Catherine

Live stream? Web cam?

Don't know if the passwords will link between yearly versions, but this is a new IRS requirement for ALL software. Some have been more enthusiastic about putting requirements into action than others. QB does the same, now. Every three months change it; no way around it. I tell you, the more they regulate "information safety" the more I start to think it's time to go back to paper and pencil. Clay tablets and cuneiform? Those old Babylonian records can still be read (and believe it or not many of them are tax records lol).

And I'm in (long-ish) driving distance from @Lion EA so if she warns me I'll drive down to watch!

In regards to @JimTaxes' item #4, we were told that a printout from the bursar's office and/or proof of payments made from the client are also required. Why? Because it's well known that far too many 1098-T's are actually candidates for the Great American Novel and bear no resemblance to reality.

Thanks for posting the link, @JohnH - I had watched the video a couple of weeks ago. However, now that returns are coming in and I'm actively using the program it's a good time to review the new stuff.

It was my understanding (which may be totally wrong) that the under the law as passed the IRS could send letters demanding the penalty be paid, but enforcement/collection was limited to withholding refunds. I have seen clients who owed both tax and penalty get *two* letters - one for the tax portion, and a separate letter for the aca penalty portion. Perhaps they will simply stop sending the dunning letters as a cheap first step - and save us all the postage. What they do with refunds - Magic 8-Ball says "Answer hazy, ask again later"!

For the most part, we don't *have* to *imagine* it....

Historically I have seen LONG lag times for acks with e-filing W-2's and 1099's. It would be really nice to get them earlier so you know they are either done *or* there is a problem (in time to fix it). Have you tried synching with the e-file center? This early having to go back in and mark everything completed as complete should not be nearly as obnoxious a chore as it will be later.

Not at all! Sometimes we can really use some cute graphics to lift our spirits, and you always find terrific ones.

Drake answers in three rings (but not on Sunday, at all). If they need to investigate and get back to you, they do. Meanwhile, I am still waiting for the callback from ATX/CCH from Feb2013 that they promised within 48 hours. (No, that particular problem was never solved. After trying several more times, my final call was to Drake.)

Sorry Tom! The buttons and boxes I cannot help with any longer. Over-rides can be your friend...

Hi Tom, Sorry; completely forgot about this one. Capital gain gets allocated to corpus and the trustee has to make an election to distribute. See attached; I *think* you want Examples 2, 3, and 4 from section (e). Treasury Regulations __ §1-643a-3 for trusts.pdf

AND that there will be a fee for that conference. I've found it amazing (not!) how many "problems" go poof! when I tell the client there will be a fee for researching the answer. Of course, if it sounds like tax planning, I push for the conference - but toomany times yeah, they're looking for someone else to ggogle it for them and then interpret the results. For free.

We could say this about SO many situations our clients get into! (Never *our* advice, of course -- but then, it often seems that ours is the least likely to be followed!)

Officially, Monday. Although I e-filed an extension on Wednesday morning and got an acceptance back in a couple of hours. (Someone who is going to be away until late March, expects a refund, and doesn't want to rush -- my first non-payroll "return" of the season!)

That's something that can be really useful but that doesn't have to be done too often. Think how long it takes to install all those programs and configure them. One "cold metal restore" backup every half-year or so gives you a way to restore to a new machine *with* all your programs intact. Then a data restore, and you're back in business. One colleague some years ago came in one day to find his office had been broken into and all equipment gone. Data was secure because it was all encrypted. They got new machines, did the cold-metal restore, and only lost a day (and the cost of a case of hair dye, post-trauma).

Over the years I have written a couple of great say-nothing letters that include the buzzwords that let the mindless underwriters check their little checkboxes. ALL such letters go to the client only, for them to send to whomever is whining about wanting it.

Why? Even if you are retiring or something, you can hang around and make snarky comments. We'll miss you!

I just got mine. They used nice, clear fonts with excellent use of color. It's very sturdy and well made - I'm very pleased.

Drake has that for bank information and for W-2 information. Yes, I hate it except that I love it. A couple of times I've gotten mis-matches that needed attention (you also get mis-matches from last year's bank data that is only entered on ONE line, so that you *have* to check it).

Signature Flow also has two prices, depending on the level of authentication required. The IRS requires the pricier version.

I also looked at the Citrix product and while it was good it was just WAY more money than I was willing to spend. The CPaperless product is easy to use and I only pay when it is used; that seems very fair to me. Glad to help.

I offered it one year and got exactly zero interest in it and never bothered since. Yes, I stand behind my work as well but there are always the nervous nellies who might "feel better" with such a plan. None of mine, though.

I also use Tenenz and have been happy with their products and prices but be *very* careful which ones you order; more than once I have ordered what I thought was the exact same item as the previous year, only to get (for example) envelopes for three-up forms instead of (two-up, uni-form, whatever). As an aside, the self-seal envelopes are really worth it.

That's why I was daydreaming of dope-slapping, instead of Rita-hugs!