Catherine

Just fyi -- I signed up for Ruby Receptionists this year, to have a live person answer the phones without it being me. They have been a Godsend, and my clients have commented on "how nice she is" answering the phones. They also have confidential voice mail for those leaving sensitive information. If anyone here is interested, they can investigate at https://pearl.callruby.com/Referred.aspx?r=4M43QV NOT shilling for them -- but especially with all the ATX problems this year I would have been even more overwhelmed without Ruby to answer my phones. Catherine

This is yet another example of why I try to have all my extensions filed by 4/10. The LAST thing I want to be doing on 4/16 and 4/17 is re-submitting extensions that bounced, hiccuped, got eaten by the IRS servers, never went through because the servers were down... I'll chase all that before the 15th. Not after!

Dilbert; with a tip of the hat to one of my tax clients, who sent it to me today. http://www.dilbert.com/dyn/str_strip/000000000/00000000/0000000/100000/80000/0000/900/180959/180959.strip.gif

I would LOVE to stay with ATX next year. I am very used to the program, and the workflow operates the same way I worked back when I still did returns on paper. It's a great match for me. That said, I will NOT renew early. Saving a paltry $100 - $150 and letting them hold my money for a year was barely worth it at all. After this year's debacle, I do not put it past CCH to take my money, NOT provide ATX next year, and use the fact that they have my money to try to push me into TaxWise or something else next year. Instead, I am going to take some time this summer and re-do all my returns in Drake (and re-do the ones I've done in Drake for reason A, B, C, X, Y, Z... in ATX). That way I will be prepared to hit the ground running next season no matter what happens with the software.

What I have told clients who cannot pay now but who will be able to in short order (1-3 months) is to send int eh e-file with the "paper check by mail" payment checked, and send in the coupon along with whatever they _can_ pay - even if it's just $50. They'll get back a letter saying you still owe $XXX plus $X interest. If they can pay off in a couple of those iterations, go for it. I have never had a client report problems with this method. Anything longer than about 3 months and I recommend an installment agreement.

Think I'm stuck with AGI. Seems more than slightly unfair, to base tax due NOT on taxable income but rather AGI. Of course, no one (in their right mind) ever accused the IRS or tax law of being fair. Thanks. Repeal the 16th!!

Don't forget, Margaret, that I am also telling MYSELF to do this. It is SO easy to push ourselves too hard because we want to help people!! But I need to be better at limits and one thing I do is put everyone on extension after 4/8 -- that way whoever is done, no pressure to get filed; whoever is not done, no pressure to get filed. Tomorrow afternoon I contact the stragglers and TELL them they're going on extension; please give me payment info.

bump -- still need help please!

Lion -- wants them before the 15th, NOT "needs" them. File an extension and deal with it in May! If he really "needs" them before the 15th, tell him to postpone his vacation. That'll show you where his true priorities lie. Right about now I get pretty darned cranky with all the folks who have owed me info for weeks and weeks suddenly showing up with it and wanting to know "how long until?" NO. I refuse to make a total wreck of myself simply because a month ago YOU decided that sleeping late, going to the movies, or going away for the weekend was more important than pulling together the expense information on your stupid (insert whatever I was waiting for info on - rental condo, refi paperwork, stock basis...).

We had Wisconsin Gruyere on rosemary crackers with red grapes as a snack today. Heaven! My favorite cheese depends on the season, my mood, and what else is around. Sharp cheddar - yum. Muenster fried between two pieces of hand-made pasta dough rolled thin (Italian "grilled" cheese sandwich) -- incredible (and a boatload of work). Gruyere on crackers or melted -- like in fondue; ah! Parmesan and/or Romano on fresh pasta; who needs sauce? You expect me to DECIDE?!?!

Report total as on 1099-MISC, back it off on "other expenses" area, and attach a disclosure statement explaining what you did and why.

When I bought a new file cabinet for my office, I did NOT apportion it. Flooring for that one space -- I would call it 100% business.

Hi Kerry -- Great to hear from you -- congratulations on the TWO little girls. They grow up SO fast so enjoy! My toddler will be 23 in June and my newborn just turned 20 last month. I still half-expect to hugs at the kneecap level; instead they're both taller than I am. Those who know me in person know that's not so much... but still!

Error M.0074: illegal freeberbag in rozerbock.

Client has one of these with an accepted OIC. There is a Form 3439 (from 1991!!) that is required to be sent in annually. I need some advice in figuring out how to fill out a couple of the lines on the form The form itself asks for "Total income (adjusted gross income)" which itself includes adjustments, but the letter instructions talk about taxable income. Well, those are two different numbers -- one is before deductions and exemptions, the other is after. I talked to the IRS twice yesterday about this. First time I got a very nice man who must be quota hire for the developmentally disabled -- he tried real hard but could not complete a coherent sentence. Second lady did not understand what I was asking so after several attempts I thanked her and hung up. Yes I called the number on the letter -- that was one. Practitioner Priority Service was the other attempt. Has anyone here done one of these and can help me figure which income figure (AGI or taxable) I am supposed to use? Difference to the client is substantial and of course if he over-pays the IRS will take the $$ and run. TIA, Catherine

And send in the change of address form (8822?) asap so if/when the check comes back they know where to re-send it.

Yes, I let some clients do that as well. Every year there are one or two people who keep forgetting but eventually do send a check - usually with profuse apologies! And there are some whom I can be sure will forget their checkbooks; those checks usually arrive within a day or two. I have PayPal on my web site for those who wish to use a credit card; same set-percentage fee deal and the client does not have to have their own PayPal account and I never see their credit card info.

I also like the data import -- they have added the F/S/J, transaction type, and 8949 codes that we used to have to enter one-by-one from drop -down menus even after importing the rest of the data (that was _such_ a pain). Now we have to work on brokerage house export files. I had one with 135 transactions, Quick double-check before import and I found two errors. And hour and a half later of carefully cross-checking EVERY field in the bleeping thing I found four more errors. All were material - name, date, or basis mis-matches on a half dozen transactions, any of which would have resulted in a letter. Have to charge the client for the time (they're going to be thrilled - not) but we know it's right, now.

Just beware with Square! I've heard some horror stories of money getting held up for months at a time -- and they have NO customer service phone number.

I thought "red" errors prevented e-files from being created...

Client gets royalties from a publisher in the UK who actually sends a US 1099-MISC. However, the return address is in the UK. I am getting a "red" error about state and zip code not being correct, or missing, or too many characters, whatever (depending on the dodge I try). There has been, in the past, the trick of putting a period (.) in the state filed and that told the program to chill; foreign address here. That does NOT work this year. I cannot find ANYTHING in the help files about foreign addresses. Anyone here know this year's dodge? (We're using -- or at least feeling like -- this little emoticon a lot this year, aren't we?) TIA, Catherine

Actually, the legal fees WERE to ensure the IRAs were not hijacked by intentionally-cut-off heirs -- so one could make the argument they were for acquisition of taxable income. Yes, they were itemized. They were substantial, too. Hence my wanting to double-check with folks here.

Reconfirmed the investment fees are NOT deductible as they are paid from within the IRA. But the legal fees... TTB just says "for production of taxable income" which this IRA definitely IS. But then there are references to business and lawsuits for injury... So I'm still confused on that one.

Nope; all the bank cares about is if the account number is live. And the bank in question is only identified by the routing number so they don't even know if they are the right bank.

Client inherited big honking IRA from former spouse. Has substantial legal fees from wrangling with other heirs, and substantial investment advisory fees in the inherited IRA. My assumption here is that neither is deductible -- the legal fees because it is personal and not for production of income despite the fact that the RMD produces income; and the investment fees because they are within the IRA rather than paid separately. However, I've had a nasty enough day that I don't trust my head today (headache; just enough that my brain feels fogged in and not thinking right). Looking for confirmation or refutation... TIA, Catherine