Catherine

Yeah, Lion -- they can only track down $3K in contributions (no conversions). I'm sure most of the rest is - but we can't prove it. Asking these folks to track down paperwork would not end well. They have a new baby (source of her bedrest requirement last year), and he is horrible with keeping paperwork (she does all the bookkeeping for his business). I've already asked and that's when she found info on the $3K. As bad as an additional $250 in penalty is, it's better than the $300 more had she not found the docs from 2005 and 2007. While the medical issues caused the need to withdraw, their expenses didn't go over 10% AGI. She was on bedrest... that "only" costs lost income (and a failed business), not expense.

Taxpayer, age 39, took money out of a Roth IRA as family needed money; about $5500. Partially due to wife's high-risk pregnancy, no way to parse out how much was due to that and how much was due to failing business venture (also related; wife was running the business and could not run a store from bed rest). He can prove contributions of $3,000 (has lost other year-end statements) and meets the 5-year rule; first contribution was no later than 2005. So about $2,500 is subject to taxation for lack of proof BUT I can't find whether or not this is subject to the early withdrawal 10% penalty as well. I'm probably reading it over and again (Tax Book and Pub whatever # it is) and it's just not clicking in my head. Anyone have any other clues for where I can look? Thanks, Catherine

Man oh man oh MAN is that correct, Eric!!!

I agree with Judy -- even if he did not work at A, but was required to *report* there (for who knows what reason) on a daily basis, it *might* work with that accountable plan. But that's not the case here. No deduction. If they pay him for the mileage regardless, then it has to go on his W-2 and be subject to employment taxes (which themselves might be different for clergy, depending on if he has opted out of SocSec). So it's possible it still might be worth it to him - but at the lower income levels that clergy frequently have, check carefully for tax bracket bumping!

The accountant with the letter salad after his name could be correct IF there is an accountable plan. Else I think it's commuting - but could not find a specific cite quickly.

This time on Pythagoras.

LOL!!

Especially numbers 8 and 20. https://www.thedodo.com/24-bunnies-you-wont-believe-ac-652776457.html?utm_source=DodoFBMV

I like the idea - while I love the NT topics, it does make it harder sometimes to find that tax topic you ignored yesterday but is suddenly pertinent after today's phone call. I just got back from a one-week bike trip with Gwen in the NY finger lakes region. Haven't even off-loaded the pics from my camera (just a digital point-n-shoot; no fancy lenses at all) and will share a couple of good photos with people here. That's exactly the sort of thing a non-tax, hidden forum would be perfect for. Also *really* like the private part and post count requirement. And I was glad to hear that folks liked the Fibonacci number videos. There are SO many totally cool things out there to share - that have nothing to do with taxes.

Happy Birthday!!!!

Thanks, KC!

Some folks in our local EA society worked for HRB and they are terrific. However, when I lived in Worcester (around the corner from one office) I saw some young women going in for their "how to prepare returns" classes in the fall -- in their Dunkin Donuts uniforms. They can be great IF you can get a senior person. 'Round here, though, you have to take whoever is free. I've made some good money fixing HRB problems. Like not reporting 1099-MISC income but taking expenses on Sch A, or not reporting rental income (but again, taking expenses on Sch A).

It is really astounding how much pain the edge of a fingernail, pressed into the base of a cuticle, can impart. Just fyi.

When you are done with him, can I have a go? I promise to leave *something* for proper legal prosecution. Mostly. And I won't use anything but my hands, elbows, knees, feet, etc. -- no outside sources of persuasive assistance.

*Always* an important thing to know!

Thanks for that link -- I added it to the info on my web site. Sent out emails to everyone I have an email address for, and had my daughter call all the older folks and the few younger ones with no emails.

I put a note on my web site and will email everyone I have an email address for. The letter will go to the non-email older folks; that was a good idea.

Michael -- There are basically two reasons for life insurance (with reason number two possibly subdivided into parts A and B ). 1. People depend on your earnings for their support. This includes spouse (mortgage and car payments), and children (living expenses 'til self-supporting years, college/other educational costs). Even after kids are out of college, if your spouse can't afford the mortgage payments alone, there is a need for insurance. For this purpose, term is the best bang for your buck. Even if the term you got years ago has run out, chances are you can replace that with a new term (and probably for a shorter term! - the kids will be done with school in way less than 20 years, yes?) for a fraction of the cost of whole life. 2. Estate management. Depending on the size of your estate and cash reserves, this could split to include final expenses. Small estate, low cash --> small whole life for final medical and funeral/cemetery costs. Bigger estate, especially if non-liquid (like a business or farm) --> enough to pay projected estate taxes. In the middle --> some folks use whole life as a means of leaving an inheritance to their kids that they could not otherwise manage to scrape together. (One agent I knew years ago sold lots of WL policies to folks who wanted to leave their kids a million dollars but knew they could never save that amount.) So the first thing to think of is WHY you want/need the coverage. That will tell you what kind you need. Then you need to think amount. Assuming living costs -- how much to pay off that mortgage, and send the remaining kids to state (or private) schools? That's what you want to get. Maybe round up a bit for final expenses. If estate planning or leaving an inheritance - that's a whole separate discussion, which should include an estate attorney, a financial planner, and an insurance agent. Don't forget to include consideration of long term care costs - those can kill an otherwise sound plan faster than you can say "Bob's your uncle." Good luck!

Wonderful! That second grandma was pretty good, too!

Ooohh! Smith charts -- my husband wants a bolo tie clip done as a Smith chart. Being a NM native, he figures he rates being able to wear a bolo even here in the east.

I still have the little plastic slide rule I bought in junior high school (now known as "middle school") for fifty cents. It lives in my car, and I use it to calculate my mileage when I feel like being more exact than I can be, quickly, in my head just using percentages. My husband has a nice collection of wooden ones, including a *circular* slide rule. We all know how to use them - although I think both girls are pretty rusty at this point. Most of their peers don't even know what one is, though.

One of my brothers-in-law lives in Phoenix; there, when they get 1" of rain, it means the spacing between the drops that fell!

Definitely talk to an employment law specialist for PA. I have seen businesses go under after these reclassifications. Also note that state rules vary; someone who is an "employee" by Massachusetts standards could well be an independent contractor by federal standards. Nightmares.

Another HUGE issue with tablets is the total lack of privacy. Just about ANY app you want to install wants to track EVERYTHING on that tablet. Contacts. Location by GPS. Emails. Text messages. Phone calls (if it has that capability). Login info for any site you visit with it. EVERYTHING. I bought one for when I teach, to put my presentations on (some places it's too dark to read the notes on my Kindle). I have a couple of came-with-it games (Sudoku, jigsaw puzzles). NO contacts, or anything else computer-useful, because I have yet to find ANY way to install those without signing over my life. Which I will NOT do. If the NSA wants it, they will have to work for it.

Funny and adorable! "If it fits, I sit." http://youtu.be/XDqUz2lG7-s