easytax

Here is a link to a LIVE eagles nest outside Hanover, PA. The state has had this for about three years now. Since they are "sitting on eggs"; now is s neat time to view. http://www.pgc.pa.gov/Wildlife/WildlifeSpecies/BaldEagles/Pages/default.aspx

Question answered before this -- BUT -- as a different thought --- do you think the IRS will redefine this when the "land bridge" comes back between Alaska and Russia? After all Russia would then be " contiguous" to the United States? Yes, it is that kind of week //// strange but fun /// so mine goes there too.

If he takes her as a dependent, how does that affect her benefits (SSI, medical, etc.)? For only an extra exemption, does it pay if other benefits are lost?

In response to your statement --- your client has a bigger problem --- SS has her starting her payouts BEFORE turning full retirement age. From your statement, that is not what happened. If she received 2015 benefits -- that would cause an early reduction to full benefit. If that is the case, she needs to bring this up and see if SS allows payback and CORRECT start for when she turns FRA (or she is stuck with diminished benefits). Once she is talking to SS, might as well address all issues.

What is nice about this is that --- it is just like reading the IRS instructions //// /s - oh, so concise and easy to follow ... Many people (f they actually thought about it) would find the cost of the "program", time spent reading instructions (even interview) and still "wondering" if they have it covered would be BETTER off with a PAID Preparer. Less stress, worry and a number of benefits for future occurrences. But then , people are strange (includes me) and just get it in their head that DIY is less costly and better ---- how many times have I been "proved wrong"? Usually to have extra or more costs to "fix" what was done. There is hope for even the knowledgeable client, as they have better things to spend their time on. ///// They just need to learn that!!!!

From an IRS info email: Web Conferences for Tax Professionals Mark your Calendars! Earn CE Credits Understanding the Sharing Economy Thursday, February 16, 2017 This web conference will provide an overview of the following: What is the Sharing Economy? Tax Implications for Individuals Performing Services Determining Employee/Independent Contractor Rules for Home Rentals Business Expenses Employer/Payer Employment Tax Obligations Resources Plus a live Q & A Register and Attend: Session 1 (60 minutes) 11:00 a.m. Eastern; 10:00 a.m. Central; 9:00 a.m. Mountain; 8:00 a.m. Pacific https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1148/18972 Session 2 (60 minutes)* 2:00 p.m. Eastern; 1:00 p.m. Central; 12:00 p.m. Mountain; 11:00 a.m. Pacific https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1148/18986 *Closed captioning offered. Continuing Education: All participants who qualify will receive a Certificate of Completion Tax Professionals – Earn 1 CE Credit – Category: Federal Tax Questions? Email us at: [email protected] Understanding Payment Options Thursday, March 16, 2017 This web conference will provide an overview of the following: Direct Pay Online Payment Agreements Cash Payments/IRS-Pay Near Me Offer In Compromise Other Payment Options Plus a live Q & A Register and Attend: Session 1 (60 minutes) 11:00 a.m. Eastern; 10:00 a.m. Central; 9:00 a.m. Mountain; 8:00 a.m. Pacific https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1148/18987 Session 2 (60 minutes)* 2:00 p.m. Eastern; 1:00 p.m. Central; 12:00 p.m. Mountain; 11:00 a.m. Pacific https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1148/18988 *Closed captioning offered. Continuing Education: All participants who qualify will receive a Certificate of Completion Tax Professionals – Earn 1 CE Credit – Category: Federal Tax Questions? Email us at: [email protected]

Maybe it was an OH CPA office this was seen in (and not MA, as believed):

/s - Did not want you -all to miss having your tax refund, so sharing an email I received ... (mod edit - REMOVED ALL ACTIVE LINKS!) TurboTax <[email protected]> Hi there. We're letting you know that... You TurboTax account contact information needs verification. Go to TurboTax.com and confirm your account information to get your guaranteed biggest refund, For Mobile users, please go directly to https:// myturbo tax .intuit . com/ TurboTax works hard to safeguard your information so you can file your taxes confidently. Here's how. We strongly recommend that you visit myturbotax.intuit.com to confirm your information immediately. WARNING***If you do not confirm your account information now, your 2016 Tax refund may be delayed. We'll always let you know when there are changes to your TurboTax account. This helps keep your account safe. Learn more If you didn't make these changes, contact us. Thanks, TurboTax Team PLEASE DO NOT REPLY to this email. Replies are not monitored, so we don't read them or respond.

Here is a link to the NY tax preparer registration that will walk you through requirements. https://www.tax.ny.gov/tp/reg/tpregmore.htm ALL (even one return prepared) preparers must register (there are exceptions - of course, it's government) BUT with only one, you would not be considered a "commercial" preparer, so CE's will not be required.. The good news is - registration is about 10-15 minutes and easy. Have a nice one today and from now on --- all is fun in tax land..

From ATX (answer is for 996) - I "Bing"'d ind 196 reject code and this was one of the answers: seems to go to your wording "Filing Security Information", etc. IRS reject code IND-180 and IND-996 Answer ID 14183 | Document ID | Published 03/04/2013 06:52 AM | Updated 04/21/2016 01:36 PM Your client's 1040 e-file is rejected with one or both codes, citing the following: The tax return has a value for the Identity Protection Personal Identification Number. Verify the number entered with the number on the IRS correspondence received by the taxpayer. The taxpayer is issued a new IPPIN each tax year. If the taxpayer cannot locate their IPPIN they can contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. Taxpayers who have had an IP PIN in the past but have not received one automatically can request one at www.irs.gov/getanippin. Note: Request must be made after February 2nd There is also a pilot program for taxpayers to opt into the IP PIN, to avoid identity theft. This has been expanded to 3 states (FL, GA, DC). Taxpayers in these 3 states can go to www.irs.gov/getanippin and opt-in to the program.

PA is 3.07% of taxable so Balance of Tax = $1.01. The .01 is the kicker as $1.00 or less is disregarded. States want as much as they can get, just like all ALL government.

Catherine: Take along some of what was found in your the one MA office (facebook post) and share --- you can have one heck of a party! Like the idea of a webinar; live feed so everyone can enjoy. ELROD: Maybe a beginning of another career????

Agree with you on so many levels // BUT // IRS regulations do not say --- if we know or have known /// they are asking for substantiation for all ? AS IF each client is new each year // Disagree with "Terry D" on "did not rely on any documents" (his statement is true as far as MAYBE not getting called on the "due diligence by the IRS --- but I AM ANAL and protective of what little I have). Therefore, to keep the same policy and procedures for clients that fall into the credits we are discussing seems to be the prudent thing to follow. Some preparers may not and "that's OK" //// we all answer for ourselves --- again, I want to do what I can to alleviate what I can BEFORE hand. If it is not needed, I lost a bit of time // only. Even the Due Diligence requirements (again from 8867 - some bolding and size increase are mine to empathize): Document Retention To meet the due diligence requirements for the EIC, the CTC/ACTC and the AOTC, you must keep all of the following records. A copy of Form 8867; The applicable worksheet(s) or your own worksheet(s) for any credits claimed specified in Due Diligence Requirements, earlier; Copies of any documents provided by the taxpayer on which you relied to determine eligibility for, and the amount of, the credit(s); A record of how, when, and from whom the information used to prepare Form 8867 and the worksheet(s) was obtained; and A record of any additional questions you may have asked to determine eligibility for, -------------------- As to proof records: ----------------------------- Most might have a Doctor/health care provider; landlord (rental agreements usually specify "kids" allowed or cost more to rent??); church records showing home address; that can share some of the This is from the 8867 instructions: he following are examples of documents that you may rely on to determine taxpayers' eligibility for the credits or the amount of the credit. This list is not all-inclusive. Residency of a Qualifying Child School records or statement Landlord or a property management statement Health care provider statement Medical records Child care provider records Placement agency statement Social service records or statement Place of worship statement Indian tribal official statement Employer statement Disability of Qualifying Child Doctor statement Other health care provider statement Social services agency or program statement

Keep in mind that some are asking for date of issue and date of expiration. Therefore a copy of each (primary and secondary taxpayer) drivers license may be needed for the correct data entry year to year. It will be interesting to see what is acceptable going forward for those that have no drivers license or those younger/older but still filing, etc.. /s Remember /// government gets its "teeth" in and only grows requirements but seldom lessons them.

From a webinar at CPAAcademy.com previously: A lot of information on "Nanny Taxes" and care givers can be found at: http://www.myhomepay.com/ and https://www.care.com/homepay/nanny-payroll-services

Virtru tested well earlier this year when I changed to it for secure emails. Some clients needed a bit of hand-holding but overall seemed to be easy to use and is my "secure" email for pdf doc's and sig. forms. With Virtru the pdf does not to be encrypted (although I usually do). My pdf encryption is done through PDFill.com and has been used for numerous years.

Again, we are dealing with the government. At times there is NO PERCEPITION of what really happens in the REAL WORLD. Here is an excerpt from a tax newsletter // shares what the GOVERNENT is telling all about 2016 and NOW 2017 wait times: -------------------------------------------------------- Wait times on IRS’s toll-free help line should be about the same as last year, according to the head of the agency. During the 2016 filing season, 73% of callers were able to get through, and the average wait time was just less than 12 minutes. Ditto for the Service’s practitioner priority line. Last year, tax pros waited seven minutes on average when calling with questions about their client’s accounts. --------------------------- The IRS commissioner has stated (my (easytax) gist of the article) that the "taxpayer" during 2016 received and will receive during 2017 all the same timely services through the mail and at the IRS offices as the taxpayer always has. (NO MENTION that "office service" needs an appointment BEFORE you go -- no walk-ups allowed and that many smaller offices are/have closed). Again --- spin and spin. THANK YOU, rant over.

To all the GREAT folks here !

Merry Christmas and an even HAPPIER NEW YEAR !

Apparently the verification is what requires a phone "properly" in your name and as specified (not landline, not pre-paid, etc.). I received the mail code and finalized my verification process. Once done the get transcript service sent me a code to get in; to my phone (the one not good enough for the verification). So again, good to go = if need arises.

Remember --- this is government. The IRS sent out all the notices about the ITIN renewals, etc. and told everyone they can come to the local offices to get it done ----- BUT --- did not bother to mention that you NOW need an appointment at any IRS office to get assistance on any matter. No previous appointment made, while make one and come when you have the appointment.

This has been an ongoing thing since I believe October. IRS is "updating" service. NO CE's have been accepted by them from CE vendors - not just specific ones, but all it appears. It is just a matter of waiting as from information --- even if sent in by ourselves, records will not be updated soon. Leaves one to wonder if this will affect programs such as ASFP (supposedly needing completed by year end) or any other IRS requirements. Sorry not to know m ore but it has been, nothing new.

The CURES act negated the $100 day penalty: Small firms that reimburse workers for health insurance get relief. They will not be subject to the $100-a-day-per-employee excise tax if they do it through a qualified small-employer health reimbursement arrangement. There are lots of hoops to jump through, and only small firms qualify… It also extends, through the end of 2016, IRS relief that expired on June 30, 2015. Here is a copy of the Cures act: HR_34 Cures Act 2016 121616.pdf

Ringers, If you "lose" another line ---- consider doing the verification via phone (answer yes to all beginning questions on "do you have") and go through the verification online. Once you get to the phone part, enter your number --- let the system tell you your phone does not qualify //// at which time it, when you try again --- it will tell you they have confirmed you BUT that they (IRS) will mail you the verification code since the phone you have will not work. It works, as I am awaiting my "mail" code now. My phone is listed to me BUT apparently was not acceptable to the IRS -- so they just gave me the "mail" code. My question to them is (answers are unclear) will I be able to use MY PHONE to get future codes since I am verified or will I NEED a VERIFIED to me phone? Initial verification is clear --- NEEDED /// but follow-up for doc's etc. is muddy in the instructions. By the way JKLcpa, I am listed as an ERO (what I use e-services for, EFIN, etc.) but received the letter to "verify" under the GET-Transcripts or lose e-services via my IRS letter ---- which is only reason I used the procedure --- all my e-services login's etc. have never mentioned getting verified /// just the Get-Transcripts; which I several years ago started to use / but never did (except for messages - system down, back up, etc.). and have several names under e-services ----- all with same login, etc.. so it may be your system (unless they have some of the names you have listed as in-active or out of business).

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all! We just bought our Christmas Tree from the market. One of our better clients She deals with good people and even said if we gave it plenty of light and water she would even and come and take it away for us come February! So nicely shaped and just the right amount of fill, etc. Kind of strange quills - I did not get the type. What a great deal and nice young lady she is!! First year in this endeavor, hope she does well. /s