BrewOne

sorry, I didn't see this posted elsewhere. But I will say that if the e-file deadline is missed, I'd go ahead and paper file rather than wait for next year. I know that your mileage may vary, but I've had good results with the few I've done recently; it is no longer a death sentence. And it beats having penalties and interest go up in the meantime.

IRS announced that November 18th will be the last day for e-filing individual returns (for any year) until they (hopefully) re-open in January. Business shutdown has not been announced.

This is one of those cases that, as Sara relates, you do the best you can. Under normal circumstances, I won't consider claiming withholding unless I have a tax document in hand.

Because of the legal implications of the 2848, I do not get one unless needed (think about a former client who has moved and you're the only one getting their IRS notices). I am a big advocate for collecting 8821's from clients and checking their accounts in late October. I do not charge for the service, I just want to know that if there is a problem with an account, we can fix it before the IRS takes action. I'm currently going through 2022 returns and unfortunately, Transcript Delivery is acting funky--it's working but everything is in plain text. I believe with the Tax Pro Account, there is a new method for cleaning up your POA's. When I left H&R Block in 2011, I had to use the Freedom of Information Act to clean mine up. I might add, I do know preparers who require the 8821 of all clients; I don't, but I try and point out all the advantages.

I had a similar situation that went on for several years--elderly client with dementia had moved several times and son could not get Social Security information. I did the same as Kathy, adding a few bucks extra every year just in case. We finally received the SSA-1099 for 2022 and I was pleased to see we were only about $3 off after four years. Fortunately, there was no withholding.

and registered mail is for items of tangible value in excess of what can be covered by insurance. So certified if using USPS.

you are correct. Tell her to look down at the bottom of the front page of Pub 547 Limitation on personal and casualty theft losses

Folks who aren't well-positioned for retirement don't tend to listen to advice...they've already made up their mind to sign up ASAP.

Seems to me to be anomalous--the IRS records are "reasonably complete" by August. But I recheck all of my clients (who've given me authority) in October to make sure something hasn't popped up. You cannot be absolutely certain until Jan 01 of the following year. BTW, if you see Code 922 on a transcript, it means they are going to get a CP2000 within 5 months.

no 1065's ever filed? I guess I don't understand, what is the discrepancy? 75% of the basis = $600k and then report 75% of the proceeds (minus cost of sale)? Also, this is a good example that a client with investment property should be looking at capitalizing property taxes along the way--annual election, Section 1.266-1(c)(2)(i). Most software has it built in to the elections/statements worksheet.

part of the irony of being a Circular 230 practitioner--Office of Professional Regulation can throw the book at us.

up to five years in prison? Not nearly enough, grrr.

A good start for simplification would be to end Head of Household as a filing status. It confuses taxpayers and is needlessly complicated. Increase the standard deduction and the 10% tax bracket (main benefits of HoH) and no one gets hammered and one less thing to worry about. Of course this will never happen.

I've used Track1099 and now tell any clients who need 1099's to use it. Good to have an email address on file for recipients and Track 1099 will take care of everything.

even before the decline of the USPS, I'd get 30 day letters from the IRS that were dated 3 weeks prior to receiving them, leaving little time to respond. The postmark on our correspondence is the official record of the date received--maybe their correspondence should have a postmark as well?

Maybe it's an attempt to encourage employees to pay workers on an hourly basis, rather than call practically everyone "managers" with a paltry salary (and no OT)? There was an attempt at legislation a few years back to end Walmart et al from paying someone a salary circa $20-25k a year and working them 60 hours a week.

the gory details are in Sec.1.1.1031(a)-1 of the IRC. This situation doesn't appear to involve an acquisition of real property, so I'd agree with Dan.

the first time a couple files jointly, they may find out something unpleasant about the other's past. However, with no withholding, then there's not much chance of losing a refund. But as a rule of thumb, I'd probably want an 8821 for the new client to check their account.

yes, you have to create a duplicate, won't let you have entries for 1 and 2 on the same K-1

is it against State law (cohabitation)? Is there common law marriage in Oregon?

Definitely a common problem with no elegant solution. The can of worms is pretty much bottomless. The workers could get an ITIN and file a federal tax return but as an employer you're also supposed to have an I-9 filled out (attesting that the worker has shown the employer "acceptable documents") and my State just passed more punitive actions against employers hiring illegals. The workers probably paid a huge sum to a coyote to get into the States, it's doubtful they would be willing to go back to try and re-enter legally (although I knew a contractor that did this years ago because he had such a good crew)--probably a whole different ballgame now with getting a worker here legally. Just thinking out loud here, not much help I know. One possible is the health insurance premiums are deductible and if they get a policy from the Marketplace (which is probably one of the few places they can get a decent insurance policy), along with retirement contributions lowering their AGI, their premiums might be above the 8.5% (or whatever the current ceiling is) and they could get a premium tax credit.

I think it's currently a pilot program. So if they don't offer an electronic response, you are stuck with phone, mail, fax.

brand new--should work but haven't tried except uploading 2848's/8821's. It's what the IRS wants to move to.

I listened to Commissioner Werfel last week at the Atlanta forum and was impressed with the direction he wants to take the IRS. Some preparers might be leery of IRS free-filing, but if all you are preparing are simple returns...you didn't have job security anyway. The new hires should at least be able to figure out how to feed a scanner.

I know a full-service broker is expensive, but I have seen enough issues at tax time where they would have made a huge difference. For example, fairly intelligent client with a discount broker that had allowed him for years to put 100% of the max contribution into a Roth IRA and a 100% of the max contribution into a Traditional IRA (yes, double the allowed amount). His explanation when I finally heard about the excess contribution, "I didn't think you needed to know about Roth contributions because there's no tax benefit. What a mess to straighten out.