Abby Normal

I've asked for more info on his W2, but he is filing in other states and paying taxes to those states but IL keeps denying his credit. Here's the post: https://www.reddit.com/r/tax/comments/6h7tob/il_based_consultant_getting_double_taxed/

https://www.irs.gov/uac/newsroom/irs-warns-of-new-phone-scam-involving-bogus-certified-letters-reminds-people-to-remain-vigilant-against-scams-schemes-this-summer Reminds People to Remain Vigilant Against Scams, Schemes this Summer IRS YouTube Videos: Tax Scams: English | Spanish | ASL Private Collection of Overdue Taxes: English | Spanish IR-2017-107, June 15, 2017 WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service today warned people to beware of a new scam linked to the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), where fraudsters call to demand an immediate tax payment through a prepaid debit card. This scam is being reported across the country, so taxpayers should be alert to the details. In the latest twist, the scammer claims to be from the IRS and tells the victim about two certified letters purportedly sent to the taxpayer in the mail but returned as undeliverable. The scam artist then threatens arrest if a payment is not made through a prepaid debit card. The scammer also tells the victim that the card is linked to the EFTPS system when, in fact, it is entirely controlled by the scammer. The victim is also warned not to contact their tax preparer, an attorney or their local IRS office until after the tax payment is made. “This is a new twist to an old scam,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. “Just because tax season is over, scams and schemes do not take the summer off. People should stay vigilant against IRS impersonation scams. People should remember that the first contact they receive from IRS will not be through a random, threatening phone call.” EFTPS is an automated system for paying federal taxes electronically using the Internet or by phone using the EFTPS Voice Response System. EFTPS is offered free by the U.S. Department of Treasury and does not require the purchase of a prepaid debit card. Since EFTPS is an automated system, taxpayers won’t receive a call from the IRS. In addition, taxpayers have several options for paying a real tax bill and are not required to use a specific one. Tell Tale Signs of a Scam: The IRS (and its authorized private collection agencies) will never: Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. The IRS does not use these methods for tax payments. Generally, the IRS will first mail a bill to any taxpayer who owes taxes. All tax payments should only be made payable to the U.S. Treasury and checks should never be made payable to third parties. Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have the taxpayer arrested for not paying. Demand that taxes be paid without giving the taxpayer the opportunity to question or appeal the amount owed. Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone. For anyone who doesn’t owe taxes and has no reason to think they do: Do not give out any information. Hang up immediately. Contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration to report the call. Use their IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting web page. Alternatively, call 800-366-4484. Report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Use the FTC Complaint Assistant on FTC.gov. Please add "IRS Telephone Scam" in the notes. For anyone who owes tax or thinks they do: View your tax account information online at IRS.gov to see the actual amount you owe. You can then also review your payment options. Call the number on the billing notice, or Call the IRS at 800-829-1040. IRS workers can help. The IRS does not use email, text messages or social media to discuss personal tax issues, such as those involving bills or refunds. For more information, visit the “Tax Scams and Consumer Alerts” page on IRS.gov. Additional information about tax scams is available on IRS social media sites, including YouTube videos. Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 15-Jun-2017

Over on the reddit tax forum, an IL W2 employee is saying that IL is not allowing him credit for taxes paid to other states because "I take direction from my employer's office in IL and my base of operations is IL." He has attempted to amend the returns to claim the credit but IL is fighting him on it. Any insights would be appreciated!

Was that a secret menu item? Because I've never seen Total Office on the website. Or is that just a nickname for the 1040 package?

Intelliconnect is included in Max. I looked at Total Office and Advantage and there's just not enough difference from Max... yet.

I'm surprised that ATX isn't pushing Total Office users to Advantage. Dropping users back to Max costs ATX money. Total Office has 5 licenses included and Max only has 3 but 2 licenses at 99 is only 198. Yet Total Office costs $700 more than Max (full price). I'm confused. I thought ATX was pushing us all toward Advantage. https://www.cchsfs.com/professional-tax-software/atx.aspx

E=MC^2

Not in the same year, but you can't take mileage one year and actual the next year if you do it right. And ATX calculates the depreciation component of the mileage rate in the years you use mileage. (Thanks, ATX!)

I don't find my blank template to be either clumsy or time consuming. ATX makes a good amount of changes every year and they are often things of which I approve or even have suggested. I'm pleased with ATX's progress and confident that they are making good choices about which suggestions to implement and which to not implement given the the time and money constraints they are under.

Vehicle - If you want to be able to switch between actual and standard mileage, you MUST take standard mileage the first year the vehicle is placed in service and you must use straight line depreciation. Inventory - areas used for storage are included in the home office square footage. The problem is the garage is probably not heated or cooled so your utilities proration will be overstated if you just let the 8829 do the math.

Just submitted the following in the Enhancements forum. Please go and add a comment to show your support or add your suggestions: Split Client Documents into federal and state so those who want state docs with the state forms can rearrange it. Show all letters, including those created from a blank template. I always have to check and uncheck letters in the print dialog because they are not listed in print packets. Some forms don't show in individual because they are tagged as business. For example, the MD Form 1. Sch C's that are an LLC need this form in the individual print packet. I'm sure other users can point to other forms that need to be available across all the packages. Expand forms to the page level so we can check or uncheck individual pages.

But ATX knows you have a workaround for this. Just create a blank template return that you copy for new client set up.

You can if you choose to print all 4 to PDF. Check the box to remember your selections, click print and when the save dialog comes up, just press Esc.

I don't have an extension letter but here is a copy paste of my estimate letter I created from scratch: [Federal - Preparer's office/name] [Federal - Preparer's street] [Federal - Preparer's city, state, zip] [Federal - Preparer's telephone] [Federal - Taxpayer's name] [Federal - Taxpayer's street] [Federal - Taxpayer's city] [Federal - Taxpayer's state] [Federal - Taxpayer's zip code] This is a reminder that your quarterly estimated payments are due. The amounts due, the due dates and the mailing addresses are on the attached voucher(s). Always write the tax year the payments are for ([Federal - Next year of return]) and the form number (1040ES, 502DEP, etc.) on your check. If you prefer, you can make federal tax payments at: irs.gov/Payments You can make MD tax payments at: interactive.marylandtaxes.com/Individuals/Payment You can make PA tax payments at: www.doreservices.state.pa.us/pitservices/ You can make CT tax payments at: www.ct.gov/tsc You can make IL tax payments at: mytax.illinois.gov You can make VA tax payments at: tax.virginia.gov/payments You can make WV tax payments at: mytaxes.wvtax.gov If you have any questions, please give us a call at [Federal - Preparer's telephone]. Hope all is well in your world. Thank you for choosing us to prepare your taxes! Sincerely, [Federal - Preparer's office/name]

You can't move forms between sections, but you can use the 4 available packets to group like things together. For example, on 1040: Filing: personal property return (If the Sch C has one) Client: estimate letter and estimate forms Preparer: Cover sheet, letter, tax forms, statements & worksheets Custom: Engagement letter, efile signature forms, payment vouchers and bank info worksheet On 1065 & 1120S: Filing: personal property return Client: K1s for federal and state Preparer: Cover sheet, letter, tax forms, statements & worksheets Custom: Engagement letter, efile signature forms It's not 100% perfect because you have to check or uncheck a few letters and other pages because they are not included in the Print Packets set up screen. But it certainly works very well for us. We print each packet to a PDF file, which I have written macros to save typing for naming the files. I open the tax return pdf in an editor and move all the notes and comparison pages to just before the state tax return because when I'm viewing a return I like page 1 of the tax return to be just after the letter so I don't have a lot of scrolling to do to find the tax return. As for printing the cover sheet and letter in front of the state returns, well, sometimes you just have to go with the flow.

I don't have a house... but my fiancee does... plus a beach condo and their both paid for. Married poor the first time, won't make that mistake again.

$25

'sup?

I saw it Friday. Man, oh man. Maybe you could anonymously report it as an eyesore/hazard to the town. Hey Rich, I know you like your logo and font but they are not very readable for a sign. You might consider a block font or a nice serif font for your sign on one line that just says RICHARD C. GRAVES CPA so people can read it from the road.

Which browser are you using when you encounter problems? I use FF with zero issues.

I get them all the time including recently around the 4/18 deadline. Also, if the client is there you can try the irs.gov Get Transcript page. The client has to answer a lot of questions about past finances, address, phone numbers, etc. to ensure their identity.

For the few calculations it adds, it's just not worth it to me. I know it has enhanced fixed assets (little useful) and document management (no use) but I just can't justify the price. Maybe if they offered it without enhance assets and document for a lower price, I would upgrade. How about some à la carte ATX?

Just googled this and this was the first item. It was just updated this week. http://plugable.com/2016/06/08/windows-7-wont-update-what-to-do/

Try this: https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-to-prevent-windows-10-upgrade/ Bottom line: Download this and run it: http://ultimateoutsider.com/downloads/GwxControlPanelSetup.exe It will allow you to delete the downloaded files.