ILLMAS

10 years in the U.S he is resident, just the fact of being in U.S makes him a resident, look up what the IRS considers a resident or residency test. NO EIC for him, no one with an ITIN qualifies for the credit, for example if he had a child with a valid SS#, he is disqualified for EIC because someone has an ITIN.

JB, just wondering how much benefit is your client getting from deducting the mileage? $2, $5 $0

Mac user in the house!!! Ask me anything related to running Windows or how to set it up. MAS

I requested proof of payments from my client, she sent me her kids summary from the school and all I see is, XXX Student loans, XXX Grant, XXX Scholarship but seems the parent made no out of pocket payments. I know the student will be eventually repaid back the loans, but not the grant and scholarship, so is it safe just to use the amount for student loans as tuition payment for the year. Thanks MAS

Ah shucks, no one has ever brought me a pie or sweets, all I have I gotten is booze and a 24-pack of beer from clients and I don't even drink during office hours.

I think I can beat that, my client brought in a payment

There is this cell phone signal jammer they sell online, honestly I would like to donate one to my church for those knuckle heads that forget to turn off their phone during service.

I admit that has happened to me more then once already.

Parents if you are going to have your semi-adult kid talk to me, make sure they are awake before you pass the phone to them, I hate talking to myself and most importantly my time is important to me. Rant over

I'll share this conversion I had with a potential new client just this morning: Me: Why do want to change accountant? TP: She had a stroke two months ago due to stress and over working Me: My jaw drop This is what scares me about this job.

I think the way big box preparers advertisement it seems every single tax payer is entitled to a huge refund, I try to school my clients and let them know its a marketing gimmick, I tell them no one is going to get you more money back then you are entitled to if it is prepared correctly, and if they do, then they are putting information that can hurt when you get caught. From all the years in preparing tax returns, only one picked up their papers and went somewhere else.

Thanks KC, I will visit the website from the comfort of my office tomorrow..

Our local newspaper just had an article yesterday, that Microsoft needs your help to encourage family and friends to throw in the towel with XP and start using WIN7 & 8. I am knocking on wood that no one comes in with a pre 2008 tax return, I would hate to dig out the old machine from storage, connect and to find out it doesn't work or something is wrong.

That is the magic word thanks and thank you Mr. Pencil too. MAS

Thanks Jack, I guess I am so used to the prior feature/function one tends to complain.

Lets say XY sold his business to XX for $100K, in the sales contract there is no talk about interest just principal payments. I have heard from many people and from an actual IRS agent that the IRS frowns when a shareholder borrows money from his corporation and pays no interest back, so using the IRS approach, I wanted to get someone else's opinion on this. I have never seen an installment agreement without interest, but there is always a first, I just want to inform XY and XX of the consequences. Thanks MAS

If you are not careful, you will print out the forms you want to create in PDF, so make sure you uncheck the "Print to Printer" or click on the other tabs besides Filing to create your PDF.

FTM, don't worry, a joke I posted was also was put on lock down, mind you I am not from CA and thanks to other members I learned that 13 & 14 is a gang reference that applies to CA only, the really sad part about this is that I am from Chicago, the murder city of the states, I need to get out more often. '?do=embed' frameborder='0' data-embedContent>>

About 10-15 years ago, I prepared a tax return for an individual who started receiving a very small IRA distribution, after the partners review, they instructed me to change it to wages so he would qualify for EIC, I did a quick search in the quickfinder and on the IRS website, but could not find an answer and I don't remember 10-15 years back, but can someone shed some light on this, more on how to report in 2013 ATX. I remember the TP became disabled if it makes difference. Thanks MAS

Of course they can, if you agree, actually you don't have to agree once they finishing preparing your return you have no option. And because preparer like this one, our city requires for us to give an estimate of the total cost of the preparing including processing, miscellaneous fees etc... before any works begins. If I quote someone $100 and I end up charging them $200, if they report me, I should have a good reason why. And if you don't comply the fine is very hefty, there are other reason why this ordinance passed but the main one was to prevent tax preparer from charging fees based on your refund.

I don't know if it's a common problem, but if you transmit the federal first, let it transmit to agency, then you should transmit the state. I found this is a better way to avoid forgetting to transmit the state return afterwards, it will appear as created still and if it appears as held, you have to recreate it again.

My 10 year anniversary is coming up at the end of the month, and I don't know what to get myself.

One of my grade school friend was hosting a job/interview fair and someone who had an appointment called in to let her know he was not going to be able to attend because it was valentines day.

It would be nice if we could create an automated system like when you call in for anything now a days. Bargain hunter: How much do you charge... You: Let me transfer you to someone that can assist you.. Automated system: For English press 1 .... They will be so annoyed they hang up.

Thanks I will request them to provide me with a summary of the actual payments for 2013 including payments from student loans. MAS