Catherine

I've seen plenty of Bursar's Offices do things that, if done by a for-profit business, would be malfeasance at least and fraud very likely. Don't trust any of 'em as far as I can spit.

It's all basically the fault of the laser printer (and maybe inkjets). Those made it possible to print in 6 point or 4 point fonts without a total blur. So of course they are used for exactly that. One really excellent side-effect of being as nearsighted as I am is that, if I take my glasses *off*, it's like having built-in magnifying glasses. Hold the paper four inches from my face and I can decipher anything. Or put my nose near the monitor surface. As long as it's reasonably non-blurry, I can read it. And yes, I look like a total ninny sticking my face up to the monitor.

There's an app called CamScanner that turns a phone picture into a clear pdf. I recommend it highly, to all those clients who simply *must* use their &^%$# phone on documents. Heck, I've used it myself on occasion, and have been very pleased with the quality.

To go back to the original question. IF you have signed e-file authorizations, you can't hold them longer than three days. END of story; it's stockpiling. However, if you don't have signed auths, you cannot e-file. Problem solved; don't get the signed forms until the client wants them sent in. When I get auths by mail (or file portal) that are dated days earlier than I get them, I always write "rec'd x/x/xx" in ink across the top. I can't stop a client from signing a form and not bother to return it for a week or two, but I don't want any question of me stockpiling.

Try during working hours. If that still doesn't work, the problem may be a "common name." I had one of these and finally got through to someone at the IRS about the issue. When the name is "too common" (John Smith, Robert Jones, Mary Brown) the computers won't issue an EIN online. They recommended we mail in the SS-4 and wait months for the EIN. So I tried a different dodge (with the executor's permission - they really needed that EIN to get a bank account going, as there were bills needing payment asap). I mis-spelled the name. Instead of "John Smith Estate" I applied for an EIN for "John Smirth Estate" and it sailed right through. Easy typo to explain, too. Weird times can make for weird solutions.

It does go on Sch C. These are for trailing commissions, that are received for several years after a sale is made (how long depends on what was sold and the terms of the sale). They'll stop in another year or three. Not sure that SEHI is kosher here, but the IRA is, as this is earned income. It's just that it was earned years ago and is only paid out if the purchaser keeps/renews the product (insurance or annuity).

I've only used the 8880 when a credit applies. I'd call support on this one.

No calculator. LOTS of erasers. Penalized for addition/subtraction/other math mistakes. It would keep them too busy to cause other trouble, which makes it even better!

I've gotten spoofed calls from myself, too (landline, not cell, though). Finally got this resolved (thanks, Judy!) to some degree. All is well, but computers spit out the emails and the reps have NO way to stop them. But their records are correct (as are mine) so I can ignore them without concern.

Extensions are my very good friend. Keeps me from going totally ballistic between now and 4/15.

Seems to be a totally reasonable expenditure on squeaky balls to me, considering this professional's other characteristics!

That's why I do not click any links, but log in to my account directly. However, the email address it's coming from is the same one that notified me of my 1099 availability, and that sends me my report notifications.

Yes I did look at how they have the name listed and that's OK too.

Anyone have contact info fro Square? I have gotten several messages from them that my TIN doesn't match IRS records. I logged in to my account (separately, NOT following the link) and the TIN is correct - the one I've been using for almost 25 years. I sent them a message through the online help, but never got a response. However the messages keep coming. It seems to legitimately be from Square (except I'm not clicking their links even to try thank you very much) so they're not paying attention to their own help center messages. Clues for me? Or just ignore it since the info on my acct is correct?

That was what I assumed you meant. Forward the link to the client, and have them report back what they found.

It could be! I had a client who had a side business truck that was indeed 100% for business. It guzzled gasoline like a fish, but was perfect for hauling large loads of supplies or heavy equipment to a job site without destroying his car's suspension. The guy never used it if there was any other way to bring the required items; he claimed you could watch the gas gauge go down while idling at a stop light.

Make sure she hasn't filed to be treated as an S-Corporation. If not, then she can use Sch C for the full year. Else, Sch C short year until she got the LLC, and a short year 1120-S for the corporate portion. Watch for state forms and annual reports specific to LLCs, too.

Everything is tied to the SSN and the first FOUR letters of the surname. So chop it after the first four letters wherever it makes the most sense. Then e-file.

If you just want this to go away, while making sure the IRS has the right bank info, here's what I'd have the client do. 1. Make a $1 estimated payment using Direct Pay. 2. File a 1040-SR and claim that $1 refund with direct deposit. 3. Change the official account with the SSA, too, before the bank stops doing the "courtesy" of forwarding the funds to the right account. It will be over faster, and hurt FAR less, than being on "ignore" with the IRS for hours on end (with that gawdawful muzak in your ear) only to be told to do something similar.

Facts and circumstances. There are a lot of people who sell this stuff to get their own supplies at the discounted "wholesale" price. Then they sell some to friends and family, and once they take expenses into account, it's a loss for the year. There are a lot of people who go into it with a profit motive and take a few years to learn why everyone decries MLM schemes, and then give up as having had an expensive lesson. If she treats it as a hobby, then yes Sch C, back it out, then put the income on "the line formerly known as Line 21." Then she pays ordinary income tax on hobby income, because the expenses indeed go on Sch A except they don't usually have any effect with the new, higher, standard deduction. If she thinks it's a business that will at some point earn her a profit, then put it on Sch C and take the expenses and losses - and be prepared to demonstrate profit motive if the losses continue. I have one business client that has losses every year, and has been audited for that. I successfully defended the position - the statute says there must be a profit motive, and actions taken towards becoming profitable. The statute does not state the person needs to be competent! My client has a definite profit motive, and is merely incompetent at running a business. The agent I dealt with accepted my proofs, and accepted the "incompetence" defense with a bit of chagrin - but he accepted it. The years have borne it out; every year his overall losses are lower and I expected that 2020 would (finally!) show a profit, before the world went mad.

"When in danger, or in doubt, run in circles, scream, and shout!" Is that what you mean? At least it makes the others in your office leave you alone for a while.

Note the use of the conditional... just sayin'.

Business returns have been open for a while, so the pent-up onslaught issue doesn't apply. As I state before, I'll hold off. Just a day. It's not worth my worrying about problems at/with the IRS e-file system; I have easier ways to hurt myself.

I'm holding off. Among other reasons, I expect IRS server problems the first day and don't want clients to be in limbo, not knowing if their returns went through un-corrupted.

Many states have specific guidelines for those UI fraud issues - so be sure to look those up for your state, too.