Catherine

Yes, @Pacunbut the partnership records will show it as investment, not income.

Last update from Massachusetts is that they will refrain from taxing the forgiven loans.

I just had a client get a resolution letter (in their favor) from a response sent this past January. But another, who filed an amended return (unexpected & late-received K-1) got a letter "we need more time to address" when the only addressing is processing the 1040X and cashing the check sent (they did cash the check).

Oh Lion, you and your son have much sympathy from me and from all of us here! What others have said is correct; he can have copies of all joint returns, plus partnership returns if he is general partner. Medlin had a great suggestion as to "no further services for either" although it may be hard to tell that to your son. His wife likely expects that you will continue to do returns for him, and may be smug and self-satisfied if she hears (as she will; usually when child support is required it comes with an obligation to provide return copies, and she'll see another preparer's name) and if she's vicious she may try to use that as "I'm right and even your mother agrees since she won't do your returns either." So you may want to discuss this with your son (later; he has other priorities now) and send each a letter stating you will provide no more copies, nor work on returns for either of them, and your only involvement will be with the grandchildren. If she is not vicious, it may be possible in future to go back to doing returns for him. Good luck to your son in finding a really good divorce lawyer. Sounds like he will need one.

I have been that duckling far too many times!

Is apparently now on the list of possible taxpayer actions. Go to The Gateway Pundit directly and search for the article (published today, 8/21) if you don't want to click the link. Gateway Pundit: court rules t/p's can sue the IRS over data collection

Sploosh!

I left some color-coding and non-identifiable details, so you can also get a feel for how it's used during the season. The whole point is to turn it all from bright green (received, untouched) to lavender (complete). @schirallicpa Tax WIP 2021 - blank to share.xlsx

I'll upload a new one (possibly today) - but note that I am still using Excel 2007. Never saw a need to/reason for upgrading past that.

It was uploaded here, years ago. Look for "Tax WIP blank.xls" and if it hides I can re-upload one.

I'd call tech support on that one, because I only ever do one OK return per year.

It's stand-alone, so you should (I don't use ATX anymore).

Thanks, I think.

We use a spreadsheet that I developed years ago. Columns and color-coding (that had to be changed for one partner who is red-green colorblind) and italics and bold and more. Works like a charm for us. Or, did once I got my partners used to actually using it as a tool instead of a novelty they could ignore. I used it for 20+ years before then.

Incidental and basically valueless items such as birthday cards, a cake, and the like, don't count. I tell my clients if the limit is $16,000, not to give more than $15,500 so there is room for a nice birthday or Christmas gift, or sudden repair-the-dishwasher help. And that last $500 could be the Christmas gift.

Back in May an IRS third-party debt collector contacted me for a debt owed by a former client. Well, I got another letter from them. They ignored the response I'd sent back in May, telling them it wasn't me and not to contact me again. They did have it on record that I'd sent them "something" - but the notation was from about a week ago. So right now we know that this particular company certainly got the contract based on criteria other than competence. You may imagine to your own heart's content what that might be. Finally got through to someone vaguely competent on the phone. This was for a partnership return, and the IRS told me over a year ago that my POA on file was no longer valid because the TMP who signed it had died. However, that same IRS told the debt collectors that my POA was valid, and they are required to contact the POA instead of the deadbeat if there is a POA on file. So I had to dredge up the signed POA and fax that in to Memphis with "WITHDRAWN" on it, and hope that Memphis CAF actually processes that withdrawal instead of discarding it as applying to a POA that is invalid. I swear if these people were competent they'd be dangerous. They sure cause enough trouble with their incompetence. But that's where it stands - I have to get the IRS to withdraw my POA that they told me was invalid but told their debt collectors was active. All of this may hinge on someone at the Memphis CAF Unit having a clue. God help me. Hi. I was away for a week and had a lovely time and came back to this *&^$%$ mess. Welcome home?

Hey, if one can fake ethics and honor, the sky's the limit! Most of the "ethics" taught is nonsense and easily gamed for those of a mind to so do. Best I ever sat through was a long conversation (yes, a conversation with two instructors and a room full of 100+ tax pros) on gray areas. How to recognize when "helping a client" slowly pushes you into grayer and grayer areas (client doing this on purpose or by accident). Recognizing hidden places for conflicts of interest. There was nothing cut-and-dried in those two hours, and plenty of disagreement in minutiae, but it was the best and most thought-provoking ethics ever. I still think back to it and those same thought patterns have helped me recognize several gnarly situations and back out before they got too gnarly.

I love starting the SOL. I advise filing any time there is any question. Filing now not only starts the SOL but means it's done when information is relatively fresh in minds. Hate getting IRS letters demanding tax due that isn't actually due, just because proof of same was not filed in a return.

I scan everything, and electrons stack real high before they need more space. My electronic records go back to start of scanning. Paper? I no longer keep paper for anything except 8879-type sig pages (in ONE file folder by tax year and one folder for state pages; scanned as a whole and shredded after three years) and POAs. POAs because so often I need to include copies (or fax them) when dealing with a new agent or issue. No client original docs of any kind stored, except for one of my daughters who doesn't have enough room at her apartment, and at her specific request. With electronic records, I was able to provide copies of adoption papers to a former client who needed them after originals were lost in a move. It did take me a few minutes of digging in the old records to find them.

Doing the same here. Send that proof of payment by mail. One client who made payment (for amended return; unexpected K-1 received late) included check for a couple bucks of post-4/15 interest.

Our tax dollars at play?

Half is better than none? I had a client get a letter with instructions "you can call us at the number on the top right corner of the first page of the letter" - no number there. Or anywhere on the letter. Except for the useless general number. 3 1/2 hours on hold (all told) the client was able to resolve issue after I coached him. (No POA on file for that year.)

Not quite. Rather, it's because the answers actively HIDE until you give up and ask. Then they pop out at you, snickering, as if they had been there the whole time.

He had fun with his toy, that's for sure!

that means you, too, @BulldogTom and @Abby Normal, despite the short jokes.