Cathy

Also, google the manufacturer of the shingles. The mfg. usually has which shingles qualify for the credit. A mfg. certificate usually is available online.

And a deceased, retired tp's work phone number to boot! Hope you haven't pulled out ALL of your hair! I'd put 800-829-1040. I'd LOVE to ease drop on that conversation!

Sure..... The spouse became disabled during 2010 and started drawing social security. So did her minor children. Their social security was included on the parents return which in effect increased their taxable income and disallowed the $1,000 child tax credit that was due them in addition to increasing their income taxes. Rental income (real estate) was reported on Schedule C rather than Schedule E causing the taxpayers to pay SE taxes needlessly. On the Sch C was listed the name of a government agency as the DBA name. The government agency was the payer of the rent on the 1099-Misc. The state return left off a deduction for taxable disability income the spouse received as well as a tax credit for the loss of the use of limbs, as well as overlooking a couple of other smaller credits. The $4,000 difference is not uncommon at all with that local office. I cringe whenever I see an HR return come through my door. :o

Michael, Did you check with your client to make sure that the tuition was actually paid in 2010? If the box is checked on the 1098-T, it means that the figure listed for tuition, etc... (part of it anyway) was billed (not necessarily paid) for the spring semester of the following year. I never go by the figures on the 1098-T....always get with the student for actual tuition, etc.. paid for the year in question.

Thanks, everyone! I figured as such.... Another one of my new clients this year brought in their 2010 prepared by H & R. After discovering 6 blatant errors on the return and finding that they were owed an additional $4,000 in refunds, I called the manager of this particular H & R office. Fortunately, the preparer is no longer working for them. Mind boggling to say the least! I just hope this person doen't go into business for herself! I know it also says a lot in regard to who is checking these returns at this particular H & R office.

Reviewed another return prepared by H & R Block and on the taxpayer's receipt is the following: Tax preparation $330 Compliance Fee 4 TOTAL $334 The taxpayer's check was electronically processed. Any one have any knowledge as to the "compliance fee"? P.S. And, yes, of course amended returns need to be filed for this taxpayer. I want to scream every time I see their commercial in regard to letting them review tax returns for errors...... Thanks! Cathy

MUCHO THANKS, EVERYONE! I guess it looks like I'll have to bite the bullet and get an EIN after all these years of avoiding it. My late husband had one so our other businesses at the time were covered with his number when we needed one. Jack, again thanks for that tip! Seems like I had remembered something special needed to be done to e-file PTRs and CORPs.....stopped preparing corporation returns and slid by until this year by mailing in the partnership returns. Again, many thanks! Cathy P.S. Something funny...well, not really. I kept using my social after the PTIN came along for several years before it dawned on me.....where the heck were my clients' returns.....you know the ones that say they need a copy during the year because they lost theirs....if they truly "lost" their returns, then that meant they also "lost my social security number"! I guess I was just too busy to think at the time.

Thanks, Jack! Seems I have nothing better to dream about other than e-filing amended returns! It will be nice when it's available. I don't expect it to speed up the process, however, it will be nice to know the return will be in the system a lot quicker. Thanks again! Cathy

In trying to create an e-file of a 1065 return, I get an error stating I must use my social security number. My PTIN number is of course stated on the return. I have no EIN number as I am a one person office. My first 1065 return to e-file. For many years I've been e-filing 1040's. Is there something I don't know or is there a glitch in the program when trying to create a PTR return? Thanks! Cathy

Just wanted to make sure it wasn't a dream. Seems as if I read where we will be able to e-file amended returns with the new Mef system. Quickly searched IRS's site and of course up popped instructions for paper filing. If I wasn't dreaming, does anyone know if the ability to e-file amended returns will be soon or is it just in the works? Thanks! Cathy

If you look at the cycle we are in today, January 30, 2012.......it falls with January 26 (Thursday) and February 1, 2012 (Wednesday...by 11:00 am) rather than the cut-off date of Thursday as they had for last year and previous years.

Has anyone noticed the cut-off days are now on WEDNESDAYS as are the dates for deposits? Did anyone's client receive their refund today (Wednesday) for the returns e-filed on 1-17 and 1-18? Thanks, Cathy (Too bad we can't edit the titles)

mekCPA, I believe it was last year that KC showed us a link for free searches of tax court, etc.. cases. The search engine is Google Scholar. For what it's worth, I googled some of the tax court cases that might help your situation. The link is below (I hope). Take care, Cathy http://scholar.googl...h+Scholar&hl=en I tried the above link and it worked for me, but the actual link was a lot longer than the one above. If you don't pull up cases relating to the 750 hours, please let me know and I can possibly email the full link to you.

Tip...If anyone has trouble with IRS not agreeing with a client's (or your own) decision NOT to include the deductible health insurance from page one of the 1040 on Schedule SE, the instructions for Schedule SE lists the "Self-employed health insurance deduction" under "Optional Methods" on page SE-5, in addition to, of course, the wording for the instructions found on page SE-3 which state: " For 2010, you can reduce your net self-employment".....there's a big difference in "can" and "shall" or "must". I never thought I would not want to decrease my self-employment taxes....but as we age, we seem to put our priorities in order....and as my health insurance deduction for 2010 is $12,258, it's already a big help to avoid paying income taxes on that amount! I just finished my return and will e-file it in a couple of minutes....and of course, after it's e-filed and accepted, I'll swear to NEVER wait til the last minute for my own return...yeah, right! Take care everyone, Cathy

Don't have time to read all responses, but the first thing that popped in my mind after reading this couple is heading for a divorce is more income equals more child or spousal support....then property settlement.

I just finished up this morning at 1:00 am all of my "decent" clients....the others weren't decent enough to give me anything to be able to give them a 'decent estimate'.....my mass extensions are my serious procrastinators...but I can't fuss as I'm usually preparing my own on October 15th. Good luck, Joan! Cathy

In the past I opened each return and created an extension and e-file docs. This year (after many years of doing it the hard way ) I just found the magic place to click and I created and printed all of my extensions without opening any of the returns. Question: Is there another "magic place" to click to tell the program to e-file the extensions without having to go back to each return and create the extension e-files? Thanks, Cathy

O'kay....very interesting....seems as if IRS is saying it IS mandatory IF Health Insurance was on Line 29, either that or it got kicked out of the system because of the new change and whoever reviewed it didn't realize it was an option. :wall:

Thanks everyone....also the above helps tremendously too....especially if the return was filed by paper!!?? If it was indeed filed by paper, key punch operator decided to take the deduction herself/himself. Although I resent being told by IRS that I MUST efile returns, it will eliminate the summer calls from clients where the IRS employee entered the wrong figures on the wrong lines, etc....... Always amazed why IRS employees don't take a quick look at THEIR work when the paper return refund/amount due doesn't jive with the one they entered into the IRS system. Guess that "ain't my job" mentality is alive and well at IRS. Take care, Cathy

Instructions for Line 3, Sch SE states: For 2010 you can reduce your net self-employment..... Question: Is this an option or is this a must do.....seems as if an option......just want to see if anyone else has addressed this issue. Have clients (me too) that really don't want their SE wages to be reduced by $12,000+ as retirement is not too far down the road. Thanks! Cathy

Margaret, Don't forget to itemize the nursing home monthly payment as medical expenses also with medicare, supplemental insurances, out of pocket meds, etc.... Nursing home @ 12 months generally means no taxes are due (but not always, of course). Cathy

Did your client have any non deductible IRA's in the past? Can't assume any IRA is 100 per cent taxable. Having fun yet?

Whatever you are, it's ok with me...you always keep us on our toes! :rolleyes:

Surely, you jest when you said "not any part of the housing costs you list". ......but, yep, you're right.....must consider fair market rental value cost of housing provided for a dependent (which is often times MORE than that person's share of the mortgage payment, etc....)

Don't think our treasury will ever turn away a payment for a tax liability sent by check that is owed as an end result of an income tax return that has been electronically filed....however, I never thought I'd see the day that I was told I must file all returns electronically either. Ah.......being close to retirement age never sounded so good!