kcjenkins

I'm just not comfortable with the idea that my files reside on THEIR servers, and I would also worry about what problems might arise if I changed software providers down the road. We've read of so many major businesses, even big banks with extensive security, they say, being hacked. How would your clients feel about their data being stored on Intuit's servers?

So? What does that matter? The point is that it happens over and over again, and yet nothing is done to those who abuse the public trust. In fact, many of the main abusers get bonuses, get promoted even. The Civil Service laws and the structure of the bureaucracy protect them, and they think they are above the law. The only reason we found out about the targeting of conservative groups was that they got so arrogant that they went too far to be able to hide it, [100%?!?] and even so it took a long time to come out. Heck, we had people on this board complaining about the process for a couple of years now, and their complaints were pretty much 'blown off' by our liberal members for quite a while. As for the abuse of the taxpayer's money for excessive conference expenses, etc, we've been hearing about it for several years, and they did pull back some thanks to the exposure of some of the trips [remember the hot-tub pic?] but this latest report shows it is still happening, just not quite as extreme as in the past. But as long as no one gets fired, and no one goes to jail, not even the guy in the hot tub, we won't see them truly clean up their acts. I don't care whether they are Dems or Republicans, those who abuse their positions should have to pay a price. More than just a momentary embarrassment.

Its just like this latest tidbit from the Congressional hearings. Dems tried to say that liberal groups were also targeted. Here's what the IRS investigator said about that. In response to Levin's queries, George responded on Wednesday that the term "progressives" appeared in a section of the BOLO spreadsheet labeled "Historical," and, unlike other BOLO entries, did not include instructions on how to handle cases that met the "progressive" criteria. George indicated that numbers tell the story: "Based on the information you flagged regarding the existence of a 'Progressives' entry on BOLO lists, TIGTA performed additional research which determined that six tax-exempt applications filed between May 2010 and May 2012 having the words "progress" or "progressive" in their names were included in the 298 cases the IRS identified as potential political cases. We also determined that 14 tax-exempt applications filed between May 2010 and May 2012 using the words "progress" or "progressive" in their names were not referred for added scrutiny as potential political cases. In total, 30 percent of the organizations we identified with the words "progress" or "progressive" in their names were processed as potential political cases. "In comparison, our audit found that 100 percent of the tax-exempt applications with Tea Party, Patriots, or 9/12 in their names were processed as potential political cases during the timeframe of our audit." Folks, 30% may be a reasonable percentage, no way is 100% reasonable. I also wonder if any of those six liberals groups are still, two + years later, still waiting for a determination? I do know a lot more than six of the conservative groups are still waiting.

TOP TEN MOST RIDICULOUS ITEMS PURCHASED WITH IRS CREDIT CARDS Item #1: “Nerf Footballs” IRS employees used their credit card to purchase $119 worth of Nerf footballs that were intended to be used for a “team-building exercise.” As if that wasn’t bad enough, they never used the balls, which are “currently stored in a filing cabinet” somewhere in the bowels of the IRS. Item #2: “Related Alcohol Purchases” At one luncheon, IRS credit cards were used for “related alcohol purchases” including 28 bottles of wine—for 41 guests. As a bottle of wine contains about five servings, this equates to three and a half glasses of wine per person. YOLO! Item #3: “Thomas the Tank Engine Rubber Wristbands” For the child in all of us, the IRS purchased these for “managers’ meetings.” These were part of the “almost $4,000 in improper decorative and give-away items” that TIGTA found in their review. Item #4: World’s Largest Crossword Puzzle Along with some jigsaw puzzles, the IRS purchased the “world’s largest crossword puzzle.” These purchases cost $89 of taxpayer money. Hopefully the IRS actually used these in their “team building” activities — unlike those poor Nerf footballs. Item #5: “Plush Animals” Even IRS agents need a little love sometimes, which may be why plush animals were purchased with IRS credit cards as give away prizes. Who wouldn’t want to go home and squeeze their little teddy after a long day of harassing free-market grassroots groups? Item #6: “Bathtub Toy Boats” Another one of the “give-away items” at the IRS managers’ meetings were “bathtub toy boats”. The IRS spent $418 to purchase these, along with some other “improper decorative and give-away items.” Item #7: “Stove Top Hats” Not many people can pull off the hat like Abe Lincoln did, but that didn’t stop IRS agents from trying to outdo our 16th President. Stove top hats were purchased using an IRS credit card as yet another “give-away prize.” Item #8: “Kazoos” The IRS must enjoy the sound of Kazoos. They used your tax money for “novelty decorations and give-away items, such as kazoos” which were awarded as prizes during their managers’ meetings. Don’t you really wish you knew what went on in these meetings? Item #9: “Dinner at an approximate cost of $140 per person.” The report notes a “dinner at an approximate cost of $140 per person, four times the Federal Government per diem rate in Washington D.C.” At the time of this conference the per diem rate was $36 for dinner. Item #10: A $100 Per Person Lunch The IRS spent five times the Federal Government per diem rate of $18 when they bought lunch at $100 per guest. And they say there is no such thing as a free lunch. Even with a release of this report on the spend-thrift, fiscal insanity of the IRS, they are still granting employee bonuses totaling $70 million.

It's the fact that they claim not to have your additional correspondence that makes me think the problem was THEIRS, and they just don't want to admit that. We've all, or at least most of us, had such situations over some form that we knew we sent, they they claimed to have not received. Efiling was supposed to reduce those problems, and it has, but it has clearly not eliminated it. And there is not a thing you can do except to send it all again. They almost never admit a problem on their end, in my experience. Even one time a few years back when they were wanting to make an adjustment over an item that they could only have gotten the amount of from the very form they CLAIMED to have never received.

Bulls___

Those held in popular 'vacation' areas do tend to draw the best turnout. Nawlens for example, always is popular. Vegas too, with the cheap travel packages being a sweetener there. But I agree, there should be some offered in all parts of the country.

In yet another example of how endless political scandals aren’t just quirks of the Obama administration, but are rather symptoms of any big government in action, this is how the IRS tax mafia “respects” your hard-earned dollars: A small technology contractor that won more than $500 million in Internal Revenue Service awards in less than a year had a “cozy” relationship with an agency official, according to a congressional staff report. Greg Roseman, an IRS deputy director, may have “influenced the selection process” to benefit his friend, Braulio Castillo, president of Washington-based Strong Castle Inc., according to the House committee document. The two exchanged frequent phone calls and text messages, the report shows. The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, led by Representative Darrell Issa, a California Republican, is investigating how the small business, formed in late 2011, managed to attract so much contract business. The House oversight committee needs to do more than just be a watchdog, it needs to be an attack dog. Lock people up, criminalize the behavior of those you can’t lock up, and stop the chatter already. http://www.ijreview.com/2013/06/61627-scandalmania-500-million-in-government-bids-given-to-irs-agents-buddy/?utm_source=EmailElect&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=Subscriber%2319098&utm_campaign=06-26-2013%20IJ%20Review

In the mean time, do some of your own 'conversions' by entering some of your old 2012 clients as if you were just preparing a new return for 2012. It will let you see differences and give you good practice, and also give you a base of comparisons for when you do get the conversion program. You should then compare that client's 'converted' return to the one you did from scratch, to see if there were any problems or issues with the conversion. Why waste time on fake 'pratice' returns when you have your own files to produce useful practice returns that then have real 'comparative' value to you?

But no, I don't think any tax refunds are allowed to go to prison addresses. However, if the prisoner uses his home address, or if a scammer or crooked preparer uses their own address to file for them, that is another thing entirely.

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This is going to lead to some interesting tax situations, it seems to me. Do CA preparers need to get ready to file a lot of amended returns?

The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that legally married same-sex couples should get the same federal benefits as heterosexual couples. The court invalidated a provision of the federal Defense of Marriage Act that has prevented married gay couples from receiving a range of tax, health and retirement benefits that are generally available to married hetrosexual couples. Also Wednesday, the court cleared the way for same-sex marriage in California by holding that defenders of California's Proposition 8 gay-marriage ban did not have the right to appeal lower court rulings striking down the ban. The court's 5-4 vote Wednesday leaves in place the initial trial court declaration that the ban is unconstitutional. California officials probably will rely on that ruling to allow the resumption of same-sex unions in about a month's time. The high court itself said nothing about the validity of gay marriage bans in California and roughly three dozen other states.

Yes, if the company sells it to him in exchange for a FMV portion of the debt owed him. As long as there are no other issues in the way, no outstanding debt for the car, etc.

http://watchdog.org/92191/virginia-address-gets-in-on-unauthorized-irs-refund-bonanza/ FREDERICKSBURG – The Internal Revenue Service sent $163,711 in refunds to a single Parksley, Va., address, where 100 individual tax identification numbers were issued by the agency. Forty-eight tax returns were filed at the address, according to a Treasury Inspector General’s investigation. The tiny Accomack County town has just 842 residents. And that was far from the most bizarre. The IRS sent 23,994 tax refunds worth a combined $46,378,040 to “unauthorized” alien workers who all used the same Atlanta address in 2011, according to a CNS News report. Additionally, the IRS sent 11,284 refunds worth a combined $2,164,976 to unauthorized alien workers at a second Atlanta address; 3,608 worth $2,691,448 to a third; and 2,386 worth $1,232,943 to a fourth. Rounding out the IG’s Top Ten list for singular addresses were Oxnard, Calif., where the IRS sent 2,507 refunds worth $10,395,874; Raleigh, N.C., 2,408 refunds worth $7,284,212; Phoenix, Ariz., 2,047 refunds worth $5,558,608; Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., 1,972 refunds worth $2,256,302; San Jose, Calif., 1,942 refunds worth $5,091,027; and Arvin, Calif., 1,846 refunds worth $3,298,877. Resurfacing amid congressional debate over immigration reform, the 2012 IG report reiterated concerns raised by government auditors back in 1999.

Makes you wonder who is running things in DC, doesn't it? Congress is supposed to write the tax laws, yet here they are, pleading with the unelected regulators? Seems out of balance to me. "A group of lawmakers from the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee have written a letter to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew urging the Internal Revenue Service to back off of a proposed rule change modifying the retail inventory method of accounting, which retailers fear could cost them millions of dollars a year. The National Retail Federation, a trade group representing retailers, welcomed the letter, which was signed by Congressmen Tim Griffin, R-Ark., Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., Pete Roskam, R-Ill., Ron Kind, D-Wis., Pat Tiberi, R-Ohio, Charles Boustany, R-La., and Kenny Marchant, R-Texas. They asked the IRS to reconsider its plans to modify regulations governing the retail inventory method of accounting. Used by many merchants, the method allows retailers to average out the cost of merchandise in inventory rather than tracking specific items. The committee members said the proposed changes would require creation of “costly new inventory tracking systems” and would cost retailers millions of dollars. “Both effects would divert scarce resources from investments that could otherwise be made in additional jobs and economic growth for constituents in our districts,” the letter said. “We urge you to reconsider the disproportionate tax burden on smaller retailers that will result if the regulations are enacted as proposed.” The letter noted that a small business regulatory analysis has not been performed as required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act." http://www.accountingtoday.com/news/Lawmakers-Urge-IRS-Avoid-Inventory-Rule-Change-67176-1.html?ET=webcpa:e7275:61496a:&st=email

"The term "tax humor" is no doubt an oxymoron to many people; to the more cynical, it is an apt description of the entire tax code." -- John F. Lekel "Worried about an IRS audit? Avoid what's called a red flag. That's something the IRS always looks for. For example, say you have some money left in your bank account after paying taxes. That's a red flag." -- Jay Leno "Day in and day out, your tax accountant can make or lose you more money than any single person in your life, with the possible exception of your kids." -- Harvey Mackay

"it is not a criminal act, any more than underpaying taxes is. " Tell that to the many people in prison right now for failing to pay their taxes. While it's true that the mere failure to file or pay does not, in itself, make one a criminal. The IRS must allege and the Court must find that the failure to file or pay was done with the deliberate intent to defraud the government. But that is a small step, in many cases.

ROTFLMAO2

The more specialized classes are always better, because few 'green' newbies take those. Talking with real professionals who are at those levels are almost always beneficial. But that's a whole world away from the general sessions for everybody. I'd take on-line over those any time.

Terry I think what jklcpa meant by NBV was Net Book Value.

Thanks, looks good. Will be trying it when I get settled.

Sorry, but since you recognize there is " illegal immigration" then it's total nit-picking to say that the person who commits that " illegal immigration" can't be called an illegal immigrant, just as we call someone who commits robbery a robber. The word 'illegal' here is being associated with the act, not the person, per se.

A guy is driving around the back woods of Montana and he sees a sign in front of a broken down shanty-style house: "Talking Dog For Sale." He rings the bell and the owner appears and tells him the dog is in the backyard. The guy goes into the backyard and sees a nice looking Labrador retriever sitting there. "You talk?" he asks. "Yep," the Lab replies. After the guy recovers from the shock of hearing a dog talk, he says "So, what's your story?" The Lab looks up and says, "Well, I discovered that I could talk when I was pretty young. I wanted to help the government, so I told the CIA. In no time at all they had me jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders, because no one figured a dog would be eavesdropping." "I was one of their most valuable spies for eight years running. But the jetting around really tired me out, and I knew I wasn't getting any younger so I decided to settle down. I signed up for a job at the airport to do some undercover security, wandering near suspicious characters and listening in. I uncovered some incredible dealings and was awarded a batch of medals." "I got married, had a mess of puppies, and now I'm just retired." The guy is amazed. He goes back in and asks the owner what he wants for the dog. "Ten dollars," the guy says. "Ten dollars? This dog is amazing! Why on earth are you selling him so cheap?" "Because he's a liar. He never did any of that stuff."