BulldogTom

If you are being brave and sending out your returns today, please post the experience with us. I am holding off for another day just in case the servers at CCH or IRS melt down. If it all looks good in the morning, I will be sending my 20+ returns that are sitting on my desk. Thanks Tom Lodi, CA

But KC, pampered chef sales reps are Sch. C businesses, like avon. Those would be SPFF in my humble opinion because the company giving them is not related to the Sole Proprietor. I vote for line 21. Tom Lodi, CA

Never mind. I got it. Tom Lodi, CA (but in Fresno today)

Clents got married last year. He has house, she has house. They move into his house and start renting her house 1/1/10. Renters trash the place and move out 8/15. They fix her house back up and decide to move into it. His house is empty now. They should get the 8 months of depreciation on the home for the period of rental. Shouldn't they? How do I make ATX give them that amount and then convert it to a personal residence again? I am away from my office without research material. Thanks Tom Lodi, CA (but in Fresno today)

How many years can you carry over the 30% solar energy credit? Thanks Tom Lodi, CA

JRS, that would be the one. How did you find it and how did you link it to this post? Can you do it on the gambling post that is active right now. I would like to be able to do that sometimes. Thanks Tom Lodi, CA

KC or Eric, This relates to the gambling losses topic on today's thread. There is a post on point on January 14, 2010 that was a continuation of an earlier post. I am trying to find the ealier post but I am striking out. I think that is the post that has the court case I am looking for. 2 questions. How do I find that earlier post on gambling and the court case? How do I link that post (if I ever find it) and the 1/14/10 post to the post that is active now? Thanks Tom Lodi, CA

Are you sure. I thought the judge clearly stated that each session, (and I think he said when you cash in your chips, that was a session) was an individual event and if it was a win it went to the 1040 and the losses went to the sch A. KC, you were in that discussion. Do you remember the case? I would like to read that thread again. Tom Lodi, CA

Gambling winnings go on the 1040. Gambling losses go on the sch A. There was a very interesting case that we discussed on this board last year that had to do with netting the winnings and losses. It basically came down to this reasoning. How much did you get when you cashed in at the end of your gambling session. If you were a net winner, that was the amount you had to claim on the front of the 1040. If you lost, that was the amount to go on the sch A. No mixing gambling sessions to net one day's winning against a different day's losses. Your clients are going down a very risky path. Guide them well. Tom Lodi, cA

Nice guys finish last. We don't have the agreement or all the facts, so this is just speculation. But in general, the split of a retirement account is normally a division of marital assets. If he did like KC is assuming he did, he just gave her his taxable income. It is a gift to her from him unless he wants to go back to court and try to get it back. Without more details, I am sticking by NOT alimony. Tom Lodi, CA

I don't see it that way (but this is off the top of my head, un-researched). I would say the pension is a division of marital assets and therefore NOT alimony. Again, just my two unresearched cents. (where is Jainen when you need him?) Tom Lodi, CA

I got one, but my bank backdated the transaction. This is really weird. My first fee collect client was a small invoice. I checked every day last week to see what was coming into my bank (because I am accepting debit cards and credit cards as well and I am watching to see when those post as well). There was no deposit for my fee collect on Friday when I checked the bank account online. I checked again this morning and there was 1 payment for the first client of the year, but it was dated on 2/2. I checked on 2/2, 2/3 and 2/4 and there was no deposit. I have 5 others that show in the Bank tab that the IRS paid them, but nothing in my bank account yet. After reading the post about a check being sent by Santa Barbra, I am getting a little leary about that bank. Hopefully everything will come out OK and it is just the beginning of the season that is getting the timing off. But this is weird. Tom Lodi, CA

I had my first injured spouse claim this year, and when I created the e-file, I got a blue warning that says the form will not be included in the e-file per IRS instructions. But when I go to the forms included in the e-file from the 1040 e-file tab, it says it was included. I printed out the form and had the client sign it and will send it off to Fresno, but I am confused if they already have the form. Anyone know for sure? Tom Lodi, CA

In my bank manager it shows that 6 of my clients have recieved their refunds. Still no payments to my bank for my fees. Has anyone seen their fees deposited yet from the fee collect? Tom Lodi, CA

I wonder if this legislation also repeals the change to rental property owners as businesses. That was another little nasty change that they slipped in. I have one client who went to get a tax id number from his gardener, and the gardner would not give it to him. Tom Lodi, CA

Some got through. The misc deductions were about 1250 and the floor was about 1000. Union dues, tax prep, clothing, and bowling league made up the deductions. Construction worker. I would think the prparer would have hid it a little better. It was written out on the Sch. A plain as can be. But with E-file, I bet it never sees a live person at the IRS. Tom Lodi, CA

New client comes in with 2009 return prepared by HRB. On Sch A job related expenses is listed "Bowling League Fees....$500" Very creative. I guess the boss said he had to play in the bowling league and so they deducted it. I thought I had seen it all, maybe now I have. Tom Lodi, Ca

I completed a return in 2009 for one of my best clients, but apparently, I never sent the e-file. Client got a letter from the state asking for their return. I went into ATX and it is not in the e-file manager. We cannot e-file prior year returns, can we? I just need to paper file this and get it to them as fast as possible? Any suggestions. Tom Lodi, CA

Jonathan is undecided as well. He is waiting to hear from the coaches at Sacramento State about the football program. Depending on what they decide about his future with the team, he will either start at the local JC (where the coaches really want him to play football) and then transfer to Sac State, or enroll at Sac State if there is a place for him on the football team. Regardless of where he starts, he will finsish at Sac State. They have a great engineering program and there is a local company that Sac State partners with that is heavily into defense aerospace. Yes, my son wants to be a rocket scientist. His goal in life is to make things that fly fast and blow up when they get where they are going. Typical male - wants to play with thing that go fast and make a lot of noise. There are about 5 Division III coaches that are trying to get him to come to their schools to play football, but none of them have the engineering program that he wants. They just can't understand that education is much more important to him than football. I am very proud of him that he sticks to his priorities and is not letting all the talk about football interfere with the ultimate goal of getting his engineering degree. Are you sure Gwen doesn't want to move to California? We have some great schools out here. My son read this thread and he is dying from embarassment. Tom Lodi, CA

Yeah, it is a big unit. No special depreciation or 179 either. Tom Lodi, CA

What is the class life of a air conditioning unit replacement in a rental home? Thanks Tom Lodi, CA

The one on the right is Jonathan. This picture is 2 years ago in Boston. He will be 18 this summer and going to college as well. Does Gwen like football? What college is she going to? Do they have a football team? I hope my wife (the one in the middle, if you couldn't tell) doesn't read this post. For that matter, my son would not be happy that I am doing this either. Tom Lodi, CA

Hey, she is cute. How old and does she have a boyfriend? I have two eligble sons. I just don't understand that snow thing. Isn't it only supposed to snow in places like Tahoe and Aspen? Those of us from California just don't get the snow blower concept. And shovels are something you use in the garden. The first blisters are appearing on my roses. I should have growth in another week or so. About 3 weeks till my Peach, Plum, Nectarine, Cherry and Pear trees bloom. I may even need to cut the grass in a week or two. My camillia is beautiful right now. Lots of flowers on it. Sorry, I could not resist. You can call me whatever you want. Tom Lodi, CA

Since I am the guy that has to make that "half-(bleep) review", before it gets to the printer, I guess a one pass might work. But we are looking at a signing machine and the two pass option. Tom Lodi, CA

Taking a shot in the dark here to see if any of you have an idea. At my day job, we use Timberline Accounting Software. We have been with ADP, but are bringing Payroll in house for various reasons. One of the issues we are coming up with is printing signatures on the payroll checks. We have +/- 500 employees right now and expect to move to 750 this year. I know there has to be a way to print the signature on the payroll check to prevent the owner from having to sign every check. A stamp would take just as long as a pen, so that is not an option. Anyone know how to get the signature to print on the payroll checks? Thanks Tom Lodi, CA