elfling

A question to my fellow PA preparers -- with the state only efiling automatically happening -- ATX's PA EF Info sheet has 8453 as the sole option, the form automatically opens. Will you use that (8453) or continue to use PA-8879 which comes in on client rollover?

I recall in the webinar for the Western Union MoneyWise card that the card will load with both the federal and state refunds if filed together. State only doesn't qualify. Since ATX now sets up as federal only/state only, does that mean the state refund won't go to the WU card? Also, a question to my fellow PA preparers -- with the state only, ATX's PA EF Info sheet has 8453 as the sole option, the form automatically opens. Will you use that (8453) or PA-8879? Elfling

I tried by EIN but it's threw a curve with the hyphen. Everywhere else in the program EINs as well as SSNs, ITINs, EFINs, even DOBs you can just type. Back to 'by name' unless an ATX programmer has an easy fix. Elfling

Yay!!! Transmission success! Off to play in the garden . . . woohoo!

Variety of problems today. Every transmission includes some kind of surprise memo from the server. Are we having fun yet? Too tired for this crap. We can't seem to get the very last return transmitted. Joy-joy!

Really?? Since when?? Where'd you see that?? Been a partnership for over 12 years. Always been due 4/15.

Crank, Where did you get the idea that IRA distributions are not taxable in PA? Currently, IRA distributions are taxable "to the extent the distribution exceeds your previous contributions." (PA40 instr, pg 13) A good chunk of retirement money is taxable here now. Our state congress saw fit to change the tax code in late 2005 as a way to increase money coming in. A number of the changes make no sense at all, which is relatively normal here. Logic is a foreign concept for most of our state legislators. You can't just exclude the distribution. On W2-S, if i applies, you can use column F to enter the adjusted plan basis if that applies. Even then sometimes the state will not honor the adjustment and documentation to prove the basis is hard to come by for some of these plans given the tp little ammunition to argue with the state. PA has become a bully of sorts in this matter. For the most part, the code in 1099-R box 7 is what to go by when working with retirement issues in PA. Here is a link to the tax guide: http://www.portal.st...tax_guide/14826 Choose chapter 7. Check out the code information starting on page 7-66. Elfling

We came across an unopened Merrill Lynch letter for a clinet yesterday. It contained a check payable in the amount of $.01 (i.e. 1¢)! Gave us a good laugh.

We are waiting since March 18 for acks on several PA-65s. Has anyone had any accepted yet? Elfling & Elvenprincess

Determining taxablilty is tricky in PA, but for the most part the code in box 7 is what to go by. Here is a link the the tax guide: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pa_personal_income_tax_guide/14826 Choose chapter 7. Check out the code information starting on page 7-66. Elfling

Thanks for the input. We doubt it was a case of non-trust between spouses. They were married for 65 years! More a situation of never getting around to it. He was declared blind in 2001. Moved to an assisted living program in 2003, then to a nursing home situation in 2004. Dimentia set in quickly after that. Widow probably was not thinking about access to the money as monthly nursing home payment was sent directly from the bank. She feels I am right suggesting she talk to an attorney to help straighten it out. Elfling

Just when you think you have things under control . . . TP deceased 11/23/2008 (yes, that "8" is correct). Two banks continued to pay him interest on accounts all of 2009, probably still are. Widow says she tried to get the accounts changed to her name and SSN but the banks say they can't, get this, without his signature. She took in death certificates. No dice. They tell her since he can't sign and the POA she had prior to his death is no longer valid, they can neither change the accounts nor release the funds for redeposit to her. I recommended she speak to an attorney. My snafu is two-faceted: 1) We filed a final PA return last year, so how could another be filed this year? 2) If we don't file a return with over $1300 of interest showing for that social, even though sch SP will zero-out any tax due, will PA come looking to her for a return? Thoughts anyone? Elfling

Tp lived and worked all of 2009 in PA. An OH employer withheld taxes for OH. Efile of OH IT 1040 all set to go to get refund of taxes withheld. Not finding signature form (8879, 8453, etc.) for OH. If there is one needed, can someone point me in the right direction? Thanks, Elfling

Yes, there are still a few bigger collection groups for EIT ~ Central Tax Bureau, Berkheimer, Keystone. There are a few counties that collect for all within their district. We deal with Berks and Lancaster regularly. Mary Wenk is one of the many-many-many tax collectors for real estate, per capita, and occup taxes. Just about every one of those folks have hours that include personal caveats. Close to me there is one who delivers meals on wheels to the elderly so he's not in office from 11:00-12:30. Another is available at the Borough Hall on the 2nd & 4th Thursdays so people who don't drive can walk in. And then there's one in the next village over who collects both EIT and RE taxes. We still can't figure how holiding both an elected offices and a full-time job in the same office isn't a conflict of interest. But, oh well. You're right. Our state system is bizarre. Born and raised here in PA. Never left the state aside from vactions. I greet newcomers with a "Welcome to the land of potholes and taxes." We have plenty of both!

Right. There have been several proposals for local taxes to process through the state returns. Our state Congress just can't seem to ever get it out of committee, or off the House floor, or past the lobbyists, yadda-yadda. And every time it comes up another Act of one kind or another ends up making the local EIT systems more quirky. For those of us running hundred of returns in PA, we no sooner get accustomed to one methodology and it changes. Uniformity doesn't even exist within each school district or county. We just found out last week that Keystone Collections has taken over for Whitehall-Coplay school district and raised the rate to 1.3%. But the rate is still 1.09% for North Whitehall Township which is within that district. And since South Whitehall Twp falls within the Parkland school district, that rate is only 1%. There are 6 geographic divisions within the Northampton school district. Only two have the same rate. Northern Lehigh has on township that refuses to get on board with Central Tax Bureau. Separate forms, separate collector. I could go on for an hour without touching outside the Greater Lehigh Valley, let alone the rest of the state!

This form is only useful if the student is both a nonresident and not working within Philadelphia city limits with Phila tax withheld. Working within the city means tax is withheld and no refund is allowed, period. Persons who live in PA but outside Phila city limits may or may not be subject to a local earned income tax. Those who are typically receive a credit of Phila tax paid up to the amount owed to the resident locality. The remainder is not refundable. Is this student actually a resident of NY who is temporarily absent from the state for education purposes? If so, is it possible NY will owe her a refund or credit on taxes paid to Phila and/or PA?

We do hundreds of PA returns every year. Many of them have multiple UEs on them. Never a problem, e-file or otherwise. No error messages and no need to override. Multiple 2106 does not trigger an error either. Go figure. Sorry, I don't have any idea what is wrong or suggestions on how you can fix the error. Maybe it is a matter of exactly which program you are running. We are using ATX Max. We do find it important to review the numbers that flow from 2106 to UE. Sometimes they will double-up on certain line items. I can tell you that we encounter strange follow-throughs if the first UE on a return is discarded. The program will not simply move a second one into first position. Knowing this we make sure the first one is kept. That can at times make it necessary to type the whole UE over with info from another and then discard the later one. Something I wish ATX would consider is a drop down list for UE. It makes sense to me that the payer list or at least a list of the W2s on the return should be accessible for the UE. Having to re-type on the UE everything that was just entered on the W2 input is redundent. We've made this suggestion to ATX every year for the past several. No one seems to be listening. And we do realize that each state has its own oddities making it hard for the programmers to work things in that are not necessarily needed by a majority of users.

Yes, that section is there. But the actual worksheet on which to do the calculations that include carrying forward information from the year before is not. I just think it would be handy to have it in the program like the lump sum worksheet already is.

We also work early in the morning and late at night with the phones shut off, doors locked, curtains closed, and door-alert systems unplugged. We are open to the public on a somewhat strick schedule that includes being closed for 4:00-6:00 for supper. A sign on the door demands no one rush our supper time. We refuse to budge on that point. That 2 hours gives us a very needed scheduled break. Walk-ins are accepted early on in the season. But by the end of January people stopping by have the option of leaving info here or scheduling an appointment. We do not answer calls during appointments. Along about the 1st of February, we stop answering the phone pretty much altogether. Our message includes a statement on the lines that if you dropped off your documents and we have not called you yet, be assured we will when the return is complete. We follow that with "each call of this type we answer further delays processing." We lose track of how many times a day we hear the hang up on the other end. Our office is also ALWAYS closed on Wednesdays. We need to get our own appointments ~ hairstylist, dog groomer, dentist, doctors, groceries, even laundry ~ in somewhere. That's our day with no ifs, ands, or buts, from anyone! Those who leave a message for something other than the "are you done yet" question get a return call before or after regular hours. >>> Pfft! Even now, it's 5 minutes till 9:00 (opening time) and there's someone on the front porch attempting to ring the doorbell that is unplugged. Sorry, we open at 9:00 on the dot. Sounds like she just got back in the car to stay warm. Probably thinks I'm a meany. Too bad. <<<

We have only one client who receives USRRB benefits that needs the Simplified Method Worksheet. I have gone out to irs.gov to print it but have always wondered if there is a version of it within the ATX Max program. So far (probably 6 years or more) I have not been able to find it in there, but maybe I'm not looking in the right place. Anyone know if it is in there?

Thanks, michaelmars, for claifying that it was "just a scare tactic". I've used a few myself when someone has not paid. Yes, kc, I was paid. And I had considered returning that payment as part of shedding myself of this situation but have since changed my mind. I did the work, and did it well with the information at hand, so not being paid for the work I did would make no sense. Jainen, you have a strong point. I was professional in the stiuation; the cleint was not honest which is not within my control. Regret is not the word here, I am just angry. The return was prepared correctly with the information provided. It is not me who has woven the tangled web of lies in which the taxpayer now finds himself enveloped. IRS is pouncing very quickly on this one. Lion, my notes are very thorough. Breath is already caught. No time like the present. The client is receiving a you're fired letter this week. He's on his own with the mess he has caused with his untruths. And as I ponder the responses on the board to my query my perspective has become much, much clearer. THANK YOU, everyone! Elfling

Not possbile ... as in my prior post responding to taxbilly, it has been accepted. I suppose I could elaborate on the details of the situation here on the board, but the bottom line for me is this: I will not be keeping this person in our clientele and truly believe my name should be off the return. Elfling

Yes, it was accepted on 2/8.

I recall someone mentioning having their name withdrawn or removed as a paid preparer from a tax return. Sorry, but searching the board in various combinations of words has not brought me to that post. It turns out we have a client, new this year, who we now know has been very untruthful with information provided. The story behind it is long. Return was e-filed, rejected twice, "corrected" twice with additional information gathered by phone, but now there are even bigger problems appearing. Our plan is to fire this client immediately as we have been blatantly lied to every step of the way. I also wish to not have our office associated with the return in any fashion. So how is it done? Was it through calling the e-file service center (Andover, for us) and making the request? Or does it need to be in writing? Granted, as preparers we sign the retuns under the testament "to the best of my knowledge and belief, they are true, correct, and complete." which gives one an out-clause of sorts. Still, I will feel much better being out of the loop on this one. Elfling

Catherine, We already have a wireless router running which is totally secured. When we first put that in more than a year ago we made sure it was locked down. It concerned me that anyone we would have work on or set up the router could be less than honest and actually leave it open in some way. But PenTeleData (one of the bigger computer tech outfits in eastern PA) is located right here in our little Appalachian town. Because of that I was able to ask several different people about security. Thankfully, none have determined that our system is "wide open" and I just can't fathom that they would all be telling lies. Anyway, we've decided to give a Silex C-6700WG print server a try. It is sold directly by Canon and is listed as being compatible with our MF3240 for printing and scanning. The specs show that it is will not allow us to access faxing from the computers but I cannot recall ever doing that anyway. We always fax directly from the copy plate. I'm hoping it works out because it will let us rearrange the office into a more user friendly configuration. Elfling