Lion EA

How old was the student? Full-time college student?

One of my clients has only Macs and wants her company's books kept only on her computers. I hate QuickBooks for Mac. It's a couple years behind the PC version. Then, I have to export her financials to Excel for her accountant who uses only PCs. I have another client who uses a Mac for himself for radio production, but has PCs for the rest of his staff. He has to use a program (Parallels?) on his Mac to be able to produce documents that his clients can open, Word and Excel, for instance. I don't think much tax software is written for Macs. Research carefully, or you'll end up paying more less useful computers.

Not sure, and I wouldn't be able to tell by looking. The OCR numbers along the bottom are clear. And, the check number appears in multiple places on the check, clearly. The important number, $544, doesn't show up anyplace else on the check in numbers or in words. Before I saw the picture, I'd had her try smoothing it out and scanning it, then using the scan for the front and original for the back for her mobile bank app on her phone. But, once she sent me the picture, I see that a scan doesn't help the missing 5 in $544. She's young, in San Francisco just over a year, had her unemployed brother sleeping on her couch for months, is furloughed or hours/pay cut from her new job, and needs the $544. I'm not sure I asked her enough times if her bank account changed or her address changed since we filed her 2018 returns last year. But the paperwork she signed included her banking information and address. Her W-2s and 1099s used what I now know is her old address. I ALWAYS ask, using numbers from prior year, about bank accounts and addresses, especially the young ones who seem to move each year.

She sent me a picture of the check and envelope. Something grabbed the envelope, poking a hole and scraping the envelope. The check is barely damaged; however, for the amount $544, the fours are scrapped and faint but the 5 is missing, just a hole! She opened up an account on the FTB site to report it. I think she's going to have to wait for a replacement check. Unless the 5 is like a hanging chad that she can push through from the back and tape from the back. But, I think the 5 is just gone. If it were a check from you or me, we would have to write out the amount in words. But, the FTB has numbers only, and the most important number is missing.

Yes, it will be helpful to see the forgiveness regulations. Although, the banks will interpret them. I included my SEP and my SEHI when applying for PPP, included them on my P&L. But my bank would NOT use them because they don't appear on my Schedule C; used line 31 only. If I paid health insurance and SEP contributions for employees and those amounts appeared on my Schedule C, then my bank would've counted them for application purposes.

I think retirement contributions as mentioned by the PPP or other programs refers to employER match of retirement contributions for employEEs only. But, they have totally blurred together in my brain now.

Thank you, Max.

Thanx, JRS.

I wouldn't do it for a client or a non-client. Too much risk that something goes wrong and it's my fault. I wouldn't try to stop someone from doing it himself, because it just might work out fine for him.

I'd heard to leave anything such as an apartment, unit, suite, bldg, whatever OFF, just the basic street address. I'll admit I went to USPS to find out how to format XX Upland Terrace which was on the return and did not work, and l found XX Upland Ter which also did not work! That's for an SS only friend. Of course, she has more SS only friends that DID get their direct deposits this week. I'm not getting work done for my real clients with all these frantic phone calls from non-clients!

Pacun, she's not my client nor can she afford to pay me! You are right that the parents would lose more than the child gains. Catherine, I love taking teens to serve on Appalachia Service Project. It's an eye-opener for teens who've never been out of Fairfield County, CT.

Great suggestions, Tom & Margaret. I'll pass them on to my client. Thank you both.

Just received an email from a client who moved to CA in 2018. I think she forgot to tell me she changed banks (I ALWAYS ask in detail) so her IRS and CA refunds came via checks. "I got my CA check in the mail and the envelope and check were ripped. Unfortunately Bank of America won't let me deposit it this way. I've tried to contact CA FTB but haven't had any luck. Can you help me figure out how to get a new check please? Direct deposit would be even better." Being in CT, I have fewer than 10 CA clients, so seldom deal with FTB. Is there a phone number that answers now? Or, is there an online remedy for this gal and her ripped check? All suggestions gratefully welcome.

Yes, and is an instructor at HRB for maybe 20 years or so. Retired U.S. Foreign Service Office.

Ex-client called all in a tizzy because her daughter was yelling at her because daughter won't get $1,200 because parents claimed her. Daughter is 15 or so, earned a few bucks in the summer, and is definitely a dependent of her parents. But, all her girlfriends got $1,200 and are planning how to spend it. Daughter doesn't have $1,200 to join her girlfriends and is mad at mom. And, can I fix it? At least can I tell her how to fix it -- without charging parents, of course. Seems like the entire student body of that high school got $1,200 !!

Your client can mail Form 8822 to change his address, but it will sit in a trailer of mail.

Yes, the checks go to the bank; the papers go into tractor trailers to wait.

I think the 7th edition is the latest. I do know Jean, so am checking with her.

A great book is 1040NR? or 1040? U.S. Income Tax Returns for Visa Holders by Jean Mammen, EA. Do get the latest edition, after TCJA, maybe fourth edition or higher. I got my older edition on Amazon.

As long as you checked the tax code, go for it. (I don't need to know.) Just remember worldwide income for both spouses and any foreign financial accounts.

I haven't worked with a client married to a nonresident, so hopefully someone with that experience will jump in. But, I don't think your client can choose to file MFJ with a nonresident. Don't forget to ask your client if they are joint or individual signers on or owners of financial accounts in that other country.

You said the spouse remained a NONresident alien?

Judy says, "If the LLC is the person's name, it would be the first 4 letters of the person's first name." So, Judy says it's JOHN.

If it's an individual John Brown, the control is Brow. But, if it's a company John Brown Inc, the control is JOHN So many rules!

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