Catherine

We're actually seeing more returns that do better with MFS. Younger couples with student loans, where the loan repayment amount is calculated on income, for one. Filing separately the couple has a much lower annual payment required than when they file jointly. (Yes, then they'll re-pay for longer - they can always pre-pay, and for a lot of these younger couples, cash flow is the driving force.) Older couples with medical expenses higher for one person sometimes do better MFS. Luckily with Drake it really is a click of a button (and some care, later, to make sure you are opening the right returns) to split them and get a comparison - although it's not perfect, as some of the little credits, like retirement savings credit, don't calculate properly on the one-click first pass.

Other income, not subject to self-employment tax. They don't take oddball drugs on a regular basis hoping to make a cash profit!

I was rushing and mis-spoke. I meant the same way as in by email, rather than, say, calling, or texting, or snail mail. Not by sending another group email with the same non-hidden cc's!

If you are really concerned (and the church folks don't know - by referral or other means - about the other members being clients) you could send out another email the same way, apologizing for accidentally sending a test email to a church list. That way it looks like you were trying to figure something out, using a "safe" list, and that no one else on the list is actually a client at all.

I'd pick the second way, myself. Yes, the IRS might reject something but that's always a possibility and a lot of time "rejections" are simply requests for more documentation. The way I address such issues is to send as much documentation as I can with the amended return, and include a letter or 8275 (is that the right number - taxpayer disclosure stmt form) that gives them enough information to be sure that (1) the end-effect of all the changes is CORRECT in terms of tax, (2) there are a lot more documents that could be submitted to support the return as-submitted, leading to (3) just accept this as-is 'cuz it's right and it's a LOT more work for YOU (IRS) if you don't. They're overworked; if they have a legitimate way to agree and CLOSE the issue, they'll frequently accept it.

I'll be right over!

Europeandeli dot com; it's in the post, above the picture. We buy them by the *case* - a case of six boxes lasts us a couple of months. There are also chocolate covered cherries, assortments, and milk chocolate. Direct link, for those who will click: https://europeandeli.com/products/asbach-squares-in-large-gift-box?_pos=4&_sid=a61037d45&_ss=r

I don't know the answer to your question (I use Drake) but the piece I've seen that is new this year is that entity payments can be made online at the state web site. No direct debits with tax returns, for entities, yet.

try these: Asbach luscious dark chocolate filled with brandy. Europeandeli dot com

In Drake Options, you can make the data entry field bigger. In the view/print mode, you can choose "fit width" that really increases the size of the form on-screen. Hope this helps.

Was the family ALSO on the mission trip - or hanging out vacationing? If they were doing mission work, their expenses would count.

I had to re-print and re-mail two 1099s. Sent out messages in November and December requesting address changes. So - of course! - I got two the day before yesterday. Printed them yesterday and out they went in today's mail. The W2 that needed re-printing and re-mailing was over a week ago; only one this year! Everyone else listened to the address update request, bizarrely enough.

I also only have a half-handful of returns that can claim EITC. Very thankful about that!

Rhode Island drivers are worse!

You didn't follow the instructions to sacrifice a goat when the moon is dark? That is always my last-ditch fix for stubborn printer problems.

Good point!

I hope these use the extra time dealing with people whose driving is suspect; re-testing and re-training. Here in MA, I *wish* they'd do something similar (maybe a new picture every ten years; that might make sense). We have far too many people out on the roads who are a danger to everyone around them. There's a reason for the term "Massholes" out there!

I don't know where it's written (as I looked it up years ago) but this is indeed something I look at with every scholarship and even with 529 distributions. Instead of taking the 529 tax-free you can choose to claim the *gain* as income (no penalty, if still used for college expenses). The basis certainly isn't income; there was no tax benefit when putting it in to a plan. Then those college expenses become eligible for credits and deductions (AOC, LLC, T&F) as appropriate. I run them all three ways; every now and then I get a surprise and one scenario that I didn't think would work out actually works better, for whatever reason. The tax code has some intricate and surprising interactions, once the entire family picture is put together.

I know many of y'all use ATX, but Drake has a transaction confirmation page that lists the refunds, the bank name, with routing and account numbers. I get a signed copy of those every year from every dirdep client. Then yes, any errors are on them.

The IRS does NOT check who the bank account owner is; if it's a valid account, in it goes. And there is no recourse if it goes to the wrong place. DON'T do it; if the other person gives a wrong digit, the money could well be lost forever. Write 'em a check, send a wire transfer, send 'em Western Union, buy 'em a gift card. Just don't do this. Really.

No problems with Chrome, Firefox, or Dissenter, here.

Warning: Signature Flow support is ENDING as of June 30, 2020. They are instead pushing their secure send product - which ONLY works with Outlook. I am most seriously ticked off about this.

Sometimes the best you can do, is the best you can do. I've done the same, myself. Certainly putting in the note about historical data is a good idea, "calculated from all information available as of date of preparation" is another.

I e-filed one last year where the license was expired! Client (older person) had given up on driving and had nothing else. I figured I'd try it - it went through. Still the same person, just not valid for driving.

Easier said than done, sometimes. It's April 14th; client comes in to sign forms. Goes to take out wallet for credit card... left it at home. Promises a check. Gets distracted and forgets. Client lives (or is traveling for work) and e-signatures are needed; get those but not payment. This client also forgets, once home. Just to say that it's a good rule of thumb, but circumstances crop up. No reason to be suspicious when they are good clients who have always paid. Most of them just plain-old forget and are horribly embarrassed once reminded they owe. But yeah, in most circumstances, payment up-front. I've only lost one client because of my insistence on being paid for that year *and* the prior year before releasing new returns. I wasn't sorry to see her go, either.