Corduroy Frog

Does anyone know the IRS section that governs accountable travel plans?  IRS.gov allows a search and you get 63 pages of responses.  That's why this board is so useful.

I do several Alabama returns each year.  Your new client is horribly confused about a number of things, including differences between Federal and Alabama taxation of ministers.

Part of the problem, especially with smaller churches, is that no one in their church is knowledgeable about issuing W-2s, 1099s, housing allowance, etc.  Larger churches who have CPA members generally don't have that problem.

Thanks to all who responded.  I was able to recover Windows 10 in about 15 minutes once I figured out how to do it.  Abby, the information in the link was really great - step by step for someone not very good at I T stuff.

A Microsoft update appeared as necessary for me to schedule.  It did not announce that the update was to change from Windows 10 to Windows 11.

I didn't want Windows 11 and all the garbage that Microsoft wanted me to have that comes with it, not to mention the change in navigation.  Is there any way to get Windows 10 back?

Thanks in advance for advice. 

Thank you.  I'm glad the article was from the tax advisor and not the IRS.

High-income elderly couple rented out a residence when they were younger.  During the time they rented, they accumulated $215,000 in losses they were unable to take because of high income.

Never sold the property, but instead moved into the home that they formerly rented.  They have been carrying the impounded losses on 8582 ever since.

1.  Can they take advantage of the $215,000 without renting other property at a profit?  (I don't think so).

2.  If they die (they are in their 80s) and leave the property to their beneficiaries, can the impounded losses be taken when the estate sells the property, or does the $215,000 die with them?

Thank you in advance...

I'm sure many of you have heard the same story.

Some clients ALWAYS have to pay...never get a refund. Client speaks up with an air of genius: "I don't want to let the gubbermint use my money interest free for a whole year, so I keep the money for myself." As if we should admire him for his financial prowess.

Funny, I've never had a single one of these "genius" clients have any interest income to report. I believe the threshold for a bank to issue a 1099-INT is only $10.

Go figure...

Sigma Tax apparently is a software company, and if they are reselling Drake, it appears as though they are cloning it.  Guess I had better bite the bullet and pay up.  Thanks for the discussion.

On 5/2/2024 at 9:51 AM, artp said:

If price is your concern you might want to take a look at Sigma Tax Pro. They are a reseller of Drake as well as other major tax software providers. Current pricing for Drake for 2024 is $999. You may want to look at postings under the Drake Forum for more comments.

artp, is the price really $999?  My renewal notice says $1895 plus tax...

I have been with Drake for years and years, but a couple years ago, Phil Drake cashed in his chips and sold the business.   Since then, there have been changes, most prodigious change is a whopping price increase.

A recent post from another member advised simply to cover software increases with our fee structure next year,  e. g. changing to an unknown product is risky.  Good advice, but I am going to look around if their are other recommendations.

I will need invidual returns, all entity returns, and all state returns that work.  Years ago I had TaxSlayer, which had excellent, excellent customer services, but was weak on state returns once you left SCarolina and Georgia.  If there is nothing better to look at, I might be best advised to take the gentleman's advise - don't risk changing and build the increase into next year's fee structure.

On 4/29/2024 at 10:44 AM, mcb39 said:

Because I have a vendetta against Intuit,

I won't purchase anything from Intuit - I do hear that their Pro Series is good, but their TurboTax product overtly tries to put us out of business.  Their advertisements really irk me - one of them shows a guy with a briefcase and the impact of the ad  is that if you buy their product, you will be just as good as a CPA.  For years they also advertised "free,  free,  free" which was a blatant lie, and I think they finally had to stop.

There are no telling how many people buy Turbotax to avoid paying for a real professional, and forego the service we can render to them.

The benefit of the QBI is elusive indeed.  At first glance, it sounds really great - a 20% reduction of profits available in addition to standard/itemized deductions.

However, it has hoops to jump through.  First of all, if there is EVER a loss, the loss must be applied IN FULL to the current benefit.  However, if a positive result is ever squelched for any reason, the amount lost is NOT carried forward.

Next, the 20% is applied to the taxable profit, or taxable income, WHICHEVER IS LESS.  If any benefit is lost thereupon, it is lost forever.

The 20% is a great thing for taxpayers with regular profits, and regular taxable incomes.

Thank you to all who have participated in the answer.

Often I am responded to with a IRS link, which I believe to be perhaps the most official answer in existence.  I am admittedly lazy for not researching on my own.  I ask questions because I do want an alternative to spending 45 minutes reading something.  One link a couple years ago resulted in 71 printed pages.

But for Kathy, Judy, and Catherine, thank you so much for responding.  I have my answer.

Mortimer owes $10,000 to MegaBank, among numerous other debts, and declares bankruptcy.  Through the arrangements, MegaBank agrees to accept $1500 as part of the bankrupt settlement.

Question:  Although MegaBank has agreed (reluctantly) to accept only $1500, can they (or should they) issue 1099-C to Mortimer for $8500?

Will you be doing another live one later this year?  A long distance for me, but I remember one year you made it down to Tennessee.

Will there be more than 2 CPEs?

Thank you.  There are differences between S Corps and Partnerships, and I guess this is one of them.  Even with a partnership, all the elements mentioned in your post should be observed.  Thank you for your knowledge and expertise.

Certain conditions can give rise to a deduction for Partners' Unreimbursed Expenses which do not appear on a K-1P.  What about the same counterpart for unreimbursed expenses for a shareholder in an S Corp?  in other words, "SUE" ?  Is this allowed?

Admittedly, I'm not the biggest fan of mutual funds to begin with.  I have seen a trend this year:  High income bracket taxpayers are receiving 1099-DIV statements showing an increased investment in Bond funds.

Bond funds are usually high-levered, and are ALWAYS producing non-qualifying dividends.  Are they so wise an investment that their return should outweigh the tax implications, as that is sometimes the case?

I doubt it.  The last year or two have seen interest rates rising, and that causes bond values to crash.  The only explanation i have is that they are so hard for stockbrokers to sell that the commissions have created incentive for the stockbrokers.

Unfortunately, for many of my clients, they simply trust their investment advisors to do what is best for them.

Is this subject worthy of comment?

Never had a problem with Drake.  In fact, I endorse direct debits for estimated taxes instead of relying on voucher coupons for that purpose.  My experience with the coupons has been very bad due to the clients.  When reviewing for the succeeding year, the conversations go something like this:

Frog:  "Did you mail in the payments with the coupons I sent you?  What about June 15th?

Client:  "uh, no.  Took the kids to Disney World."

Frog:  "What about September 15th?

Client:  "uh, no.  Our lawnmower broke down and we had to buy a Cub Cadet."

Frog:  "What about January 15th?

Client:  "no way.  Had to pay credit cards for all those Christmas presents."

Frog:  "Sorry to hear all that.  Looks like you will have to pay (again) this year."

Client:  "OMG!!  Don't tell me that!!!  You've got to do something to help me....."

13 hours ago, Corduroy Frog said:

Sara, I think so.  The guys are always the smartest, and give the best advice anyhow.  Wimmin folk have some nerve thinking they are smart as the min.  Stay in the kitchin where you b'long.  Boil us up some bacon and some beans.  Throw another log on the fire...  

Yestidday I couldn't even spel  male choovinyst - Now I are one!!!

On 3/23/2024 at 9:43 PM, Sara EA said:

Many posters here are not guys.  Did you only want the guys to answer?

Sara, I think so.  The guys are always the smartest, and give the best advice anyhow.  Wimmin folk have some nerve thinking they are smart as the min.  Stay in the kitchin where you b'long.  Boil us up some bacon and some beans.  Throw another log on the fire...  

Here we go again:

Bubba:  "Hey, bought a brand new pickup truck!!  $100,000.  All for business.  I parked it outside so you can see it."

Preparer (after glancing out the window and seeing two fishing rods sticking out the window).  "That's great Bubba!!  We'll see what we can do with your mileage log."

Bubba:  "Whaddya mean mileage log??  I want'chu to write off this whole thing."

Preparer:  "They won't let us do that.  Only a limited amount of depreciation per year.  Not only that, but if you take actual cost, you STILL need a mileage log."

Bubba:  "Only a limited amount of depreciation?  I'll never get $100,000 depreciated out before the thing is ready for the junk yard.  I don't need a mileage log either.  It's 100% for business.  I tole you that."

Preparer:  Mileage log??  Where do you drive?

Bubba:  "Everywhere in my business.  Just got back from Myrtle Beach last week and my wife wants to see the Alamo in June."

Preparer:  "I'm sorry Bubba.  I don't think I can help you."

Bubba:  "Well I'm sorry too.  I can find someone to do what I want them to do.  I'm gonna take my honkin' new truck to Slick Sam over in Yonder County and he'll fix me up."

Ever happen to you??

Thanks to all.  Leaving it on the web still means he could have had access to it under the doctrine of constructive receipt.

2 hours ago, jklcpa said:

Have you tried looking at that website's Help or FAQs?

No.  The website I portrayed is fictitious (to appeal to John H), and I don't want to access a real website because they will do everything imaginable to spam me.  My real question is whether a participant can avoid W-2G income by leaving money in the account.

Website gambling on sports has exploded in last couple years.  One advantage, is they are able to track losses more accurately than anything available in the past.  I'm wondering how they will issue W-2G information statements.

Assume for the calendar year, John H wins $5000 in one lick.  And then has $4300 in accumulated losses during the year.  All the money is kept on deposit except $250, meaning he has taken out $450, leaving the rest.

GetRickQuickonBeachVolleyball.com is the website.  How do they issue the W-2G?

a.  $5000 Gross Winnings 

b.  $ 700  Winnings after Losses

c.  $ 450  Winnings taken out of account.

d.  ?????