Lion EA

Have him pull out his paperwork from the purchases.

Don't just work on from here to there. Work on from here through the rest of his life. Retirement and future health issues. Estate plan (providing for wife, kids.) Maybe you see an S-corp in his future. Assemble a team for him that starts with you but includes a financial planner (or more than one), lawyer, investment adviser, etc.

Read your state requirements. (In CT he would have to file if any CT w/h.)

Not too many states have any type of official legal separation any more. (CT does not.) If you have a friendly, local lawyer who could cite your state's law, you'll be more confident. And, use Rita's articles.

Are guns and ammo a deduction for Rita if she has to use them on PITA clients?

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....