Lion EA

She might owe in all the states she works in, just like an entertainer or athlete. Her job location is each tour. Not sure where that makes her tax home.

Yes, we preparers are currently a prime target of these phone and email scams. Beware!

I use all caps on tax returns. It makes it easier for me to see entries. I do set Caps Lock, but I also have a setting in ProSystem fx that puts my data entry into caps no matter how I enter it. So, I could leave Caps Lock off if I choose. (I don't use all Caps on client letters & instructions, though.) So, if I've set Caps Lock and return, like you, I can mistype my password. Luckily my sign-in box has a yellow warning triangle and states "Caps Lock is on" so I know what the problem is. (I have other software that releases Caps Lock when I try to enter, which is really handy this time of year when I use Caps Lock most of each day.)

The state web sites for business taxes in the states you're working with will probably have a list of sales-taxable services and products. You may have to wade through some legalese. But, if the biz clients you are getting are new to business, you might be able to research more efficiently than they can. I'm in CT so don't know about your states. Also, ask around your local networks to see if you can pick another preparer's brain in each state.

Spend a few minutes sending an email BCCing every client asking for the DL info or copies of their DL front & back. Phone those without email early evening or Saturday. Or wait until you're getting signatures to have them return their DL copies along with their 8879s (you probably don't call them at 1 a.m. for signatures!). I do a lot of 1 a.m. - 4 a.m. emailing questions and uploading signature forms; works great as I usually have their response by the time I get some sleep and return to my desk at daylight.

I haven't shoveled my front walk to the mail slot in my door since the last storm, but they do keep coming. Lost one gal who's life got simpler in semi-retirement, so she's trying it on her own. Sorry to lose her, but will be even sadder if I lose her dad along with her. They're both nice to work with and no more than the usual chasing for missing info. Just lost a more complex couple who took a LOT of time. They'd moved farther away but like to both interview and then pick-up/review in person each year, which has become a hassle for them to schedule between their trips to FL and medical issues and also a hassle for me to fit them in and VERY time-consuming. Both very intelligent: he a banker and mellow and she intense and tracks everything in pencil on dozens of pages, does sum it all up, but even that is a few pages. I need to tie everything from her pages into their tax returns to satisfy her, including pieces such as medical where some premiums end up on page 1 as SEHI with the excess on A or the LTC that is less than her payment due to IRS chart. They then take their paper returns home to go over again and either sign/mail or book yet a third appointment to question more details. (In recent years, I've required third appointments to be AFTER tax season; but that means they chose to mail returns on time and I've been stuck with amendments if they actually had new information for me.) I can't charge them enough for my time, so I don't think I'll miss them that much, even though I enjoy working with intelligent people. They always want this mid-February to mid-March time when I need to work on 1065, 1041, and 1120-S returns (not to mention recalculation of their SE payments for January based on her preliminary pages and MANY questions in January when I'm trying to get out W-2s/1099s and payroll reports) so I think I'm fine with them finding someone closer to their home, finally. In the meantime, a couple of clients have sent referrals and a couple of individuals and businesses have opened new business entities, so I have more clients when I'm old enough that I'd like to lose clients by attrition. My core clients are just receiving their 1099-Bs and calling.

I have seen DOB rejects for dependents (colleagues when I worked for HRB) but not for taxpayer spouse. I thought DOB is required for dependents always and for the taxpayer/spouse for things like eligibility for EIC w/o children, retirement distributions w/o early withdrawal penalties, etc. I mask everything I'm allowed to so fewer papers are out there with SSNs. But, the scams ask for W-2s &/or lists of employees with SSNs, etc., so anyone who would fall for the scam probably would include the lists requested. Tell your business clients. Tell everyone you meet. Tell everyone at church Sunday morning. Spread the word. These scams keep morphing, but they'll never go away.

I figure it's the middle of February already and his SSN & info has been out there since it was mailed open in January. So, my question re an extension being rejected or not was so the preparer/client can tell if ID theft has already taken place. (I know well that an extension does not stop it. Two years ago my own joint extension was filed, but someone used my SSN before October when we filed.) I too would file a return with what's available sooner rather than later with the intention of amending if I thought it would stop fraud and the client chose that method. But, if a return was filed in January, you can't stop that fraudulent return now. If you do file before the thief, still take all the other measures in addition.

Yep, I couldn't do it the regular way, because the IRS said that AT&T said my cell is not in my name. AT&T said it is; the bill is in my name; my name displays when I call someone. I had to wait for something in the mail. That only let me do that Get My Transcript thing. I couldn't identify myself via telephone, because i get no 1099s/W-2s in my name/SSN (name/EIN plus one that always has a typo, different typo every year, but always a typo). Was on the wait list for an appointment at an IRS center in a distant town. e-Services still rejects me. It's on my to-do list, but who has time now?! Just hope I can get through without needing e-Services.

I have some that require 20% be changed, so I have a ten-character password where I change two characters for those requirements. I have some that can't take my last four or last 20, yes 20, passwords that are more challenging. And, then there's the online banking and pension websites for our church that I have to make the changes that two other treasurers and our bookkeeper can use also (all part-timers and only one paid, so lots of hands/eyes on our finances). Hubby uses Dashlane. I keep a BOOK. Separated from my computer. But, if anyone stole my book, he could get into anything and everything.

Other than tax issues, tell him to freeze his accounts with the three credit reporting agencies. Anyone: do you know if filing an extension would return a reject if someone has filed a return with that SSN? If so, that could be a method to find out....

Let your cat walk around your desk, batting the mouse around.

I just move on to the next client and put the client with missing items at the bottom of my stack. When he gives me the last item, I'll pull out his folder and complete his returns, as soon as I complete what I'm working on at that time. IF, and only if, he had an honest omission, such as the new DD requirements. If it was someone who was missing items he well knows from prior years are necessary, then the date on his folder becomes the new date the last item is received; therefore, he sits at the bottom of the stack. I had to wait on him; he won't make me fell guilty now that he has to wait.

But, I for one would accept help from RitaB for the one OH return I prepare!

I'm in CT but have NY commuters, so I subscribe to NYS e-newsletters, check the NYS website, belong to the NY/CT-ATP which has state updates during our 2-day December seminar as well as lots of networking with NYS colleagues during each dinner meeting and seminar, subscribe to CCH's e-newsletters including their State Tax Review and Tracker News - State Tax News, and read everything I can, not to mention having NY colleagues that I can question when needed. I already had copies of both DLs from my Singapore couple (US citizens) with a NYS rental two months ago. This wasn't a big surprise. For 2015 taxes, I had to get DLs from my VA (? one of those southern states) clients. I started warning my northern clients last year that DL information might be a state or even federal requirement in the near future. We knew this was coming. NYS isn't the only state requiring DL information for 2016. Expect even more next year. As an EA, I do NOT receive CEs for state education toward my license renewal or even for NAEA membership, but I consider state education very important to my career so take courses re CT, NY, PA, MA, multi-state returns, etc.

I thought it was just me!

Agree with Jack. The IRS computer takes info from the SSA computer, so your client has to start with the SSA to discover the mismatch between what the SS card says and what the computer stores. Only after the SSA updates information can you really start with the IRS. Paper file. Are you sure your client didn't have a name change? Did you e-file them last year? Do they have one of those ID theft PINs?

I think this one is the 2016 version of what I have; you can check out the .pdf: https://www.bulkorder.ftc.gov/system/files/publications/pdf-0009_identitytheft_a_recovery_plan.pdf If you like it, order -- it's free, including free shipping -- and share with other professionals in your area. Or, drop some off at your church, broker, lawyer, town social worker, local small businesses, etc. (Introduce yourself and leave a business card.) The flyers look good, too, for a checklist of what to do, and you can easily print those one-pagers as you need them. Look at the other titles (and other languages, depending on your neighborhood). Click on them and check out the .pdf version.

Mine was a 2013 edition, but someone was passing them out at our January NY/CT-ATP meeting. I do see it as a .pdf publication now: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0009-taking-charge.pdf And, lots of other related titles. I'll take a look at their site again.

Federal Trade Commission puts out a great book, Taking Charge -- What To Do If Your Identity Is Stolen. It's free; our tax dollars at work. I think the minimum order is 80. I kept about 10 and took the rest to a meeting of one of my professional organizations to share. Have your client order 400+ for his employees. Make sure you have at least one on your bookshelf for reference. And, a handful to give out as the need arises. FTC.gov/IDTheft

He needs to help his 400+ employees. And increase security in his payroll/HR department with new and stronger passwords, updated training, need-to-know access to sensitive data, written process re disclosing employee date, etc.

Definitely as needed. Including when needed to file extensions. For all the reasons stated above.

Your client lives there? Personal use, primary residence. Is the profit under $250,000? What else do you need to do?

it's only February, and Rita's hugs have started.

I would keep the seller happy while still under a loan contract with the seller. Issue a 1099-INT.