Catherine

'Cuz you're just ten times as special??

Well, I get off easy -- I can answer all kinds of annoying software/procedural stuff, and then I get answers to all my tough questions in return! So I love you right back. (Marilyn -- you, too. And everyone on this board. I am an equal-opportunity appreciator! ) Catherine

Click on the e-file and get the boxes to choose what returns to e-file. Select Federal and then one state gets to piggyback and the other is sent standalone. Unless both states require standalones. What you can't do is piggyback two states. Catherine

Want to _really_ make them complain PLUS start some neurons firing about how much tax they (we) all actually pay, after you show them Line 72 (amount overpaid), point out to them Line 61 (total tax) and show them how much is being _kept_. At least then maybe they'll complain to their congresscritter (and vote in someone new 2 years from now). If enough of us do that.... Catherine

It's basically a "warranty" in case the program screwed anything up. If _you_ messed up, it would be your E&O insurance on the hook. And the returns most likely to want sucha product (those with schedules C, E, and F) are not eligible. I put the existence of such a thing in my "welcome to tax season" letter, but have not so much as mentioned it in passing in person. Catherine

No statement to explain why there is no extra $10K of income?

But the 10% penalty wasn't due in 2007 -- the client had until March of '08 to find a house before the early withdrawal penalty kicked in on this last portion. Therefore, it's a penalty due in 2008. Catherine

Client took mucho money out of IRA in late 2007 for first home purchase. No, she did NOT check with me first. She paid the early withdrawal penalty on all but $10K with her 2007 taxes, and paid income tax on the total. She ended up NOT finding a house within the time limits (which expired in first quarter 2008). So now she owes penalty on the $10,000 as well. But it was all on the 1099-R for 2007. Any better way to handle this in ATX besides putting the penalty amount on Line 1 of the 5329 and then adding a statement explaining why this amount is not included in income? Thanks. Catherine

I do, too, as I am looking at one of those myself this year. And it's been long enough since I've done one that I've been dreading it. Catherine

That's what I was thinking. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything. Thanks! Catherine

Client moved to CA in '08. Lost a job here, had one lined up there. Got out there, offer was rescinded before he could start. Stayed out there several months, trying to find work, and then moved back here. Are _any_ of the moving expenses deductible? I could possibly make a case for the first move.... Thoughts? Catherine

Years ago, there was a place in Dorchester, Mass, that was a combination coffee/donut shop and police equipment supply house. Talk about knowing your clientele!! Catherine

He does, doesn't he?!?!?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T6df9m6dZM The boy dancing is Jeremy, a good friend to both my girls. He's a senior at Lexington High this year and I never knew he was into improvisational dance! Catherine

A shaped charge may be tempting, but is unlikely to work the way you want it to. Catherine

We had to-the-house milk delivery in Worcester until we moved here about 6 years ago. Local dairy (still runs an ice cream stand in the summer), milk, juice, eggs, homemade chicken pies (frozen), ice cream. I miss them.

I am older than dirt, too, but just barely; I remembered 16. But that sprinkler top -- not only did I remember it -- I still HAVE one! My grandmother's. And yes, I use it. But not during tax season; who has time to iron? I'm lucky some days that I have time to get dressed! Catherine

I have always printed straight to pdf for my electronic copies of client's forms. I look over the pdf file, and then print from that. Perhaps that might speed up the actual printing for you? Since it's not doing conversions while sending instructions? Catherine

Now if they can just get Geittner to resign.....

http://www.hhduo.dk/ http://www.myspace.com/haugaardhoirup

Massachusetts has been having a huge crackdown on businesses calling employees contractors _and_ their rules are significantly stricter than the Federal rules, so as far as the state goes, she'll win hands down. That's what I was referring to. As for the Federal, I've been through the checklist, and she was clearly an employee. Client worked in retail store. Boss set hourly wages, hours to be worked each week, how work was to be done, how staff was to dress, all equipment/supplies were provided by store owner, no sales commissions were paid -- it was pretty cut-and-dried. Which was why I urged her back in '06 to file the SS-8. Catherine

Modest Mouse? Never heard of them. How about Haugaard & Hoirup? Ever heard their work? Catherine

THANK YOU, jainen. I went all through the 4XXX-series forms listing and missed it. Massachusetts is actually _much_ stricter than the Feds on the employee/contractor rules, so she'll win hands-down. But she still wants the overpaid OASDI back. And I have the notes etc for form SS-8 still in her folder from '06. Three cheers for electronic storage! Catherine

Friend of mine had his whole company shut down for a week a couple years ago for that. Someone used a group microscope.... spread like wildfire. They instituted new protocols with alcohol wipes beside every common 'scope once they re-opened. Lucky me; back in the day, my specialty was _electron_ microscopes; no eyepieces! Catherine

"Here's the new boss, the same as the old boss" -the Who, many moons ago