Lion EA

Yeah, and those MA drivers don't stay in the lines/borders and drift down here into CT.

You may not need to add the full scholarship to the daughter's income. Run the numbers to see how much you need to give dad the highest benefit in combo with daughter. I don't have one in my office right now to look at. But, I prepare parents and college kids at the same time, all the possible ways, and have some good federal comparisons generated by my software as soon as I do data entry. If states begin with federal AGI, then I look at the states, too, with and without T&F deduction. IRS Pub. 970 -- especially chapters 7 & 8 explaining the coordination of benefits to get the best result for your family's situation, including examples and worksheets -- covers educational benefits in some depth and refers you to other publications, such as Form 8863 instructions, and other ways to get help. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf Depending on your software, the Help key may bring up detailed explanations or publications. Don't forget to show dad how much you saved the family by going the extra mile for him!

If the dad qualifies, and if moving $4,000 or whatever is needed for dad's benefits to taxable scholarship for daughter's return, and if her standard deduction will wipe out any taxes on her return or at least keep her in a lower tax bracket than dad, then you may have a better result for the family as a whole. Please run the returns with dad taking AOC or T&F or LLC and daughter having more taxable scholarship to see what gives the whole family the best outcome. Compare that set of returns with the ones you mention above. If you can lower the family's tax liability, the dad will think you are a hero, and you will have their whole family as tax clients forever.

Most of my clients want direct deposit. I get a check, even if it's the check paying my fee. And, I have them look at and sign the Direct Deposit/Debit Report to CMA. If I'm uploading signature pages to them, that report is included with all the signature pages. More and more are choosing direct debit, also. Small amounts, younger clients, convenience, used tpo paying for things online, different reasons, but debits are appealing to more of my clients.

Did she ever treat her business as an S-corporation? Get paid in that name? Open a corporate checking account? Use the corporate EIN? You said she didn't put herself on payroll. If she didn't act like a corporation, can she continue as a sole proprietor for 2019 and you file a zero 2019 final 1120S? I'm not sure, just throwing it out there. Still need to dissolve with her state. What do you say, Abby?

I think it's a bank decision to accept or to not accept a direct deposit without a name match. The someone else would need to work with his bank to know if they will accept. I've seen it work for a kid's refund to go into his parents' account, when kid has no bank account.

You should be able to fill in an 8879 in your tax prep software, even if you have to create a dummy return to use the name you need. But, why do you need to fill in an 8879 for a client who is NOT in your tax prep software? What are you trying to achieve?

I tried it yesterday at a biz client's site. It lead me around in circles, returning me to a previous page. I created the Excel files as they directed and uploaded them successfully, but they would NOT use them. I finally typed everything in manually! They emailed Forms 1099-MISC, or at least I received mine. It does NOT appear that they mailed the one requiring snail mail. And, they did NOT file with CT as they said they would. I could NOT get "chat" to function all day long and did NOT get return emails until late this morning when I am no longer at that client's biz. (Their emails just asked me the questions I had already emailed them, so I replied with the questions in their order/format and still have NOT received answers.) The federal efiles will NOT be done until 29 January, so start soon if you want to be on time. They do NOT show their schedules until after you have paid. I couldn't find how to print client copies. I managed to print each individual 1099, but from QB and NOT from tax1099. All in all, a very time-consuming and frustrating experience that is NOT complete.

I filled in this one with my info; here's a blank for you: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8879.pdf

Thank goodness, I check each year, even when I have a copy or it's a state that rolled over. Discovered last summer that a client in Singapore had lost his license, so got a new one when in NY -- with a new number!

IRS Forms & Publications; search as you wish, current year, or exact form #, or name or.... Then click on the form. For instance, here's a W-4: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf If you find a RED form, look into e-filing instead. And, a few forms still say DRAFT, not for filing (but they often can be e-filed, just not ready for paper filing, yet.) Can you be more specific about the form you need?

I want to get 1099s out of the way before I have a backlog of partnership and s-corp returns to start. I already have two partnerships, one s-corp, and probably a second on my desk or waiting for me to download from FileShare. And, personal returns, but most are waiting for broker statements or K-1s, from me and from other preparers. I finished one small client's 1099s for them to sign and mail. I'm going to another client's site today and hope they still have few enough to get away with mailing -- and that he remembered to buy the forms at Staples! Otherwise, I'll be back there next Wednesday, too. I was filing my own reports and W-2s via QB electronically. All the reports seem to be accepted, but two or so federal payments were rejected. (So far, CT accepted all.) I changed my EFTPS password per IRS's and QB's instructions last September and filed 3Q reports and payments just fine in October. They say I'm not registered for EFTPS and made me go through the registration again; so now I'm waiting for a new code/temp password/whatever to show up in the mail in another week so I can change info and try again. (It would've been here this week without the MLK holiday.) I'm glad I started about the 12th.

I use ProSystem fx, so the names of the products are different. I have FileShare included free with my CCH SiteBuilder website; I use it to upload returns and such to my clients, and they use it to upload their tax information to me and to return signature pages. And, CCH offers a more robust free-standing portal. If you use CCH's eSign, it automatically delivers a client copy when it delivers the signature pages for verification. Many of us have been demoing Verifyle that's free with NAEA membership and another professional membership, too. And, not expensive if purchased on its own, I think. It's great for private communication. More companies -- tax prep software, website builders, email providers, professional organizations, etc. -- are getting into this market. I hope that means that services will be easier for us and our clients to use and that prices will be competitive.

Thank you, Judy.

I think some states require that it be typed in each year.

I've asked similar questions in prior years, but couldn't locate them in a search. My one of very few PA clients listed their (MFJ) taxes as Starlight, PA $295 School tax $2,384.18 Real estate $922.09 Occupation $137.20 In a prior year, she had used the phrase Property tax; does that sound like the current Real estate? Which of the above are expenses for their single-family rental house? Oops, I can't tell what she gave me for their residence vs. what she gave me for their rental. I'll ask her. Other than Sch. A vs. Sch. E, does it make any difference which types of taxes are deductible?

Not often enough! I need to fire a couple of difficult clients; I've been raising their fees, but I'm not happier. I also have a couple needy clients, but they are very appreciative of my help; I should raise their fees, but they are nice, retired ladies on fixed incomes, so I don't. No pay = no more work from me. That I have been doing.

I've been using MalwareBytes for a long time and I forget what, plus I'd removed BitDefender as it was causing problems. With the move to a new computer with Win10, my new IT guy likes the Windows Defender, or whatever it's called, but the computer came with a free year of Norton, so that's what he set up for me. Don't know why he changed his mind, but he came highly recommended, I like him and how he explains most things to me, so I do what I'm told. I think he has MalwareBytes set up, but I'm going to ask him!

It's been awhile. The license is free. Let me see if I can find an invoice with the pay-per-client fee and get back to you. It used to be inexpensive, such as $3 for verified signatures and $1 without. (Although, CCH charges me more for everything because I'm using ProSystem fx. I've been tempted to buy the cheapest ATX each year, not to use, but to get the lower prices on all the extras, such as web site, portal, etc.!) Just pulled out my November invoice. For a late filer, I paid $5 for Esign, with tax $5.05

Just remember with Verifyle that YOU have to verify your client's identity for 8879 purposes and YOU have to record within Verifyle (in a thread, perhaps) your verification details. But, it does look handy to have emails and documents and everything for a client all in one place. What happens if you stop using Verifyle? Is everything stored on your computer for future use and recordkeeping purposes? At least one professional organization has been providing Verifyle free for at least a year. Have any of you been using it that long, free or paid? Do you still like it?

Verifyle is free via NAEA and other professional organizations. But, it's a communication tool and can be for storage and document delivery (from you and to you), too. You need a process that meets the IRS definition of an authenticated signature, one that uses third-party authentication, to use electronic signatures. There are more out there every year. (I use CCH's eSign.)

And, so true!

My old HP LaserJet P2055dn is still going strong with my new Dell win10 computer. It's a model down from the duplexing model, though. It's about 45 pages per and is now my oldest piece of equipment, so I'll pay attention to what you all are using. All my HP printers have been workhorses; I pass them down to hubby when I buy a faster one. Take good care of yourself. I know you're taking good care of your sister. And, I know it's cutting into your work time and probably sleep. If clients don't understand, send them away. If they do, put them on extension or at least give them a later appointment. Prayers for your sister, you, your family, and her whole medical team! You know we're all here for you, and NOT just for taxes.

With eSign, it sends the client his returns, federal and states, for review with the signature pages at the front. The small fee is per SSN, so one fee per client no matter how many states. If a married couple, I use both email addresses, but eSign combines the signatures on one 8879 and one form for each state and sends them back to me. Clients can sign on their touch screen, such as a cell, or type in their name after passing the KBA questions. If I'm sending a prior return someone lost, I upload to FileShare. I have a couple clients that like for me to keep them up there, so they can grab a new copy if they need for mortgage or FAFSA or whatever. Otherwise, after I see they downloaded and I think we're done with that year, I delete before I upload the current year. I've had clients get confused and download everything they see! I also have on FileShare -- available to all -- my engagement letter and a Goodwill or Salvation Army list of prices for used goods. Going to upload 2019 EL now. NY is the only state that will not accept electronically signed forms at all. Some states have restrictions, such as residents or full-year returns only.

I use CCH's eSign. The license is free, just pay per use. It was the first to meet the IRS requirements for a verified electronic signature. By the way, NY will not accept electronic signatures. For my NY residents and NY commuters, I upload to FileShare; they print, sign, upload to FileShare or fax or snail mail or drop through the mail slot in my front door. I have a few who UPS or FedEx or even email, no matter how many times I tell them not to email unencrypted. CCH's eSign will not work for the young children without a credit history to lead to third-party authentication.