elfling

Jack, So far 'waiting' has led to a click followed by a dial tone. Thanks, MAS. We'll give that a try.

Client's return efiled successfully. Where's My Refund shows deposit sent to savings account at her local bank on April 21. We double-checked routing and account numbers. All fine. Bank has been very accommodating searching all her accounts (checking, savings, even CDs) as well as researching incoming refunds and cannot locate that it ever arrived. Here's the issue: Every IRS phone number we have tried goes to an automated system! I expect that from 800-829-1954 & 800-829-4477. Was surprised when it happened with 800-829-1040. And was absolutely floored when robot-voice answered at the local office in Bethlehem PA. No amount of button pushing or attempting to by-pass the computer drones has worked, You just end up with the same info (deposited on 4/21) or a disconnect! Anyone have any ideas on how to get a person on the line to help this client? Linda

We have run into several returns containing 8863 rejecting due to missing EIN for the school. Were there when we set up the returns. Don't know how something like that vanishes upon transmitting. (????) And why the H___ doesn't error check catch that?!!

I've decided, for a multitude of whacky reasons, to mail rather than e-file some extensions. Does anyone know if there are any limits as to how many extensions can be mailed together in one envelope?

Already put the phone into "Do not disturb" mode. Next will be "Announce only" so messages can't be left. Changed the doorbell sound to a "knock, knock, knock" so it's not as loud. Sign states "Open, please come in." Hubby just loves when folks ring the doorbell and immediately open the door.

Oaky, this situation is a totally new one for me. Client is a pipeline worker in PA. Company has him take his own pick up truck to job site. Fine, commuting miles do not count in any way. From the initial "meet everyone point' each day my client then travels up and down the line to various crews for all kinds of tasks using his personal vehicle. Acceptable work mileage. One would think this should be a simple case for form 2106. However, company adds $98 per day Truck Pay to his net pay. I have the pay stub showing this to be so. This figure is not included on the W2 form at all. Instead, he has received a 1099-MISC showing $9430 (96 days @ $98) in box 1, Rents. (There's the confusion?????) I fail to see how his truck is being rented by the company. But if we treat it as such, is the methodology correct? 1040, line 21, other income = $9430 Between the mileage (using SMR) and a few tolls, his outlay totals $2843. So, 1040, line 36, notation PPR.= $2843 Increases overall income by $6587 Am I on track here or totally into left filed?

We're running into an unusually high number of couples asking about MFS. A few who say they have been doing so for years but cannot give a reasonable explanation of why so. Most have children. Should be interesting who eventually does or does not show up on the doorstep.

Well, that's a fine how-do-ya-do! I put off taking the RTRP exam, with the intention of taking it sometime in the next few months, on the premise that my mind would be clicking away in full-gear while working the season. (I'm sure that sounds weird to some.) Now feeling oddly disappointed that that alphabet soup might not follow my name. Hmph!

Elrod ... yes, we should all already know everything that is in the "mod4" tutorial. However, that module still does not define a "step" anyone be it child, brother, sister, parent, etc. A relationship does not cease upon death or divorce. But does a step relationship exist if a couple has yet to wed? Taxed ... you bring up a valid point. A domestic partner couple in neighboring NJ that is required to file a PA return cannot be treated as married for that PA return. They must file separately. Still hoping for a solid definition.

Been in business a l-o-n-g time. Never ceases to amaze the scenarios people bring to the table. Today came a query from a client wanting to know a solid definition of a stepchild. When I asked "why?" she claims for her medical plan at work she has been offered the opportunity to add her fiance's son and daughter as stepchildren to her coverage. I did quiz her on the possibility of this health coverage not taking effect until after they are wed. She says she will check but does not believe that to be the case since the wedding is planned for spring 2014. Got me to thinking, I never really thought about a true definition. Without them being married, do his children qualify as stepchildren? For just this coverage? Along state lines? (We're in PA.) On a tax return? Elfling

Client call this morning about dependent. Grandson, who has been dependent on tax return since age 2, incarcerated in juvenile detention center fall of 2011 just after his 18th birthday, Prior to that was in high school. 2011 dependent exemption was taken. 2012 scenario more complex: Grandson turned 19 years old in fall and was moved for state prison. So all of 2012 he was incarcerated, not in school, not at home either. My client wonders if his incarceration constituted a temporary absence. She noted that imprisonment is not in that list. I believe her grandson is now disqualified as a dependent due to the county, then state, having provided all of his "support" at the respective jails. Cost client nothing. Agreed or am I not thinking clearly? So far, I am unable to find any absolute direction in researching. Does anyone have a cite that would help? Elfling

Received a message saying rollover was incomplete due to update on 2011 being behind (paraphrasing). Closed both 2011 & 2012. Reopened 2011 to check on updates. Maybe; opened really fast. Reopened 2012. Lagged on the updating; then closed on it's own. What was that!!?? Opened again. Rolled return and get a message that it is "incomplete due forms which were out of date or mismatched." Instructed to open and close the return in 2011 (with no need to save) and reopen in 2012!! Please tell me this isn't going to be necessary on each and every return! Return finally open but with many form in the "rollover when available list" and it did take over 2 minutes to open. Elfling

My story's a guy who called 2 weeks ago to see if I am setting appointments, which I do not for his type return. He knows this. Been a PITA client for years. Told him no appointment and no forms as yet; no way to know when since government and IRS still not agreed on anything. Tells me he'll wait until late January to come in. I'd hoped that would be the case but really didn't believe it would be so. Well he left phone message after 9:30 pm last night; knows very well I don't answer the phone after 8:00 ..... "I just got an email from I think Turbo Tax or H&R Block saying that they can do your taxes now. Want to know if you have the forms yet" .... Followed up by an email from him first thing this morning .... "Just wondering if you had received the forms for this year yet to file?" This dude is just dumb as a post. Never listens to anything I tell him. Have done amendments nearly every year after telling me he has everything. I can ask 'Are you sure?' times and still end up with 1040X. (More $ for me doesn't make up for the time involved!) Got himself into a major wrangle with IRS two years back by repeatedly calling and causing a ruckus to the point where they audited his return and held his refund for 6 months. Sent him packing more than once. Upped our price for his return to double what others pay. My husband threw him out one night with a warning that the next step is the sheriff because he was barging in on other clients. I even talked to his mother (also my client) to see if maybe she could talk some sense into him. Nothing fazes the guy enough to just go away. ...... I know you're all thinking 'just don't do the return' but I've tried that, too. He sat on my doorstep and cried like a 3 year old. I regretfully relented after talking things over with his fiance. (She's a nice gal. No idea what she sees in him.) So, once again it begins. He being the first of potentially many whiney-heineys for the season already out of whack due to a failing Congress. Happy, happy!

In the realm of crappy preparers is the joe schmoe across town who "does returns on the side" and accepts payment of whatever folks "negotiate" with him. He doesn't fill in the preparer section or sign the return even though he received cash for it. Why people trust him I'll never figure out. Sure, they may have saved a few dollars. But they have also dealt with someone unlikely to help if any government branch questions anything. Yes, it is true the taxpayer is ultimately responsible for the return and said taxpayer chose that preparation route. So who is ultimately at fault? (rhetoric) Several times our office has been contacted to assist in audits or reviews of returns prepped by the schmoe. Sometimes we help, other times we decline. Depends on the extent of the mess. Thankfully, auditors so far have allowed us to help the ones we took on. Usually those people then become clients trusting in our knowledge. There are people out there who may view the fact that we pass the RTRP exam as reinforcement that we do know what we are doing. Still, it won't elimiate schmoe. Elfling

Thanks NECPA! I was actually afraid that was the case as these nice folks will owe $1100+ to NE on top of $730 to good old USA. They are a really nice couple who moved close to their daughter to be with their two grandchildren. And not totally unaware of taxing situation as they did find out in advance that the 1099Rs would be taxed. They would not have known to ask about any negative SSA impact - the cause of owing fed as well as state. I'll have to break the news as gently as possible. :unsure: