Catherine

They are trying to stop people from stopping the forcible-update feature. W10 upgrade block settings

I did expect an emergency - and we have had upheaval lately; my mother-in-law just passed on about two weeks ago - so I jumped up and grabbed the phone. Caller ID showed the client's name and I refused to answer it at that point because I did NOT trust my temper not to verbally rip her a new one right then and there. No guns unless my life is threatened - this stupid state will take ANY excuse for trying to take them away from me. Unlike Texas, we don't have a "he needed killing" as a valid defense.

I had the MOST amazingly inconsiderate client call. 4:20AM. Two calls (with messages) to my business line at my office. One call (with a long, rambling message) to my HOUSE PHONE (how this nitwit got that is anyone's guess, I surely did NOT give it to her!) also at 4:20AM. Then two MORE calls; one at my home office phone (please note NOT my house phone), the other at my regular office, at 9:28AM. All this morning. Believe it or not they were thank you calls for sending her some info on whatever... with a notation that she waited until after 10/15 so I wouldn't be so busy (yeah; four and a half hours after). Then she called AGAIN at 11:15AM and this time I took the call. Told her I was very glad that the information was helpful, but that calls at 4:20AM are not now and will NEVER be acceptable, to ANY of my phone lines but most especially to the house line. That she woke up the whole family and if it happens again, she will NOT be a client of mine from that point forward. Her lame excuse? "I thought it was 4:30PM." Yeah; right. If she is that crazy she belongs in an institution.

Judy -- hope your dog is better very soon!

Go see your granddaughter. All the latecomers can bloody well WAIT -- after all, they have been making YOU wait for months! As for your own return; send it on paper and file all the "someone used my ssn" paperwork AFTER you cuddle that baby. Consider it an order, so clients who fuss can be told, "Sorry, I am required to be elsewhere."

I had a nasty week but today wasn't nearly as bad as I had feared yesterday. Got the last tidbits from the four that I had not yet written off as "fugedit; they're not filing 'til next week" and had everyone done by 6PM at which point I went home. Several folks from whom I have nothing yet (and like rfassett I could have told you who those would be last January). Couple more with complex returns where I am either missing crucial pieces and/or need to go through with a fine-toothed comb which was NOT going to happen today. Ours got filed last week, finally. Have to keep reminding my self that I am NOT my clients' mommy and cannot MAKE them send me stuff; and that I cannot allow myself to care more than they do (but I can be fussier about accuracy). But I do intend next year to be MUCH more strict about sending out those "what is missing" emails sooner. Will train my assistant to do some triage while he is scanning documents.

You all basically went through everything I was thinking of -- but I had thought myself into confused circles. Basis, not deductible but depreciable after placed in service - unless there is some small non-acquisition amount that could be considered a current year expense. Fortunately the paperwork from Dubai is in English. Am leaving pawing through those for last...

This one is a doozy, and this client's taxes will probably be filed late as there are too many complications with this and other issues to have it all properly done by Thursday. Client is buying two condos for the purpose of renting them out. However. (1) They are not yet built (but are being built), (2) they are in Dubai, and (3) since he is not a citizen of Dubai he can't get a mortgage, so (4) he is paying in cash, in chunks, as milestones are reached. How on God's green earth do I treat these acquisition costs for US tax purposes? Are any of them even worth considering until the units are completed? As far as I can tell, none of them are start up costs, as they aren't for market research or utilities or advertising or any of the standard categories. (Will have to look at insurance; it's possible he is carrying some but the construction company's coverage likely covers in-process construction.) Eep. Any/all help greatly appreciated!

If you like Gail's idea, look for a used copy on Amazon or Abebooks - you can get used textbooks for way under list from either of those. Plus the big thing with S-corps is dealing with shareholder issues (basis, loans, etc) and those don't change year to year. So buy a prior-year version even cheaper to learn the AAA/OAA-basis-loans-benefits parts.

There sure is *something* not playing nicely with your ATX software. It might be the software playing not-nicely with itself (with apologies for the rude allusion).

Not from Ohio but I am from the northeast. It's too early to worry about lake effect snow. Lake effect rain, perhaps. The extended forecast for next week in Cleveland shows highs in the 50's and 60's and lows from about 40 to mid-50's. Mid-winter weather for you... mild fall for us. Wool sportcoat should do you well, perhaps with a sweater to put under it if you go out in the evening. I'll wave from Massachusetts - wave back! (I know, we won't be able to see each other, but still.)

Thanks, will try that.

Folks have a rental property in Hawaii (must be tough, huh?) that was purchased for that purpose. First time ever, in 2014, they used the place themselves for a month. So of course personal use versus rental use apportion expenses, claim all income, etc. Depreciation on the 87% business use is NOT showing up on Sch E, and I expect it to. Before I call Drake tech support, wanted to make sure I have not forgotten/overlooked some special depreciation treatment with mixed-use rental properties.

Yes, it does have the Code P. OK; will leave it off of 2014, just amend the 2013, and see if there are any letters. Thank you!

This is messing up the 2014 for these folks. Contribution was made to Roth IRA in 2013. Over the income limit, which we found in March of 2014. Requested and received excess contribution plus earnings back in 2014. OK so far. So they get a 1099-R showing the return of the excess. Form is for 2014, even though it is considered a 2013 income item. I will need to amend the 2013 showing the earnings as they are considered earned in that year. Got that. How do I treat the 2014 return? I have a 1099-R for 2014 that belongs to 2013 income. Leave it off and wait for a mis-match letter to explain? Append a PDF to the return stating that the amount is properly reported on a 2013 amended return and so was backed off on the 2014 return (and hope someone bothers to read it)? Enter it and back off the extra income on Line 21 because it will be reported on the 2013 amended (with or without that pdf attachment)? Other? Advice greatly appreciated.

I also prefer using a calendar year if at all possible. However, if it's likely things will wrap up in less than a year, sometimes fiscal works best. In your instance, fiscal vs calendar is only offset by a month so unless there are very unusual circumstances, go for the calendar year.

Margaret -- same thing happens to me ALL the time. I am search engine impaired; no matter what term I use, it is the wrong term. This also applies to every term I can think of to search for. This explains a LOT of my posts here and to other tax forums.

Another answer for #5 is this: Clocky, the run-away alarm clock

That is pretty much what I thought. But they were pushing and I did not have a cite handy myself. There are certainly expenses that will be considered part of final medical expenses that they are paying and will be reimbursed for; those we have already discussed. There are other fees that will become fiduciary fees once she passes that the executor is anticipating. Thanks.

Hi folks -- I was asked a question by one member of a family: are travel expenses to deal with issues surrounding the final illness of a loved one estate expenses? Three brothers are taking turns leaving their lives for a couple weeks at a time to travel to advocate for dying parent (the other parent died some years ago). There are hospital/hospice meetings to attend/coordinate, and TONS of in-person care to administer as there has been trouble finding a private-duty nurse to hire, and lots more. It's not like they are making a final trip out to say goodbye; they are each working full-time care-taking plus full-time administering plus full-time coordinating. It sounds utterly exhausting. Frankly I don't know what to tell them. If they had found a private duty nurse, those costs would be final medical costs. If they hired an accountant to deal with the hours of sorting papers, finding checks that need depositing, paying bills, pitching charity solicitations, those costs would be fiduciary costs. They aren't asking to be paid for their time or lost wages but rather reimbursed for the expenses of travel back and forth. Yes, there is money to pay for those travel costs without draining the bank account. Opinions? Advice? Publications to reference? (I have looked but found nothing to the point which simply means the info is hiding until I admit defeat and ask for help. I half-expect the answers to jump out of the screen at me as soon as I hit "post" on this topic.) Thanks.

You need to get the 1099-A and the 1099-C before you can start. The bank acquired the timeshare for $45K. With a FMV of $50K they don't have a loss assuming they sell for FMV. Cancellation of the debt can lag, sometimes for years. Much better for the client if both are in the same year but you can't rush the bank. I have a worksheet somewhere and will dredge it up for you -- but you will need the A and the C both at some point.

In NH, just north of here, they have dour seasons too: almost winter, winter, blackflies, and road construction.

Low overnight, here, was 47F. Right now it is utterly glorious; upper 60's/low 70's, breeze, bright sun, dry air. Leaves are starting to turn. I still have hopes that my late beans give me a crop before frost. And I am stuck inside battling recalcitrant balance sheets instead of out for a long ride on my bike. I think I need to pout now. Pout. OK; better now.

As Max W said, the key is "unless they are already included." Figuring *that* out will be the trick. #2 sounds suspicious for belonging to his practice rather than to him (depending on structure those could be the same for tax purposes, of course). #3, regardless of the "1099 purposes only" verbiage (which just sounds stupid; what else is a 1099 FOR if not 1099 "purposes" I mean really), is still income unless a duplicate of other reported income. Report all income, if double-counted put in an offset somewhere. Adjustment to gross receipts or, if you have more room for notes there, an "adjustment for double-reported income" expense line.

We all have our favorites. I like TTB and can't find what I want in Quickfinder; some find it the opposite. YMMV. Find one that works for you and your practice, stick with it. When stuck, post to the forum! That is also the magic solution for answers you *know* you have seen but are hiding. As soon as you hit "send" out they pop!