Lion EA

Their missing paperwork should state the start date; might well be 1 January 2016. One common reason for organizing an LLC is to hold rentals to protect personal assets if someone's hurt or something in the rental. If SMLLC and no employees, no reason for an SS-4; but I prefer NOT to use my SSN so have an EIN. Tell client to bring you info. He can contact his SOTS to obtain copies, maybe for a fee, or search online. Not your problem!

Don't use ATX, so can't answer that part of it. Is 0 an option? Is there an N/A option?

Max out 401(k). If they have a fully taxable investment account, invest a portion in double tax-free municipal bonds. Non-deductible IRA contributions immediately converted to Roth IRAs to shelter earnings and appreciation. Work with employer for an accountable expense plan instead of un-reimbursed employee expenses. Raise rent. Pay property taxes in January instead of December. Teacher may have a 457 plan available also. Employ children re rental or start a side biz and employ children. Teacher may want a sabbatical. Hire a fee-only financial planner.

From TTB: When to Claim Credit and Exclusion Domestic Adoption Expenses paid by taxpayer in... Then take the credit in... Any year before the year the adoption becomes final. The year after the year of the payment. The year the adoption becomes final. The year the adoption becomes final. Any year after the year the adoption becomes final. The year of the payment. TTB refers to IRC 23

Organist hubby played a memorial service and brought flowers home. Not as happy as Rita's story, but better than I had time to do for myself.

Do it right or send him back to his Other Guy! Ask him for his calendar, driver's license, etc., to see where he lives.

I do think he's fine for AOC from what you say.

I always take compliments, but it was Gail !!

Is there a trade organization for roofers?

I have more and more earlier. So, my stack is huge. And, clients are calling unhappy. "But, last year you had mine done by now!" Maybe I'll send the complainers to HRB.

I don't do it for marketing. I do it to understand their tax situation, check for any carry forwards, know what to look for/what might be missing in their current year information, and to get an idea what type of person I would be dealing with if moving forward with a new client/were their returns prepared honestly, completely, etc. Do I want this client?

I'm not a gun owner and would not want to be around when it happens, but I'm sure guns and ammo can be used in many entertaining ways that I might enjoy watching on YouTube. In fact, YouTube probably has many examples, most of which would not be deductible. Catherine, Judy, and Tom, gave you leads to what might help your client, if he falls into such examples and could document.

Did they received Forms 1095-A? Those farms got extended while they wait for corrected forms.

One old retired guy who still has the 7.5% floor. No one that's exceeded the 10% floor.

I have. Looked at three years for a new client and found the preparer didn't give her credit for property taxes paid in CT for two years. $1,000 back. She's my client now. Conversely, for DIYers, I tend to find they misunderstood the law or their software and computed too small a tax liability. I explain it to them. They seldom accept my offer to amend. They are not my clients now.

Sounds like it wasn't less than 3 months.

I know, and only one of my clients actually uses Ask My Accountant. So, I add the Ask Rita which they tend to spot in the drop down menu.

OK, I wrote hubby a Dear John email. (Realize he thought he sent me his tax info Friday via email (no matter how many times I tell clients to use FileShare on my website) but nothing was attached.

For my clients that do their own bookkeeping, I have an income account and an expense account both called Ask Rita, so they can include the mystery amounts and reconcile their bank statements and then ask me where to put it.

And, we got an email from our plow guy who's out of state with planes canceled....

Yeah, I'm waiting for her or for both, since she thinks they're filing jointly or comparing to MFS, which I can do only if both agree to give me their info for that purpose. I guess I'll tell him I will not file his returns separately and not elaborate. I wasn't going to call her over the weekend since she implied that he has not left, even though I cannot tell her why I'm really calling, that he contacted me re a separate filing only. I really do not want to prepare both returns, unless they sit with me because we're comparing MFJ vs MFS. They might reconcile, but not soon. I guess I'll email him that I will not be filing his MFS returns. I will call her with the all too real reason that I'm filling up fast and will be in extension mode soon and she doesn't want extensions (thinks that will nullify their installment agreement) and that I need their complete information sooner rather than later to file on time. I'd like her to touch base with him and not delay her filings if they are going to be separate, if he's choosing MFS as the only option. But, I can't tell her that.

I sometimes take sales tax instead of income tax if over two years it will benefit the client. But, the worksheet should work through whether or not last year's deduction benefited the client over and above the sales tax and over and above the standard deduction and how much is income this year.

Look up the instructions for Forms 1099-MISC. I don't think you have to provide them to anyone who never set foot in the US. But, I don't have that situation. Isn't there a form, Form w-9BEN or something, that the foreign individual certifies that he has no US presence?

A 1065 is just a Schedule C with a balance sheet. In fact, BS probably not required, but you'll need it to dissolve anyway. Coming in from the beginning with every thing zero, knowing what they bought, invested, did, and closing out with zero, sounds like a great way to learn about 1065s. Yeah, that' as bit simple. But, getting a partnership from the beginning is easier than coming in after a few years of DIY or a preparer who retired or died. You can do it.

Have one now. Last year wife told me she thought they might divorce by year end. She asked if I'd continue with her returns. She's the one I've always dealt with. This season her husband emailed me to say they'll be filing MFS. I called her to ask when she might be sending me her tax information, without telling her that her husband had emailed me. She said THEY were getting it together, things are getting better, they're in counseling, thinks it's going to work out, etc. (By the way, hubby has a new email address this year.) I have no desire to get in the middle: two states, he's self-employed, kids, house, mortgage, both in sales and usually high income except when he's between jobs, existing IRS installment agreement from before they came to me. She's always anxious to file on time. He hasn't gotten his information together until very late each year, but he's been pushing me for when he can bring it in this year. I've been stalling him. Even if I should lose her, I don't think I want to keep him as a client. He's not the one I've worked with, and it's his old business from his father that got them into tax trouble years ago. I don't know what to do or say. Your thoughts welcomed.