Lion EA

I typed "nondeductible" in error when I meant "nonrefundable." A student who can be claimed by his parents cannot get the refundable AOC, but he can get the nonrefundable AOC if his parents do not claim him. Again, this doesn't appear to be the OP scenario, but it is something to keep in mind as we prepare returns for our clients and their college students. If the parents can take the student's dependency exemption, but do not, then the student cannot take his own exemption, but is able to take the nonrefundable [nondeductible = typo] part of AOC if qualified.

That's why I asked if I have the choice to use a blended rate and do not have to segregate my IL income by date.

Good news for me! Thank you.

Gives a whole new meaning to Group Hug...

ProSystem fx has IL Sch SA. Do I get to choose between the SA and the blended rate? I have IL farmland, and sell my crops in the fall, usually.

And, CT lowered the max credit yet again.

If the parents can take the student's dependency exemption, but do not, then the student cannot take his own exemption, but is able to take the nondeductible part of AOC if qualified. You do need to run the numbers to see what gives the best result for your clients. In the OP, there would not be any AOC for anyone unless the student can use the scholarship for items not eligible (I've had students who were refunded the excess scholarship funds by their colleges); then it could matter whether or not the parents claim the student.

I don't use ATX, but I'd sign up for Abby's class at Rita's office!

If the student takes the scholarship as taxable, does she have a tax liability? Does it save the parents any tax to take the AOC? Run the numbers to see what gives the family as a whole the lowest tax liability. Let your client decide if they want the best outcome for the parents or the family unit.

That was not extended beyond 2016. There is an extenders bill that seems to be going nowhere. Ask your clients if they want to go on extension to wait to see if that provision is extended. Or, if they prefer to file now without, and pay you to amend later if the bill ever sees the light of day. (Or you do the work for free.) But, explain to your clients and let them choose.

I don't purchase all the states. I do have federal, from explanations, instructions, code, regs, tax court cases, letters, etc. I also don't purchase sales & use tax, payroll, and some other more specialized research that I've not needed for income tax preparation.

AnswerConnect is the newest version, more intuitive, ask questions the way you would talk (saw a demo of voice activated that they're working on), much of the content has been rewritten. I was able to use AnswerConnect last fall along with my then-subscription to IntelliConnect. When my IntelliConnect was up for renewal in December, I moved to AnswerConnect instead. I don't have all the bells and whistles, but I like it.

Isn't there a release schedule in the ATX knowledgebase or somewhere? I use different software, but just checked on Schedules A & C to make sure I can e-file -- and discovered that CT is not in my release from this weekend !! Need to go back in to check on that release date as well as if NY is ready. (My clients have been getting antsy, and I've been procrastinating since we're waiting on forms anyway. I'm gonna regret that soon!)

And, NY, NJ, and CT governors have come together to work on a lawsuit.

If her e-file is rejected because ex filed first with a child, then paper file. First or second, if both claim the same child, then both will hear from the IRS. With the proper calendar, your client will prevail.

I used the Janitor Bob method. My Malwarebytes Premium is the same as his. Earlier today, not only did I have my computer shutting down, not loading Windows, and running extraordinarily slow when it did start, Malwarebytes would not turn Web Protection to On, it would be stuck in Starting... Now, I seem to be OK. Well, except for really small fonts on just about everything, icons, tabs, text, etc. But, I'm not about to mess with settings unless I'm sure everything else is back to normal again. Thanks, CB, for the post re Malwarebytes. I'm glad to know it's not something I did and not my computer which is old but hope to nurse it through one more tax season.

Well, that explains a lot of what was happening with my computer today! It's almost 6:30 and I'm finally on, online, and maybe OK, but too scared to open my tax prep program and work it in. I was going to have my techie in on Monday if it misbehaved again. Do you know the version number that is the new, good one?

Isn't the policy number on the insurance card?

If the prior preparer, like you, is adding tax planning for 2018, then I would add $100 to my fees. But, I'm going to try to make that a separate appointment after tax season. I don't have many, if any, clients with childcare &/or with no Schedule A. In fact, I have lots of Schedule Cs, K-1s, and multiple-state returns. And, I'm trying NOT to take any new clients at less than $500. - 1040 with one State. One or two W2's within the same state. A bit of interest and dividends. Couple dependents. No EIC but childcare. $290, but would probably discount if all info ready at once & no surprises - Schedule A - few itemized deductions (Real Estate Taxes, Mortgage Interest, Charitable Contributions). $380, give or take 10%, but everyone forgets their car tax and charitable contributions are a mess and..., so probably NOT less. - Tax planning for the following year (use ATX Planner) + $100 is what I'm thinking now, could be a lot more for SE, biz entities, lots of detail/computations What would you charge for the most basic return? 1040 with one state, W2, No itemized. $200, give or take 10%

Entity filing opened earlier this month. Your software may accept your 1040s and stockpile them and e-file the 29th.

IRS Pubs. 886 series for EIC, etc. https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs-search?search=886

Good catch, Mr. Normal. I agree.

Received mine today!

Eric Greene does podcasts for a couple of different organizations: https://taxrepllc.com/category/podcasts/

Lisa Ihm. Was $20 when I bought it. Brass Tax: http://brasstax.com/3115 Booklet.htm