things can go wrong at the last minute and usually do. Wayne Brasch

Terry D., My suggestion to you would be for you to teach that client to make their own EFTPS payroll tax deposits. By doing that, it makes that client responsible for making that payment on a timely basis and getting that responsibility where it belongs-on them and not on you. Wayne Brasch

Linda and Buddy, I'm using an HP LaserJet 1018 and all the ATX programs through the years I've used them printed out very rapidly with no problems. Check to see if HP has a new printer driver for your printer at http://www.hp.com. Wayne Brasch

Another version of the ATX program is now available for download. It's getting hard to keep up with the updates. Wayne Brasch

I would contact her telling her that it would be better for them to file jointly and that you were going to complete a form 1040X to file them as Married Filing Jointly. See what she says about that. There may be some reason that she does not want to be associated with his return filing. She should, at that point, relate that concern to you, maybe. Wayne Brasch

A couple of days age, some of you were holding returns in which you needed to have Form 1116. ATX has now made that form available and ready to go. When I updated forms this morning, I saw these forms listed (Form 1116 and Form 1116 AMT). Wayne Brasch

Try this website from Salvation Army and see what you think-http://www.satruck.com. Wayne Brasch

Mike, It may be coincidental-but I don't think so! Not very long after posting my response above and after your response, ATX updated forms and included a Form 1040X without the "DRAFT" watermark written across it. I had updated forms this morning-as is my practice to do so at least twice every day. Wayne Brasch

I'm having the same problem relative to Form 1040X. ATX keeps telling me that IRS is pushing back the release date for this form. Somehow I find that hard to believe. Wayne Brasch

HELLO! For what it may be worth to any of you, I'M BACK! I've truly missed being able to read and respond to this forum for the past several months when it was moved to another server by Eric. He and I tried to fix the problem months ago, but I could not get back on the web site using my old computer. My old computer's motherboard got fried a few days ago and I had to get another computer. I found out that the motherboard I had in the old one could be replaced at a cost of about $300 since Intel had discontinued it some 3 years ago. I got a very good deal at Wal-Mart on a new Hewlett-Packard computer for not a lot more than that amount and have taken several days to move all my files over to this new one. I had, of course, to get my printer and scanner recognized by the new computer, but all of that went well, also. In any case, I'm glad to be back reading all your comments, questions, and answers again. If I have any answers for any questions any of you may ask, I'll try not to offend anyone with my answers. I have enjoyed corresponding with many of you in the past. Last tax-filing season, I used Orrtax's Intellitax instead of ATX as in the past. This year (2008 returns), I went back to MAX by ATX. I'm so glad to be back to them again! Intellitax made me waste a lot of toner cartridges and paper by forcing me to print some things that were not at all needed. MAX lets you pick and choose what you want to print. For example, some GA returns require that you attach a copy of pages 1 and 2 of form 1040 and Schedule A in some circumstances. Intellitax printed a whole federal return to attach to the GA return. It could not be stopped wasting these resources no matter what I did. It's good to be back! Wayne Brasch

George M, I suggest that you tell that client to wait until February 15 and then have them call IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and tell IRS they've not yet gotten their W-2. The IRS representative will ask some questions about that employer and IRS will then contact that employer and get them a free copy of that form. Tell the client not to mention the cost involved nor the fact that the client had already contacted the employer. You might also have the client call the employer one more time telling them they are going to do this on the 15th. Many times that will get action from the company since most employers want no contact from IRS. Wayne

Did your client file a Form W-4 with that employer for 2007? Wayne

Margaret, Our two garage doors have a lock on each of them that my Wife and I make sure are locked down when we are in the house. Check that on yours. Wayne

The U. S. Tax Court and IRS has managed to generate some more income-producing opportunity for us as tax professionals. It was announced today in IR-2007-198 that "Payments under the Department of Veterans Affairs Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) program are no longer taxable and disabled veterans who paid tax on these benefits in the past three years can now claim refunds, the Internal Revenue Service said today". "Disabled veterans who paid tax on these benefits in tax-years 2004, 2005, and 2006 can claim a refund by filing an amended return using Form 1040X". Wayne

So and So, It's not clear at all with whom or what you are disagreeing. Are you taking exception to the publication referenced by MAMalody or his further thoughts or kcjenkins? The tax book refenced above makes a statement about a tax home. Wayne

They were discussing the AMT situation that is now going through Congress as we are all aware. JohnH noted the mantra for Congress seems to be "Separately we can do nothing, and together nothing can be done". Someone who calls himself/herself New York Enrolled Agent said," Everyone knows the opposite of "pro" is "con". So if progress means to go forward, then ... Wayne