Catherine

From the Rollover Manager, click on the "Type" heading and it will give you all your 1120's and 1120-S's in a row. And using the Rollover, you'll be sure to get everyone from last year's list.

I always try all of them before settling on one. Make sure the ed credits form is loaded -- it does not auto-load this year. Sometimes I've skipped the Hope entirely because another method works better. This year the AOC is working nicely for a lot of folks -- it has a refundable credit portion.

We start Daylight Savings Time tomorrow, folks. So we'll all be an hour short on sleep. Watch out on the roads this week! Traffic accidents have a roughly one-week spike -- too many people short of sleep, not awake, and rushing because they're late.

I should probably check with the attorney and see how detailed she's going to get. I referred the widow to her, so she should at least be able to tell me that much. And this route has the additional advantage of putting off finishing up until Monday at the earliest. Thanks!

Mass. also mandates e-file of business returns, with a $100 fine (in specific cases) if you don't. Grrr.

Great; thanks.

Same elderly widow as my earlier post. Can she sign the e-file authorizations for both of them for the joint 1040? Or does this return now need to be paper-filed? Thanks! Catherine

Why are fire engines red? Because one plus one makes two, and three plus three makes six. Six plus six is twelve. Twelve inches is a ruler. Queen Elizabeth is a ruler. And Queen Elizabeth is a ship. Ships sail the ocean. Fish swim in the ocean. Fish have fins. The Finns fought the Russians. The Russians are red. So, fire engines are red because they're always rushin'!

I always try to file extensions a week early so there's time to correct any problems and/or file on paper. Every year they say it will be fine this year. And every year there is some sort of server bog-down or ack's delay. (Goes for individuals as well as corporations -- all my outstanding 1040's get extended by 4/10.) If there's no acks today, by all means have a paper 7004 ready for dropping at the PO on Monday.

One of my elderly clients died in early December and I'm wondering how to work the final joint return/final 1040. Every penny they had was in savings accounts at various banks. Everything went to the widow, but re-titling wasn't done until late in the year or even early January. (The attorney and her nephew have been helping her with this, and the attorney will handle any estate return necessary). He handled all their money, and this year coming up is going to be very hard for her -- she's going to need to learn to handle her finances, at 90, and remember to make estimated payments, etc. All the 1099-INT's have the full year of interest for him. I was wondering if just peeling off 1/12 the annual interest from his 1099-INT's (adjustment to box 1 as nominee) and using that for his final short-year 1040 would suffice. I really don't see any other way to do this without an extension, and then POA's from her to get details from banks -- all very stressful for her -- for no difference in tax. Thoughts? Opinions? TIA, Catherine

Absolutely adorable puppy!! I hope you all have many wonderful, playful years together.

That's excellent; they didn't used to include it. Every year CCH pushes me a little closer to jumping to Drake.

It's not in Boise, but if you're trekking all the way to Idaho, the "Trail fo the Coeur D'Alenes" is astoundingly beautiful. It is a hiking/biking path that starts in Plummer and goes all the way to Kellogg -- fifty miles of rail-to-trail (and then on to Mullan at the MT border). Link to trail info There's good info if you Google it, as well, and you can follow the trail on Google Earth too. Coeur D'Alene itself, right on the lake, is also a fun and friendly town. There's a motel called the "Flamingo Motel" where all the rooms have different themes -- Route 66, Wild West, Golf, etc. I went through there last summer on my bike trip and fell in love with the area. Catherine

Not only that, but if you have a toothache, hold a clove over that tooth (between your teeth, silly) and it will numb right out.

Former boss because that company closed 20+ years ago. We still send Christmas cards every year. One of the best folks I ever worked for. But also one of those insufferable people who only need 4 - 5 hours of sleep a day for peak performance. Ugh.

I have a number of people who have pursued advanced degrees (mainly in the sciences) where the tuition they paid was repaid to them in their W-2 and taxed. The guidance from the employer was that the expenses were deductible on Schedule A (subject to 2% limitation). The degrees make them better at their jobs but don't qualify for new jobs. Folks at this place have been doing it this way for many years. So I've kept up the practice as these folks come my way. And there are dozens and dozens of folks every year at this same place and I only get two or three of them.

As I said to a former boss years ago, "You can have bright, or you can have early. But they do NOT come as a set."

If I have to switch, it will be to Drake. I make a point of going to the Drake update seminar every year and they do make improvements I like every year. It's still not as intuitive as ATX and the data-entry-sheet format is definitely NOT my preference. OTOH, the ATX print function is a hopeless kluge that needs a re-design from the bottom up. It would be great to be able to set my OWN default print set - those checkboxes drive me nuts. There are forms I use every year that Drake doesn't have, and I'd have to get another product for W-2's and 1099's -- so that cost has to be figured in to the equation, as well as the transition burbles. ATX dropping asset history sure makes a transition less terrifying, though. But as far as the TTO product goes -- I have used NONE of the "extra" features -- so I'd stick with MAX as long as the price is reasonable. I figure this year I just got a good discount. But I wouldn't deal with TRX again.

I got a call offering TRX something locked in for $299. i think it's the Red Gear product. Told 'em to call after 4/15 -- didn't even want to take the time to listen right now.

I used the Gleim materials as well and they did a good job for me. Mine also are too old to be useful, though! In fact, I think I finally got rid of them last year.

Best price I got when I shopped several years ago was from Target Insurance Services (division of The Hartford). It is through the American Tax Preparers Program but I didn't have to join ATP. The price has barely budged in all the years I've had them. 888-888-1613 is the number for Maggie Kores, who coordinates the ATP program. Can't hurt to get a quote.

I had someone call this morning with a question that one of those calculators was perfect for -- one I don't have on my web site. Thank you!

Very cute!! You would really have enjoyed my daughter's face when I read it to her.

Hope you have a VERY

Hope you have a VERY