HV Ken

Good suggestion, Catherine. I avoid all (ok, vast majority, as next to the Print Manager, this is a major problem area) client letter problems by adding it to the return as the very last step in processing.

Thanks KC!

It's been a few years since I had to do one of these - is there anything special that needs to be done? (For example - print the election and attach to an 8453) Or is the election simply checked and sent as part of the e-file - simple and straight forward. Thanks!

Thanks everyone! Appreciate the help!

If I am reading correctly, it seems that KC's and Mike's answers are in conflict with each other ??

How does an individual obtain an ITIN in order for a business to issue them a 1099-MISC ? The ITIN application appears to want to be attached to a 1040 tax return, but before the tax return can be filed, they would need the 1099-MISC, but there is no ITIN in order to provide the 1099-MISC.......... Thanks!

That's what we thought, but the worksheet is applying SE to the entire allowance and not merely the excess. Any idea what we are doing wrong filling in the worksheet?

I have a W-2 for a Pastor. It has Box 1 Wages and in Box 14 it has "MNHSE" and a value, which is the value of his Housing Allowance. I placed this value in Box 14 W-2 under "House Allow" in the W2 input. Pastor pays rent, utilities, expenses, and the total was very close to the allowance. Worksheet 1 W-2 salary goes into 1. Schedule C gross income goes into 2. Value from W2 Box 14 goes into 4a. Expenses go into 4d, 4e; there is a small excess allowance in 4i. On worksheet 4, it seems pastor is getting SE tax on his W-2 income, Sch C profit, and housing allowance. Is this how it is supposed to work? Thanks!

From: [email protected] Subject: Individual Filers - Bogus Refund Scheme Date: Monday, February 23, 2009 8:59:34 AM ATTN: Authorized IRS e-file Providers/EROs Some taxpayers are attempting to obtain refunds based on false withholding credits. The 1099-OID Refund Scheme involves filing any series Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, which includes false withholding credits from Form 1099 OID, Original Issue Discount, or any type of Form 1099, U.S. Information Return. Documents listing the false withholding credit may or may not be attached to the tax return. Characteristics of this refund scheme include a withholding credit is equal to or greater than the (1) interest income and/or (2) other income and/or (3) total income reported on Form 1040. However, returns reporting uncharacteristically high amounts of withholding from any series Form 1099 may be part of this scheme. The scheme also includes Form 1120, U. S. Corporate Income Tax Return, in which the taxpayer reports an amount of backup withholding that is equal to taxable income. Tax returns that contain frivolous information are subject to a $5,000 civil penalty imposed by Internal Revenue Code § 6702(a). For more information on frivolous returns, see Notice2007-30, 2007-14 I.R.B on irs.gov. ---------- This has been an IRS e-file QuickAlert

Taxpayer marries a Canadian 12/2008. New spouse also has a daughter. From what I can gather, in order to file the MFJ return with dependent, both the Canadian's need ITINs. So the only option is to paper file with the W7s? Is it possible to e-file with the ITIN request? Other options? Thanks for any help. TP is long standing client used to large and quick refunds via e-file and direct deposit. Seems this year, he needs to brace for the process to take a little longer.... Any insight from those experienced in this procedure is greatly appreciated! Thanks

Unfortunately, I don't think there is any way to do this. One of the biggest productivity improvement areas for ATX to address is the Print Manager, in my opinion. I submitted the following via the Suggestion Box: Is there a way to change the defaults in the Print Manager? For example, The 8879 shows up by default in the Client Copy and *not* in the Filer Copy. I have to check the Filer Copy and uncheck the Client Copy for every return. It would be nice if we could set up a default "mask" for printing options.

Have you clicked on the "retrieve acks" button in the e-file manager ?

This has happened on several returns already this year. Thanks for the suggestion, but duplicating the return seems like a workaround - a simpler workaround is to merely open the Print Manager again and print the state client copy....

I will issue a bug report and file via the suggestion box.

Is anyone else experiencing this? In Print Manager, have both Filer and Client Copy columns active. From time to time, the Client Copy State return (NY) doesn't print (even though selected). I estimate this happens about 20% of the time. This happened last year as well.

There is some really good advise in this thread. These are the things one only learns from experience. Seems like it would be good to somehow collect these tidbits into one location for easy reference. I am also a high school baseball and softball umpire. I have gleaned much insight over the years from veteran umpires on how to handle coaches and players, resolve conflicts, etc. You can't find that stuff studying the rule book! I see some similarities between my umpire experience and tax prep experience! Our situation is a little different, though. Since my wife is also licensed to sell investments, life insurance, etc., there is much to be gained from sitting down and talking to our clients. That is still a balance we are trying to work through. I do think we will adopt KC's response to the paper feeders effective immediately. Thanks KC! p.s. This will be post #100 for me. I just got a promotion!

Yes, I can get past it too. I was more looking to see if anyone know what is new this year that is requiring it. Hard for me to imagine ATX just did this to annoy us!

This post to this thread takes me to 98. Guess my last two before becoming advanced should be meaningful.

It seems there is a new requirement this year to enter an explanation when e-filing with an 8829. Can someone enlighten me? What kind of an explanation are they looking for? Thanks!

That was how I first read it, too. But notice the clause: (unless that is the correct amount) I think things will be fine the way they currently are in ATX.

FYI.... From: [email protected] Subject: Individual Filers Date: Sunday, February 8, 2009 1:43:17 PM [View Source] ATTN: Software Developers, Return Transmitters and Authorized IRS e-file Providers/EROs: Important message about computing the Recovery Rebate Credit Key Message The only way to avoid a delay in taxpayers' refunds is to put the correct amount on the appropriate Recovery Rebate Credit line for Forms 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ. Any other choice, either an incorrect amount, leaving the Recovery Rebate Credit line blank or entering a zero (unless that is the correct amount) will guarantee a refund delay. Why? During processing, the IRS compares the amount entered on line 70 (1040) (line 42 for 1040A, line 9 for 1040EZ) to our records, if there is a match the IRS processes the refund without delay. If the figures do not match, the return is moved to a manual process in the IRS' error resolution function during which time the correct RRC is computed and is then added (or subtracted) from a taxpayer's refund or balance due. How long is the delay? At present, the manual process to compute the correct refund amount and adjust the tax return is taking 1-2 days. The IRS has taken several steps to ensure the minimum possible delay for refunds that end up in this manual process. We anticipate that, even in high-volume periods, the maximum delay as a result of an incorrect amount on line 70 (1040) (line 42 for 1040A, line 9 for 1040EZ) will be less than a week. How can taxpayers ensure they put the correct amount on line 70 (Form 1040) (line 42 for Form 1040A, line 9 for Form 1040EZ)? To ensure the reported amount for the recovery rebate credit is correct, the taxpayer or preparer should use the IRS' application "How Much Was My Stimulus Payment?" located on IRS.gov to compute the entry on line 70 (1040) (line 42 for 1040A, line 9 for 1040EZ). ---------- This has been an IRS e-file QuickAlert

This seems like a good reference to "pin". How about it, web meisters? (It took me several minutes to hunt it down on the IRS web site a couple of weeks back....)

Wondering if there is a list of do's and don'ts for things to do (or not do) on the networked computer? For example, my practice has been to do all rollovers, updates, e-files, etc. solely on the "server". Today, the only thing I do from the "network" computer is data entry and printing. Is this the recommended practice? Or am I being too cautious? Thanks, HV Ken

From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: efileforprofessionals: Directions for IT-204-LL Filers Experiencing e-filing Problems (Urgent) Date: Thursday, January 29, 2009 11:10:05 AM Directions for IT-204-LL Filers Experiencing e-filing Problems The IRS is working with us to fix a technical problem that is preventing you from successfully e-filing IT-204-LL returns. We hope to have the correction in place very shortly. If you tried to e-file the IT-204-LL return and your return was rejected, please continue to make a good faith effort to e-file your return. Please do not file a paper return. We understand the inconvenience this causes you, and we thank you for your patience.

As I said previously: I would just follow the network instructions for the "server" computer. You can then add the networked computers "workstation(s)" at a later time. Nothing will be different on your server until you run NetSetup on a workstation you wish to add to your ATX network. Once you do run NetSetup, you will then need to logon each time you invoke ATX on either the server or workstation.