kcjenkins

Sure, but if you never do anything on a free return that you would not do on a paid one, where is the problem? The issue of signing is that you are attesting that you prepared it as truthfully and completely as possible, and that should be the same whether you get paid or not.

Nope, Zeke, I do not 'look you up' using any secret tricks. I am guessing you are referring to my post to Anarchist? He used to sign some of his posts on the old board, that is where I knew him from. I have neither the time nor the desire to spy on anyone, here or on any other board.

Brought back lots of memories. I'm older than dirt, for sure! I used to love it when the ice man brought the ice for the 'ice box' as he would always chip off bits of ice for us kids. That was a real treat. Pickles were something that your mother made, and jams and jelly, as well.

NOLs do not go on either Sch E or Sch D. They go to Line 21 of the next year if you elect to forego the carryback, or on the carryback year. The easiest way, and the fastest way for him to get a refund from this loss, is to add a form 1045 to this year's return, and use it for the carryback. Read the instructions carefully, and then you will be ready to ask questions. Although the 1045 is a separate return, that must be mailed in separately from this year's return, adding it to the return makes it easy to get the NOL worksheet into the proper places.

Good point Bill. Even if the EIC pulls off the SE, the IRS wants to know at a minimum what sort of business you earned the money in. It looks like you are trying to hide it, if you put it on Line 21, IMHO. And I expect, any substantial amount without any expenses would raise questions about whether you were in fact self-employed.

Yes, got it late Sat night. We're lucky, some are still being told "10 days to 2 weeks".

Good luck with that. I've never known of much cooperation when it comes to 1099Rs. Usually the best you can get is 'taxable amount not determined'.

Yes, any days outside Ethiopia, for any reason, are counted for the physical presence test.

NO.

Slow down. We don't even know it this will pass, or what form it will end up in if it does. Or how it may or may not tie to any other provisions. But it will be for purchases in 09, while your purchase was in 08, so it will probably not affect you at all.

No. If you are not paid, you do not have to sign the return. If you are paid, even in cookies, I'd think you should sign. No way the IRS has the resources or time to try to estimate income based on the number of returns you sign, tho.

Too bad, but 1/11/08 means they were 10 days shy of being with her the full year. But they will qualify for 09, if they stay with them all this year. Now, if they were WITH them by Jan 1, just not 'official' until 1/11, that would be different.

Actually, Dave, I think it was the IRS that wanted us to use the worksheet rather than just type in the info. I agree, when there is only one item, it is often easier to just type it in, but I think when efiling, the IRS looks to the worksheet link, and does not want to have to read the line. At least that is my guess. PS, we're glad to have you join us here.

IRS Issues or Info 02/04/2009 updated 2-4-09--Error Reject Codes 0448, 0657, 0665, 0721, and 1218-some issues have been identified with these reject codes. We are currently investigating the problem; a subsequent Quick alert will be issued when more information becomes available.---------- This has been an IRS e-file QuickAlert updated 2-03-09 --This is expected to be the peak week of efile. Due to high volume, you should expect all IRS and bank acks to be 1-2 hours slower than you've come to expect. 0269--Recovery Rebate Credit (SEQ 1220)--You need to enter the amount they received on the worksheet. This reject is typically caused when you check the box on worksheet 5 that they did not receive an economic stimulus check (and they really did). click here for the IRS page displaying correct rebate amounts.

Have you checked the Knowledge Base? If no help there, call support. The wait times are normally very reasonable now.

Generally, if the state number is the same as the federal number, you can skip inputing that at all. I've done it for years, with never a single problem with efiling. Seems the 'default' assumption is that these numbers are the same, so I only input them if they are different.

Even though it is coded as a premature distribution, as long as it was rolled over, it's not subject to the penalty. If she had not taken any distributions, none of it would have been subject to penalty. And none taken out after 59½ is subject to them. I believe the client might qualify for exception 1 and 2, based on what you said, and 12, for the 457. See page 3 of the instructions, especially the info below exception 12.

It's not three INSTALLS, JB, its three USERS. You can put it on as many computers as you want to, as long as you have only three or fewer USERS you are fine.

Actually neither Daschle nor Geithner paid ANY PENALTIES, only interest. In fact, on the first two years that Geithner was actually audited for, the IRS did not attach any penalty, only interest. A strange sort of double standard, it seems, where the richer you are, the less likely they are to hit you with penalties?

No to the second question, because this was not an IRA, it was just an insurance policy. The could not have used the money from their home sale to fund an IRA annuity, because that is way too much money to put in. Max for each of them would be $5000 that they could have put into an IRA in 2006. I think you need to read the paperwork on the annuity, because it does not make sense that they took their own money, bought an annuity, and then got a 1099R when they cashed it in. I think you need more info.

YUP.

That is fine, if the preparer is still in business, willing to cooperate, etc. But if he moved away, died, or had a stroke, etc, they may not be able to get them. My brother-n-law, who also did taxes in another town, died suddenly, no warning at all, and his office was shut down and packed up and files moved to his daughter's home, where she has no idea of his password on his computer, nor how to pull up anything, nor wants to dig through the many boxes of paper files. She's telling those who call [and manage to find her] that they can come pick them up. Not a good outcome for anyone. I do give the Detail report to all clients, if they leave me I don't want to have to stop in the middle of the season to look up old records for a client who has moved on. Why not give them enough that they don't have to bother you, if they don't want to come back?

You are right, most of the young folks today are not taught much history, in the first place. And certainly not about the Constitution. because it would raise too many questions.

You went to customize master, selected the 1040, went to the second page, dropped down to the box for signature and then changed the FONT for that box and possibly the size of the font, as well. It's easy.

I have to disagree with you on that one. While I do agree that some people do include some unnecessary pages, ALL the Forms and Schedules in a return should always be included, and some of the supporting pages, such as depreciation detail report, should also, IMHO. Now, if they are including the W-2 Summary, when copies of the actual W-2s are there, I agree that is not needed. But usually, for a "simple 1040", there are not that many pages that would be available. But if they have a RAL, something I don't offer, then all the pages related to that have to be included.