Catherine

My plan with my new computer (waiting for me to configure it) is to go with Open Office. Free (that's a _real_ nice price). Can open all Office programs, plus can save to Office formats (or be converted to those with free or cheap programs). No Outlook but I don't/won't use that.

Massachusetts. We have all kinds of oddball adjustments and quirks, so it was surprising to find no way to enter an adjustment in the Mass forms. Whatever. They're done and that $11 discrepancy won't make a hill of beans worth of difference anywhere. I just wanted to know both to do this one dollar-perfect and in case I run into a future case where the dollar amount _is_ significant. Hope you are catching up on your sleep!

Chocolate -- my vice and eventual downfall. But not today. And I can stop whenever I want but why on earth would I ever WANT to?!?!

I will ignore; thank you all! (Still bugs me there is no place TO adjust, though.)

I'm still waiting for clients to get information to me!! I will NOT work extra hours or fret, though -- it's not MY lookout and I have my own kids to nag (about other stuff), thank you very much. But I'm freaking tired, too.

I have NO idea what the source of the difference is. This is a prior-year carryforward -- but the prior year return was done by another accountant. It just shows up on the 2010 return as a passive loss, suspended due to lack of passive income to offset it, with $11 as the federal amount and $22 as the state amount. No other information. Sigh.

I have a client with a passive loss carryforward (no passive income to offset). Federal amount is $11; state amount is $22. WHERE do I get ATX to accept an adjustment to the state amount? The jump-to bunny goes to the federal, which I can't change because that figure is correct. All the state pages/worksheets/entry spots are "greyed" out or tell me I'm nor allowed to over-ride. I am stumped and would welcome help. This is so aggravating for a tiny dollar amount difference! TIA, Catherine

KC dear -- my deepest sympathies to you and to your family on your loss. I pray that Don is now in peace -- even joyous in heaven. May you find comfort in our family and friends. We love you -- I love you -- and send prayers, hugs, and love to you and for you. Catherine

Great article, and the comments below are just wonderful! http://www.tor.com/blogs/2012/09/as-you-wish-little-known-facts-about-the-princess-bride-on-its-25th-anniversary?et_cid=29580386&et_rid=526654746&linkid=The+Princess+Bride%26apos%3bs+25th+birthday Have fun stormin' the castle!

I'll chime in with a couple of words about my alma mater, MIT. It's been said that learning at MIT is like drinking from a fire hose, and that is pretty darned accurate. It's super hectic, very intense, and they have the best civilian collegiate shooting teams in the country. I'd never get in these days; I didn't do "enough," get high enough scores, etc. It can be a _fabulous_ place for intense, hard-working, hard-playing kids who know how (and who) to ask for help when (not if!) they get stuck or overwhelmed. Living groups (not dorms) are very distinctive and the right match can make your career there (and the wrong one can make a kid miserable). That said -- if your son is bound and determined on a course of study that requires graduate work, think again about MIT. The school that first job will look at will be the last one -- and MIT discourages undergrads from going to grad school at the 'Tute (more in some areas than others). If he needs grad school, go someplace else, learn like a fiend, then go to MIT for that graduate work. If you (or he) has specific questions about MIT, email/message me separately. My husband may have good info as well; he was there for seven years and got out with four degrees, plus he works with the Pistol Team every week and so has current info on student life.

We love you, KC, and send our hugs electronically and our prayers to the Almighty. Being there is SO important. He will know you are there, that you love him, and that your strength is there for him. Lean on us as much as you need!!!

KC -- God bless you and Don and all your family. Prayers are with you. Hospice people are almost universally wonderful, so you should all be in good hands. ((((hugs))))

Dancer-gymnasts or gymnast-dancers. Just astounding.

Thanks for posting this, KC. I'll take some time to read through various bits on the site when I have a little more time. Looks interesting.

Just got my last corporation through!! Here's hoping the 1040 I'm about to send _also_ goes through.

Just tried again (giving them some time to address issues first thing). Same error. Called and got a recorded message that they are aware of e-file problems and are working on the issue; try again in an hour. I assume they mean try to e-file again in one hour -- after which I will call them again if my corporate return doesn't go through.

Tried to e-file my last corporate return just now; getting Error: The transission can't continue due to a server error. Error: The server returned status 500:Internal Server Error. However, the MyATX E-File center says NOTHING about server errors, computers not being up, or anything. Is it just lucky me? TIA, Catherine

I used to use pdf995 (free or $9.95 per module software suite). But about a year ago I bit the bullet and bought a brand-new, registerable copy of Adobe Acrobat 9 off ebay for very small money. Password protecting, encryption, _editing_ (highlighting, adding text, etc). On top of that, I added a utility named "Tic, Tie, and Calculate" sold by cpaperless and it has been extremely helpful, very easy to use, and also wasn't much money.

Wait -- wasn't that supposed to be ninety-nine frickin' bananas? :P

Janitor Bob -- you will do just FINE. Read questions carefully -- look for those "not" words and make sure you understand what is actually being asked as opposed to what you think, at first glance, is being asked. Go with your gut/first answer. When I did the EA practice tests, EVERY question I went back, re-visited, and changed -- was right the first time.

Cute; thanks!

I am unsure as to the date of the letter from the school and will enquire of my client. Thanks for all opinions!

Yay Joel!!

Hi all -- I have a client who donated goods to a school in late 2010. She _thought_ she was buying supplies for which she was going to receive reimbursement -- but in early 2011 instead received a "thank you for your donation" letter from the school. Do we have to amend 2010 (when the goods were given) -- or claim in 2011, when she learned that she would not be reimbursed? TIA, Catherine

Sounds like there could be some substantial improvements -- plus fixing some long-standing aggravations (that print non-manager!). Add me to the list of those who will never go back to a single monitor as well, and to the list of those who prefer to work with the pdf of the prior-year when at all possible. Pacun -- your recitation of prior-year work woes reminded me that, in target shooting, any silly headed mistake is blamed on the "loose nut behind the trigger." Although the very best excuse I ever heard was from years ago; a man who was one OK-ish shot (8 or better) away from the National Championship clutched and shot a 4. When his friends asked what on earth had happened (he _never_ clutched), he responded, "My arches fell." ^_^