HV Ken

I have had this problem when I start with a resident (or non-resident, or part-year) return and then switch to the other. The letter is linked to the now-deleted form and so shows NOTHING.

What works for me is to delete the letter and then re-install it from the Forms menu with the return open. Then I get proper instructions.

Hope this helps.

Catherine

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!

That is correct. His housing allowance is not be subject to income tax, to the extent used and not to exceed the FRV. However, all his clerical income would be subject to SE tax, unless he was exempted through and approved Form 4561. You may also reduce this clerical income by any unreimbursed professional expenses, irrespective of any IRC 265 limitation. Of course, any Sch C net profit would also be subject to SE tax. I hope this helps.

While I do not know all the answers, I do specialize in clergy taxes, and I would be happy to help with any questions in any way I can. You may contact me at [email protected]. You should be advised, if you do contact me directly, you will lose the benefit of peer review that this message board makes availaible.

Mike

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!

Only the 'excess' Housing Allowance would be subject to the SE tax. Both the other items would.

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.

Thanks for responding.

When I go to the ATX Website CCH status box says it has been accepted. Does that mean it has been accepted by CCH but not yet accepted by the IRS.

In the program, in my efile manager the status box still reads, "transmitted to agency." How long does it take for the status box to read, "accepted?"

When a return is accepted by the IRS and State, how do we know that it has taken place.

Sorry to ask the same questions as before. Hope you that have had a lot of experience can share with me the answers to these questions.

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

@HV Ken - Tom, one of our technicians here, suggested duplicating the return that you are experiencing this printing trouble with. Once duplicated, try printing the return from that. Let me know if it'll print that way and I'll see if there is anything else we can do.

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....

if you all have this problem how come Tom Perry, the printing ace at atx told me he never heard of ANYONE but me having the problem? when you all have these bugs do you just do work arounds or do you complain to atx. i've had them fix many bugs that ifind but not when they say its an isolated case. if you all complain too maybe they will look into it, at least for next year.

on another software i wrote in about a bug[suggestion to] they called me back 2 days later and said they got 20 or so comments like mine and are going to make it a priority. the more that complain, the faster things get fixed or added to the program.

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.

I always use my version of #4: "Give it all to me, please. I charge quite a bit extra if you give them to me one at a time." I've only had one person ever refuse to give them over when I am sitting there with my hand out, waiting, after that line. And him I fired, then and there. because I did not like his attitude anyway. It felt darn good, too.

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!

It only takes a single character to make it go through. I do not know if this is ATX or the IRS. We put the words "Home Office" in. A single "." works too. So far, no rejects.

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.

I am feeling a little left out here. I see all of these people gaining new statuses on this board. shoot, I am still trying to become an advanced member. This is post 100 and I am wondering if that gets me there or not. Oh well, I guess I'll have to post like crazy to catch up. Been here 10 years and still only a member. Geez!

Terry D.

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.

I checked the returns I've already filed, none of which are eligible for the RRC, and I noticed that the RRC line is blank. According to the memo, even the blank space will hold up the processing while they check it out. That's odd, since we aren't required to enter zeros on other lines which don't apply. These are paper-filed returns, so a delay of a day or two won't matter that much to them. But just to be on the safe side I guess I'll start entering the zero. (Wonder if the master can be modified to automatically enter a zero unless it's overridden).

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....)

Here is the link <http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p2043.pdf> I had the same question last week when I chose the wrong term to use. Instead of cycle I was looking for schedule or calendar.

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.

has anyone received an ack for NY-204LL? prosystem and lacerte are having problems getting them approved and are working with nys on getting mandatory efile waivers. atx can't even tell me if they are having an issue with them and unable to tell me if any have gotten approved yet. person at cust service is obnoxious and condensending and said if there was a problem i am sure they would have communicated with you.

these are due 1/30 and i can't find out if they were even sent to ny yet.

actually i meant that the original puter would become the server and later on i might want to add workstations. i would like to know if i can do this without uninstalling since then i lose all my customizations.

As I said previously:

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.