BulldogTom

Like I said, I am glad you are 2 time zones away. Tom Hollister, CA

Am I the only one who would be scared to meet Rita on about April 10th? I really enjoy reading your posts, but man, you seem to be on the fringe of doing some real harm to the next person that ticks you off. Tom Hollister, CA

I just registered for the company I work at during the day and it was pretty simple. The upload from our accounting software package is outstanding. Took only a few seconds. Then two weeks later I got a letter from SSA. Thought I screwed it up. NOPE. Prior CFO did not file the 2011 W2's. Went back and uploaded those in a few seconds and it was taken care of. Pretty Slick. Tom Hollister, CA

A W7 is the form to apply for an ITIN number if I am not mistaken. Did you mean W2? Tom Hollister, CA

I am on 10 and thinking I will stay here until I hear something better. Tom Hollister, CA

I don't think I would join a suit - unless they pulled the plug on the product and left us hanging. Then I might. Otherwise, I am going to stick it out and just keep ranting about it. When it comes down to it, I would be really excited for the new version if the damn thing worked. I see lots of potential for making it better than the old product was. But it needs to work. I will probably re-up next year if they still exist. But it won't be early, I will wait for the last minute. Tom Hollister, CA

I just put it in at 50%. In my case, the clients are always siblings. Mom and Dad leave the home to them and they rent it out. Tom Hollister, CA

Dumb Question, because I have never had to do one of these, so please be gentle with me. Two daughters took care of their father. They paid over half of his support out of what is mostly jointly owned property for the daughters (inherited from mother and left in joint accounts). One Daughter makes more than the other so will claim the exemption credit for the father. My question is: do I put the taxpayer on the form 2120 in the Eligible Person Section. I have the sister in there and it seems like this is all I need, but then I went and read the instructions and it says to list every person who contributed more than 10% of the qualifying relative's support. The taxpayer did that, but the father is on the return, so isn't it self explanitory? Tom Hollister, CA

Entered one taxpayer with 1099Int from the IRS this year. We amended some some of his prior year self prepared returns and they paid him interest on the refunds. The 1099 from the IRS was in his documents for me this year. Tom Hollister, CA

The solution is Lacert. Proseries. Prosystemfx. That was happening alot to me. I do know that when you don't hit the remember selections, it will print weird stuff. Also, when using the .pdf options, you have to use one of the other boxes, and sometimes you forget to check off the other box. But yeah, weird stuff keeps happening in the print manager. Tom Hollister, CA

If I have so many entries on line 21 that I can't rattle them off to them when I review their tax return with them, then I need to include a 2106 and charge for it. Line 21 only has 5-6 things that you could put in there without really getting to the 2106. How many of your clients really have safe deposit boxes, uniforms, publications, licenses, union dues, and job seeking expenses all on the same return, and in multiples. No, I don't print the supporting schedule for that either. I give them back their documents and I tell them that is where I put them. And I am very good at customer service. I never let a client leave with an unanswered question about their return. I go over it line by line until they understand. I explain why they did not get anything for th 38 dollars in professional publications their broker told them they could deduct that I put on line 21, and that their AGI phased them out of. I have no problem with a difference of opinion about what should be included in the client's return package. But you are getting very close to insulting my ability to provide service to my clients, so I will retire from this thread. Regards, Tom Hollister, CA

<<An evanglist may qualify for minister's tax treatment, which would include the housing allowance designation.>> Take a look at McFarland v. Commissioner TC 1992-440. I think it is more on point about the issue of can a self employed minister exclude housing allowance, but it still leaves the sticky question of how to get it designated in advance. The RR 64-326 had the taxpayer negotiatin the housing allowance in advance and they refer to the places he traveled to as employer churches. So I am thinking that a self employed traveling evangelist who has regular support from separate churches, but also recieves "free will offerings" at most of his ministry locations can ask the organizations that support him regularly to designate those funds as housing allowance and will claim as regular income the free will offerings he recieves. Does this sound right? Thanks again Mike. You are a great resource and I very much appreciate your time. Tom Hollister, CA

I disagree. I provide my knowledge, experience, and expertise in the area of tax preparation. I owe my client a professionally prepared return that they can present to the IRS. The paperwork they give me I return to them unless I am required to maintain it. I keep photocopies of certain documents that explain an unusual position or deduction taken on the return. Do you give your software to your clients? Then why would you give your workpapers. This is your intellectual property. It does not belong to the client. The only thing they are entitled to is a properly prepared return that they can give to the taxing authority as well as their original documents that I used in preparing their return. If they want to see or get a copy of a workpaper that was part of their return, I will gladly do so. Not backing down Ken. No detail schedules unless they ask. Tom Hollister, CA

Then I go to heaven and watch you try to figure out the depreciation. I win. Sorry Ken, not buying that I owe you a depreciation schedule. I owe my clients one, if they ask. If they want to leave me, I want to know why, and this is a great way to make sure they come back and I can ask what I did that caused them to leave. I can learn from what I did wrong. Tom Hollister, CA

Gfizer hit exactly what I was reading. I don't see anything that says one way or another. They always seem to mention an "employed minister" in connection with the housing allowance. Thanks Mike. I will look at that ruling and regulation. I will post here if I have more questions. Tom Hollister, CA

Sorry Ken, I am one of those guys. I want to know why I am losing a client. So they have to come to see me to get the depreciation. Of course, I give it right up and at no charge. And if they ask for it in their package, I print it as well. It is a marketing thing for me. Tom Hollister, CA

Mike, if you have a minute could you point me to some guideance on Clergy Taxes? Taxpayer is a traveling evangelist. He goes from church to church working a program for men's ministries. He is ordained and works with a larger ministry which pays him as a contractor. He also takes in offerings at the churches he works with, and gets money from other churches that support his efforts in his ministry (they give him cash on a regular basis like a missionary). Can this taxpayer get the amount that the larger ministry he is associated with designated as housing? Thanks - and I am sure this is not a cut and dry answer. You probably need more facts. Just ask. Tom Hollister, CA

I refused to answer the phone today, and after church I went for a walk with my spouse, tried the new Doritos Locos Tacos for lunch, cooked an amazing asparagus lasagna for dinner, and to cap it all off, watched a Julia Roberts chick flik with my wife. I am heading off to bed and will tackle the 4 tax returns I should have done tomorrow. Tom Hollister, CA

My sincerest appologies. I was just kidding with you. I know (and everyone who knows you knows) that would not be you. That is what made it funny. Tom Hollister, CA

Go to the MN department of revenue website for yourself and look under the second tab from the right "Newsroom". Tom Hollister, CA

Saw the Jenkens and thought it was KC!!!!!!!!!! Then I remembered it is KC Jenkins. At first I thought KC was braggin', Tom Hollister, CA.

Sorry I doubted you. So I went to the website, and sure enough, they are calling out Intuit. Named all their products. It is in the newsroom section of their website. Cool. Just wish it was the state republic of CA that did this. Tom Hollister, CA

I wish that was the answer, but I don't think they do a good job of it. That is why I never joined NAEA or CSEA. Except for a little discount on the CPE, I see no value in their organization for my profession. I still can pay full price for my CPE and attend their functions, but when it comes to having a meaningful seat at any discussion about our industry with the government, I see a big void when it comes to the EA societies. Hell, we have been recognized for a very long time by the IRS, yet most of America doesn't even know what an EA is. If I may take liberty with a quote from one of my favorite movies "What we have here is a failure (by the EA society) to communicate (what an EA is to the American public). Tom Hollister, CA

Got it, Junked it. Just more CCH drivel about how much they care. Bull crap! At least he appologized. What good is that? And he hopes to meet us. He better hope we don't meet. I would not hold back on telling him what a pile of TURDS ATX has become since CCH took over. And I would probably use language that would make KC ban me from this board if I used it here. Tom Hollister, CA

Rich, This is just for fun, so please don't take offense. You seem to know the rules. What if the athlete is injured? Let's say Tony Romo (Dallas QB) is hurt and can't play against the 49ers this year in SF. Can he stay home with the trainer and never go to the game and still get taxed on that income in CA? Tom Hollister, CA