Lion EA

If they sent back your paper amendment, then send them the entire amended return -- as you did before plus with the formerly missing form -- making sure everything is included this time, and signed, etc. With their cover. Send everything.

See the DRAFT instructions for Form 1040 Line 30: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-dft/i1040gi--dft.pdf Your software will have its own version of the data entry.

That sounds about right. I bought it at $940/year (14 months?) to lock in my price under a promotion. Now I have to learn more about using it, but I get a phone call from a real person to walk me through it. If it does all the things I saw in the demo, I'll drop my portal. I am excited about its features and have taken a few tax classes from Knox this year (and listened to a few of his sermons).

I would resend my prior emails to the client. If some or all of my client communication had been via telephone, I'd email a list of dates we talked via telephone "as a reminder of what he already knows." In a separate email, I'd suggest client call the telephone number on his latest IRS notice to hear the IRS response for himself. If I received any further requests from client, I'd call my E&O carrier to ask what they want me to do. I would almost certainly fire the client, but would consider the timing so it doesn't appear as retaliation for his threats or for a lawsuit if it happens. In normal times, I would say wait until the amendment is processed, but that could be after next tax season, so no to that.

I've looked at Pub 4557, a security plan from BrassTax.com, one from Drake, and others. For my SMLLC home office with no employees but with a professional IT person who specializes in tax preparer and lawyer offices, I found the Pub 4557 Safeguarding Taxpayer Data's "Use the Safeguards Rule Checklist" of four pages (14-17 out of 21 pages) as a good starting point. However, I have not done anything else besides checking off the appropriate boxes in that checklist -- and having an IT pro on retainer and following his instructions.

Knox Wimberly, a VA tax preparer/instructor/security guru/Methodist minister bought and renovated Taxaroo communication software that has everything in one place -- from text to video chat -- with outstanding security. Check out a demo or try it out for a month for $1: Taxaroo.com

The instructions say incurred OR paid: https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2020-11/3508-Instructions-PPP Loan Forgiveness Application Instructions -508 - 11-30-20.pdf

Was the 1040X processed? If not, wait. They are millions of paper returns behind.

I think Notaries can perform marriages in some states, such as FL, or so I read once!

Confirmations show on the computer app almost immediately. I receive more faxes than I send, and receive those fast, per the church and a few others who are faxing me. I just sent a fax from eFax to my stand-alone fax machine at 8:18+ pm and received it as the clock changed to 8:20 pm. At that time, it showed up in Sent on the computer app. My computer/eFax is on Optimum and my fax machine is Frontier; my email is Optimum/CCH SiteBuilder and viewed via Outlook. My email confirmation is also 8:20 pm.

I think they were short on programming (were any football games cancelled due to Covid?) because they alternated the parade and dog show all day long!

Me, too. When I changed techies and had my new guy advising on and setting up my new computer a year ago, he got rid of some things (BitDefender is one I remember) but kept CCleaner. This techie was recommended by another tax preparer; he works for tax preparers, accountants, and lawyers primarily, so I've trusted his suggestions re security.

I pay the annual rate. I open eFax, Faxes, Sent Faxes, and see Completed with the date/time/# pages/etc. immediately. I don't send very many faxes and am happy with eFax. I do have it set to email me a copy of Sent faxes for convenience. I will admit, though, that I also have an old fax/all-in-one machine (gift from a client who upgraded) on an AT&T/Frontier line. When we moved to Optimum years ago, we kept one AT&T line for power outages. We could plug an old telephone into the AT&T jack when we lost power and our cable services (phone/internet/TV) from Optimum. That $11/month plain vanilla line kept us in communication during power outages (we live in the boonies). Now, we have a generator so don't lose power, Optimum has gotten more reliable with generators around our area keeping Optimum services up and running, we all have cell phones, and that AT&T/Frontier line is now up to $23/month plus long distance. I'm tempted to drop Frontier, but the fax machine still is handy for documents that are not in my computer. I guess that's one of the decisions I'm making before tax season.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I haven't bought or sold clients, but I'm in a few professional groups (and, obviously, professional message boards) and hear percentages more like 30+% of retention for 3 years, or maybe front-loaded at 40% in year 1 and 20% for the next 2/3, or even 20% for 4/5 years. I've also heard smaller percentages plus wages for the seller for 1 or 2 years to work at the new firm, or even rising percentages with wages, such as 20% year 1 30% year 2 40% year 3 to incentivize the seller to help with retention. And, I've heard of down-payments with lower percentages or fewer years. It can be a regional thing, so maybe ask for advice at a NYSSEA zoom meeting/message board or similar local group.

There's a bill out there, but Congresspeople have been campaigning and now it's the holidays! The 3508 and 3508EZ and 3508S all reach the same conclusion for loans of less than $50,000 but you can take fewer steps with the EZ or S. And, the banks have their own portals which ask the questions in their own ways and ask for similar, but not identical, backup documents. If you have the time and want to make some money, you can help clients complete their forgiveness applications. Some banks are not accepting applications for the smaller loans, in hopes that Congress acts. (I just hope Congress acts to make the expenses paid with forgiven loans deductible!) There's no rush; 10 months after the covered period ends to apply.

Yes, but... Does her spouse agree with amending to MFJ? If not, then your client cannot file MFJ. If he does agree, you will need both sets of returns. And, both spouses need to sign the amendments. By the way, if she was married 31 December 2019, then her only legal 2019 filing statuses are MFS and MFJ -- and possibly HOH, if she qualified. Did you file her previous returns as HOH and S? When you sign an amended return, you are attesting to its contents. How long has this woman been your client? Be very careful with a client who filed HOH and amended to S and now wants to amend to MFJ. If she "forgot" to tell you she was married, what else is she not telling you?! Your potential problem is much greater than how many times a client can amend a return. (If this woman came to me, I would interview her but probably NOT accept her as a client. My license is too important to me.)

ProSystem fx will accept up to 11:59 pm EST on 21 November; however, they are recommending 9 pm as safer, especially if sending states, to get the acknowledgements back. I did manage to get my usual straggler e-filed 15 October this year. And, one who'd been postponing can't be reached since 1 November; so if she calls, she won't be e-filed until January.

Our "kids" just put solar in this year, so are using it for their work-at-home laptops as well as everything else. They still lost power during CT's recent tornadoes and strong winds and rain after lots of rainy/cloudy days in a row. Laptop batteries and wood-burning stoves got them through until electricity and sunshine returned. Honestly don't know the details; communication has been texted videos of our grandson!

I think APC is the standard. But we have so many tech-savvy posters that you'll get great advice.

I haven't tried it out yet, but listen to Knox Wimberly on his webinar &/or email them a question. I found them very responsive. Knox does say Taxaroo will work with every software and even talks about importing/exporting, but don't know how that works or even if I heard that right. I like that my clients can text/phone/email/upload/download and video chat with me, without me using a dozen different devices, giving out a dozen contact numbers, looking in a dozen different places to find the answer they sent/document they sent. All in one place. But I can use a dozen different devices to access all their communications, if I choose. Gotta complete some webinars by the end of the month, then I'll set it up. Oh, and you brand it as your own, doesn't say Taxaroo. Knox is a security guru, so I trust Taxaroo with my client communications and data. An extra 5% off for life if purchasing by Wednesday.

I've been using FileShare that's free with my CCH SiteBuilder website. But, I'm going to move most client communications to the newly renovated, under new ownership Taxaroo. I love that it includes video chat as well as everything else. You can try a demo or try a full month for $1 or just listen to their webinar at https://www.taxaroo.com/

I use MileIQ.

Or, the QB ProAdvisor subscription gets every edition as it comes out. You do pay extra for payroll, though. Going into a couple of webinars now, so can't look up what I paid today.

It really surprised me to get hundreds of porn ads, sites, offers, etc., after visiting a Christian clip-art site. Not the ads I was expecting!