RitaB

Yes, that was a great improvement! It used to bug me to death when I didn't have the instruction letter for an amended return. Good job on that one, ATX.

taxit - you may already be registered to e-file business returns, but in case you're not, neilbrink gave me this heads up earlier when I kept having rejections on the 7004: "You have to be registered to efile business forms, etc. Check with the efile help desk. 866-255-0654" I had no idea that I needed to be registered. Guess I never thought I'd be e-filing business returns and never signed up. Anyway, I called the number, which turned out to be pretty quick, especially compared to the process described online at irs.gov. I think the lady said I'd be able to e-file in 24 hours or so. (I know - they're due tomorrow...) I had no problem e-filing the 990-N a couple of days later, using ATX. My "client" (for lack of a better term) did not sign anything. I hope I don't have a problem over it, but he is in another state, plus it's one of those free-gratis, pro-bono deals... (yay)

Yes, first thing this morning, I have an e-mail: I'm only getting back $300, why is that?" Extensions: are they not just horrible? Some are not, and I'm actually glad to be working on tax returns now, but the ones that do this year after year after year! Why can't they get it together? I don't mind if they come October 1 - just write those mileage figures on something before you get here... Maybe I could use some Prozac, too.

Wow, it's a small world. I finally got my Mr. Pro Bono's e-postcard thing filed yesterday. During the rejection process, I discovered that I had to be set up to e-file business returns. Who knew? But, at least now I will be in shape to better help all the other Bono family members.

Well, now I'm glad I asked! Thanks, Lydia. Sometimes I hesitate to post, but you never know who might be wondering the same thing, I guess! Did you get an e-mail from PT regarding the 2009 upgrade? I usually hold out forever on upgrades, but I'll have to check this one out. It took me forever to get used to 2008... Some things really take a lot longer with the upgrade, kinda frustrating...

Thanks, indyscott, but I think I have figured out the problem. I was looking where you said on the EmployER tab, because I just KNEW the problem was there. Turns out, I clicked the "withholding info" tab, and the employees that were showing up on the report had "TN" entered on the state row, and the ones not showing up were blank. I never thought to look there cause we don't have a state income tax on wages, and everyone was showing up, no problem, on the "Payroll Tax Report" for unemployment. Apparently I lucked out, cause I have no idea why I even looked at the withholding tab... What I have done in the past on those companies is copy the Payroll Tax Report to an MS Works spreadsheet and edit to get everything lined up, etc. Better than writing, but still aggravating. So glad I discovered my goof! Thanks for your help! BTW, I e-mailed PT yesterday, and their reply was not helpful. Basically, they said, "We're not helping you unless you pay for tech support." If I didn't really like PT, that would have made me mad.

Hey, GLJeanne - No, these employees being left off are just TN employees. I have not found any way to manually edit the TN LB 0456. I would love to override something and keep moving along, but I have not found a way to edit that particular form. I suspect I am overlooking something, but I can't find any difference in how I have set up these employees... Thanks for the response!

Yes, I researched quite a bit to find that code. Now if I could just get my own return done...

It was so funny today, a client called to say he already got his stimulus check. He did not e-file, he mailed his return with a check, probably first of March. So no direct deposit. He got the paper check already. He thanked me. I said, "You're welcome." I have been grinning stupidly over it all day.

Oh, so he would have owed $1300 on the original return? I didn't get that part. So, client will have to write a check for $1300. (Well, that's what I would have him do.) And, of course, this is all your fault cause your crystal ball was in the shop when you prepared the original return, right? (Haha.) Just had a call, and I am surprised I have not had more: "Did you put put my refund in the bank?" (Like I am giving out tax refunds personally.) Me: "Did you tell me to?" Turns out she had no refund, but she is listening to the stimulus news...

Yes, I think you are correct to put 1000 on line 19. I would send a check for 300. Well, not me personally, you know what I mean.

Sounds like advisor is steering the employee toward being a contractor? Reminds me of the scene in Mr. Mom, where Michael Keaton is trying to impress the electrician: "220, 221, whatever it takes." I am currently trying to fix a mess for a vet who failed to mention that his employees now have a 401(k) plan. He's been telling the office manager not to concern herself with any taxes on the 401(k) amounts. Office manager happened to mention it to me on April 14.

I have three companies for which the payroll report "TN LB 0456" (TN unemployment return) is always incorrect. Some employees and their wages will be left off, and I cannot find what I have wrong. All my other companies are fine. It's probably something I'm overlooking, and I have searched the Peachtree site without success. Just hoping someone knows the fix. Thanks in advance.

I took it that way, too, Mike, cause Linda said the housing had not been "set up before." Also, the church didn't issue anything (no 1099, no W-2, no nuttin') for 2006, 2007 which also made me assume, perhaps wrongly, that no housing allowance had been designated. As I look at it from another point of view, I could be wrong. I will be encouraging my two pastors' churches (both new clients, both needed extenstions, etc.) that didn't do W-2's to prepare the W-2's going forward. I will even show them how to prepare the W-2's. Didn't want to leave the impression that I was not concerned with doing things properly. When I read my earlier post, it kinda looks that way.

You're welcome. Mike is one of the those "most knowledgeable clergy tax return preparers". Listen to what he says. Yes, I have a copy of Pub 1828; I like it, too!

Linda, I feel your pain. I'm currently working on two pastors who did not receive W-2's myself. Just finished another one where the church treasurer prepared the W-2, but incorrectly, after me telling her last year to leave boxes 3 and 5 blank, and copying the example from Pub 517 for her. Yes, it is too late on the housing allowance for 2006, 2007; it must be designated prior to payment. It is not too late to do something for today forward in 2008. I would not prepare the W-2's for 2006 and 2007, just prepare the returns correctly. That's just me, I'm still feeling whipped, and I would have been more accomodating earlier in my career when I wasn't so jaded. ;-) There are some great preparers on here that do lots more clergy returns that I. I'm sure you've found a couple of them on searches. I personally think Pub 517 is good. There is a mistake on a worksheet, #3 I think, if your clients file Form 4361.

I started to say that I love the green turtle neck, styles come back around cause almost all of us has one of these... (At first, I didn't see your picture.) Ruined a perfectly good joke... Love the hair, by the way.

HaHa! I also had one to stroll in yesterday at about 3:00 with a check to mail with his extension request. First time I have seen him since April 15, 2007 when he did the same thing. Hasn't filed since 2004. So happy, so casual, no worries. I wanted to choke the life out of him. I have been at this for 13 years, and I'm not doing as well as you are... maybe it's a problem with my birth certificate or something. I will be working on this, though...

I agree. I have a few tough ones here that brought in their stuff at the end of March. I told them it was doubtful, and that I would get extensions and get the returns done as soon as I could. Almost everyone is fine with this. I had one to bring stuff on 4/14, expecting me to get it done. I don't care if I had nothing to do, I would have gotten them an extension. He said, "Well, I'll just take it to HRB." I am glad to see them leave when they have that attitude. Course they'll be back next year when they think about the difference in price. I really think they were afraid of not getting the rebate. I'm sure the HRB fee ate up at least half of the rebate. Anyway, don't be afraid to lose people like that. You are better off without them.

Every year I say I'm going to disappear on April 15. These things actually happened to me: Person #1 (carrying folder full of crap): I could probably do this myself... Me: OK, good! Thanks! Person #2: I did my own return and don't know where to mail it. Me: Do you owe or are you getting a refund? Person #2: Well, I don't owe. Persons #3, 4, 5: Say nothing. #3 slids a stimulus package across my desk. It has #4's name on it. Me to #3: Didn't you claim #4 as a dependent? Person #3: Yes. Me: Didn't you call me a month ago and ask about this, and I told you #4 does not qualify for rebate? Person #3: Yes, but we wanted to be sure. (I still have no idea who #5 is.) I hope I am not at my office ever again on April 15...

I say this every year. I sure hope I can make it happen next year. The nutty people show up on April 15. These things actually happened to me: Person #1 (carrying folder full of crap): I could probably do this myself... Me: OK, good! Thanks! Person #2: I did my own return and don't know where to mail it. Me: Do you owe or are you getting a refund? Person #2: Well, I don't owe. Persons #3, 4, 5: Say nothing. #3 slids a stimulus package across my desk. It has #4's name on it. Me to #3: Didn't you claim #4 as a dependent? Person #3: Yes. Me: Didn't you call me a month ago and ask about this, and I told you #4 does not qualify for rebate? Person #3: Yes, but we wanted to be sure. (I still have no idea who #5 is.) I hope I am not at my office ever again on April 15...

Talk to the parents, but I would take the deduction for the minors and prepare W-2's and the 941 or 944. Course they may not even have an EIN, either. So, you'll have to get that... I might even take the deduction for the 20 year old; he'll be self-employed, but it might (probably will) save the family $ in the long run. On the other hand, it is April 15, the client may just say forget it this year, don't take the deductions, do it right next year. Charge lots.

Very good suggestion, and I actually do something similar, although I see that I need to pick a date in March. Yes, it has to be explained, but it does get easier. Also, there's always somebody "new" that needs the explanation each year, either they've never "waited this late" or they are new clients. But this year! A great number of my people that are normally ok with extensions are afraid of filing after April 15 this year. Like this client that stormed in on April 12th, not even sure she has given me everything. Just gotta file something to get the "free money." Guess I am letting it get to me. My pastor said in his sermon Sunday, "God doesn't expect us to get everything done." I am thinking about that a lot.

I have had people that always get extensions bringing their stuff in "early". (They think April 12 is early.) I am sick to death of explaining to them that "you will still get the rebate if you file after April 15." I have even been telling them that I am getting an extension myself. One of these called yesterday: "OK, get the extension, and don't work on mine till I have I chance to go back over what I gave you to see if I missed anything." Where is that white towel cause I'm ready to throw it in. It would almost be easier to work around the clock and get 'em done than explaining this over and over.

Ok, looks like I can print from here but not e-file. Sorry, I guess my hope of finding a quicker way caused me to skip right over that part. Will this info rollover to 2008? That alone would make it worthwhile, cause 90% of my extensions are the same year after year after year...