Kea

IRS rejected for missing ID Theft PIN, but the client has never had any issues with ID Theft. I'm not sure what to do now. I didn't see anything that looked like I checked any boxes I shouldn't have that would have accidentally told ATX / IRS to look for an ID PIN. Could this be some sort of weird twist on ID Theft that someone else reported a problem "for her" and then they got the ID Theft PIN? Thanks

I do not usually access my GMail or work e-mail accounts from the web browser, but download everything to my computer through Thunderbird. But both these accounts have web portals that still keep my trash, spam & sent messages. I do go in periodically and delete them from there as well. I have also used emails from my service providers (Roadrunner, AT&T and various others). Those also gave me access through their web portal. So I presume there are also mail histories on those websites that hackers could go after. The main reason I don't use those accounts as my primary e-mails is because I don't want to change e-mail accounts every time I change service providers. I used to do that and then the service provider I was using decided to give us 2 month notice that they were getting out of the ISP business. That was a real pain because all my current and past clients had my e-mail address, but I didn't necessarily have theirs. I do agree that GMail and the others mentioned are big targets. The web access is part of it. But the other part is that they have a very large base of users. I would imagine Roadrunner (particularly in large cities since they use city / region specific domain names), AT&T, Comcast, etc. get targeted as well.

Interesting. I wasn't even aware that any email providers did not have a web option. I use Thunderbird for all my email, but the accounts still have a webmail option. Where can you find a list of providers that don't have web access?

Other articles I checked (CBS, NBC & Slate were the ones that came up first) said that Google tested the leaked passwords & only about 2% of the passwords were correct. Google has already flagged those accounts and forces those users to change their passwords. I have to admit I'm a bit leery of clicking on the link in that article to see if my account is one of the ones hacked. Who knows what that website will do with my username? Even if it doesn't ask for a password, it still learns a valid e-mail address and may send out their own spam. Just call me paranoid.

I don't know how long ago the money was "loaned."

Wow, that didn't take long (to miraculously find the promissory note). I sent the e-mail yesterday telling him it was a gift. He sent e-mail this morning saying there is an agreement at he can provide it to me at tax time. I tried to kindly let him know I don't mess with fraud. It's OK, I am trying to downsize my practice, anyway.

He is married. Hopefully his wife gave half that money or the gift was made over multiple years.

That would not surprise me.

Thanks. That's what I thought, but I told him I would check.

Client lent $20K to son to start a new business. New biz is now bankrupt. Client wants to deduct loss but only has deposit slips to biz bank account as proof. No other documentation. He says they can write a contract now, but I don't think that works to do it after-the-fact. If he shows demand letters and/or proof the debt is bad, can he claim the capital loss? Thanks

I regret to say that even though I've lived in Austin for several decades, I've never made it to the pun-off. Various reasons. Oh well, maybe someday. But at least now I can watch on YouTube & I don't have to worry about a scheduling conflict or parking or....

I don't spy on my clients, either in regards to making sure the forms are signed by each spouse. I did get concerned one year when the spouse misspelled her own name (changed from an "a" to an "e"). There are some misspellings I don't worry too much about. I've been known to leave letters out of my own signature.

Thanks, that helps me determine questions. I actually agree with all answers and why I had the question. I know that - in general - deployments and hospital stays count as temporary absences. But if she left him after the explosion (but I don't know any of the dates), I would hate for the lack of paperwork to "cost" him in this particular circumstance. He had more important things to worry about at that time. I think he was in a coma for some of the time, but again not sure of dates. So I'll see if I can get a date that she left him.

The Social Security income was not originally reported because he did not receive a 1099 SSA. He was under the impression that it wasn't taxable & since some disability payments aren't taxable (as Jack just mentioned) I prepared the return without the Social Security. IRS did have the 1099 SSA & a 1099 INT and sent the notice. If he did not live with his (now ex) wife AT ALL in 2011, his Social Security is taxed at a lower rate (using Code D). IRS letter does assume 85% rate. At this point the original return is wrong and needs to be amended. But if being in the hospital & / or his wife being deployed does not prevent him from stating he did not live with his wife at all in 2011, then he won't owe as much as the IRS says he owes. I have not yet told him that he may owe less because I wanted to make sure I could do this. Edit -- I guess I'm really just trying to make sure I know the proper definition of "live together" so I know what questions I need to ask. And it sounds like the tax court petition will be "worth it."

My client sent me a CP 3219A for his 2011 tax return. He did not report his Social Security income he received as a disabled veteran (hit by an IED in Operation Enduring Freedom & paralyzed). He filed as MFS because his wife left him after the injury. The divorce was not final until 2012. The notice says that he owes around $1400. But since he did not live with his wife in 2011, he should only owe around $300. I am verifying with him that they did not live together AT ALL in 2011 (waiting for his e-mail - I did ask when preparing original return, but verifying again). However, I'm not sure about the time he was in the hospital. What would qualify as living apart? Also, the wife was military & not sure dates she was deployed. Would his being in the hospital and / or her being deployed still count as living together? Would that keep him from being able to say he did not live with her at all during that year? This was apparently not his first notice because it states that if you do not agree with the changes, the last date to petition tax court is June 16, 2014. At this point is it better to just pay the full amount due? Is it worth the time, effort & cost to petition the tax court to reduce the liability by over $1100? I have never had anything get to that point before (although it got close last year). Clients usually notify me of IRS letters fairly quickly. I also noticed that that CP3219A did not include interest or penalties in the amount owed. Not sure how that happened. Thanks!

I think that method may only work for minor swelling. A couple of years ago my husband crushed his finger when changing the hitch plate on our 5th wheel. Aside from the excessive pain of wrapping the elastic band tightly around his finger, I don't think you could put it on tight enough to get the ring off. Yes they had to cut it off (the ring, not the finger). The finger healed & the ring got repaired. I'm not sure why he didn't remove the ring while he was working on the 5th wheel. He never wore it while working as a body shop mechanic.

For you puzzle junkies. Check out Conceptis puzzles for several types of logic puzzles: http://www.conceptispuzzles.com/ They have one free puzzle of each type per week ("Play Online" tab). Instructions for each type of puzzle are on the "Get Started" tab. You have to create an account to play online but not to see the instructions. If you need a daily fix (like me), several online newspapers can help you there. I've used New Jersey ( http://www.nj.com/puzzles-kingdom/index.ssf ) and the Oregonian ( http://www.oregonlive.com/puzzles-kingdom/index.ssf ).

Here's a suggestion to keep from remembering too many passwords, but to still make them different for different sites. Pick a phrase or general password (following above suggestions) then add a letter somewhere in it for the website you are using (say, "A" or "AC") for ATX Community. But you may still need more than one general password due to different requirements.

I have not heard anything from them, either. I was actually pleasantly suprised that I didn't get those early morning phone calls in the first 1/2 of April. I'm considering renewing since this year was so much better than last. However, after hearing about the $85 price increase, I may have to think about it some more. I have a small practice that I hope will get smaller. I'm starting on the long road to retirement. So price is a big consideration for me. My practice is not yet small enough to go to pay-per-return.

I've had some luck copying the entire UTS1x (specific to each year). Install software Rename folder UTS OLD (or whatever) Copy UTS folder from old PC to new That should get you the updates & all client data. Note: I'm not on my work PC right now & I'm going off memory. Good luck.

I think I should have gone with the extension since the direct debit from the tax return would have been easier (at least for him). It was the 15th & I just wanted to make sure it was filed. I had already e-mailed him saying I would file as paper check if he couldn't get the routing # in time. That was also what we discussed on the 14th. Yes, the amounts are small, so I don't think it should be much of an issue. I was just kind of surprised when I got the routing # on the 16th (and nothing else in the e-mail).

I might have stayed with them, but I too many problems with Taxwise. They also offered Crosslink - which seemed pretty good, but it wouldn't let me track my 41 assets of unreimbursed partnership expenses. Didn't want to fire that client & didn't want to track separately. But no complaints with MainStreet. They really saved my bacon last year!

It's the nice clients that are keeping me from actually retiring. One couple moved about 200 miles away, but still brings their stuff to me each year. One year the wife left her scarf, but didn't want me to mail it. A couple of months later we were driving through their area so we dropped it off. They fixed us a yummy Columbian (where they were from originally) dinner.

Thanks Lynn! I only knew about the credit card method after-the-fact. I'll pass that on to him. I love the help & suggestions on this board.

Client I was waiting to file last night (15th) sent finally sent me the routing # for his direct debit today. I did file his last night saying it was a paper check. Figured it was better to avoid failure to file penalty. Perhaps extension would have been better. Especially since he doesn't have actual checks. Amt due was under $300, so hopefully penalty will be tiny.