Lee B

We both have a right to our own opinions.

Actually, I am in favor of the PTIN program because it makes it easier for the IRS to track fraudulent tax preparers. The fee helps make the program self supporting.

JohnH, I agree with you and have usually handled the penalties and interest like you do.

It's amazing how much each ATX user's experience varies. I had to enter about 50 stock transactions on Form 8949 yesterday and had slight delays between each data entry field (less than a second).

I believe that if you become a "Navigator" that you have to agree not to charge any fees for your services.

Jack, I really appreciate all the extra time and effort that you have put into beta testing and hope that you continue to keep us up to date. Thanks, Lee Barckert

My understanding is that Virginia filers will be able to use the federal exchange and will receive their credits. However any resident of a state that did not agree to expand Medicaid could fall in a gap where they don't have enough income to obtain coverage thru an Affordable Care Act Exchange and they won't be able to get on Medicaid.

I've started doing more reading about the Affordable Care Act, since I'm getting more client questions. One thing that caught my attention, is that nonfilers will not be able to obtain any health insurance thru the exchanges. Their only option will be to try to obtain Medicaid. So, I'm wondering how many nonfilers will be filing returns in order to obtain health insurance.

I pay $ 150 per year for a combined office/consultant license plus 30 hours of CPE annually. I'm able to use the same CPE hours for both licenses.

The state of Oregon has had Tax Preparer licensing since 1973. CPAs and Attorneys are excluded, but EAs are not. Therefore, I am dual licensed in Oregon as an EA and a Licensed Tax Consultant for the last 20 years and I have to meet CPE requirements for both licenses. California also licenses Tax Preparers, but is less restrictive than Oregon.

According to the Tax Book, "Property held for investment includes property that produces income that is not trade or business income, including interest income, dividend income, annuity income or royalty income." " Also, "It does not include an interest in a passive activity ..."

According to The Tax Book, since a QCD is excluded from Income, no charitable deduction is allowed. The benefit is from keeping your AGI lower than it would be otherwise and meeting any RMD requirements.

If you look at Dell's small business website, all of their new computer offerings spec Windows 7, no mention of Win 8.

I agree with Jack. Had one these last year. Read Pub 4681 which is fairly well written and some detailed examples.

Thanks for the inside info, since I am a user of Accounting Relief and Payroll Relief. I definitely need to start putting a backup plan in place.

I was talking to the co-owner of a modest sized independent copy machine/printer dealership several months ago, he was charged $625 for a 1040 with Schedule A, one Schedule E Rental and one 1120 S K-1 by a mid sized local CPA firm. My fee for the same return would have $ 375.

I have used EZ Insurance solutions underwritten by CNA for years. Reasonable rates.

I haven't had any problems

Since I am a user of their products, I will definitely need to have a backup plan in place. Accounting Relief actually works fairly well. Right now Payroll Relief is struggling due to a total rewrite of the program. This is also troubling because AW support is below average and corporate communications is focused on marketing & public relations, sound familiar !

I would definitely extend and wait to use 2013 Tax Software. Otherwise, you will have to spend extra time making sure that you're in compliance with any tax changes.

On page 3 of Pub 587, the first paragraph titled EXCLUSIVE USE says, "To qualify under the exclusive use test, you must use a specific area of your home only for your trade or business. The area used for business can be a room or other separate identifiable space. The space does not need to be marked off by a permanent partition." I believe there was a case where the taxpayer used a corner of his living room and prevailed.

This article is the classic conclusion followed by selected facts to support the the desired result !

Several months ago there was an article where the IRS acknowledged an error rate of close to 50 % on VITA prepared returns.

This is why I haven't updated to 12.18 - a post on the ATX Board today "I just recently updated..was on 12.13 and the extension I was working had forms that were out of date , so I thought why not? Ugggh now it is a reminder of how bad it was before. Crashes are back, and the print nightmares are back. It's enough to make a girl call Proseries"

A post on the ATX Board says that ATX has pushed back the beta testing until September. I wondered if any of the prospective testers had been given any reason ?