JohnH

Who gave you permission to bask in my envy? I haven't finished basking in it, and besides you're likely to get burned if you stay in there too long.

I can't think of anything that sounds like this. Have the client write down the word in Spanish (if there is a counterpart) or a few words that describe it and post it here. Maybe someone can figure out what he is talking about if we know how he is thinking about it in his language.

No, normal filers will not have to re-file for the rebate (unless maybe they had a small amount of taxable income & tax due and omitted showing the SocSec on line 20a). The special stimulus return is only for those who have no filing requirement.

I don't mean to be flippant, but it's a matter of absolute cost. I would probably pursue that course if the software cost me $6,000 - $10,000 and I had incurred a lot of lost time fixing problems, but at ATX prices I doubt the "down-time" argument will carry much weight. They don't have that much to lose if they dissapoint you and you leave, and you don't have much to gain even if they refunded the full purchase price, which they "ain't gonna do" anyhow.

I don't know if this will affect your situation, but my latest update had quite a few forms, it took longer than usual, and there was a program restart with a slower than normal restart. The latest version is 2007.3.40 according to my system.

One small item worth noting is that the sample form on the IRS web site does not show any "Filing Status" checked even though there are two names on the 1040A. However, in other written instructions elsewhere they do instruct that the "Filing Status" shouold be checked.

You are correct, but it's easy enough to override directly on the form. The checking account info will print if you do that. You can also do a "print screen" on page 2 of the 1040. Printing it this way will omit the aggravating "xxxx" entry and leave the routing & checking number boxes blank. This enables either you or the client can hand-enter the numbers. IRS will accept computer-generated returns with the checking info entered by hand - I've had clients do that in previous years. I always print the filing copy in this manner (without the "xxx"' entry) for refund clients who fail to give me their account numbers. This gives them the option to write it in before filing if they decide to do so. Discalimer - I hereby acknowledge that this response only applies to the 20% of us who paper file (actually I thought the number was more like 2% based on some of the comments I get), but keep in mind that we neanderthals need assistance as well, and our poor clients need any advantage they can gain since they are dealing with preparers who are so far behind the technological curve. :)

That's interesting. As you pointed out, I wouldn't know that e-flinging doesn't support this scenario. One would think that IRS expects software vendors to support it since they mention it on their web site. Maybe there's just a disconnect, or maybe IRS is just addressing the comment to paper filers. In any case, since I continue to paper file as being in my clients' best interests, I'll just point out to those who owe money that the ability to have their rebate direct deposited in additional no-cost service that I am providing for them. :)

From the IRS web site: Q. If an individual dies, what happens to his or her direct deposit or stimulus check? A. Stimulus payments will be issued in the name of the individual eligible for payment on a filed 2007 income tax return or to the account designated by the individual on that return. Any issues or concerns involving a decedent's filed return or the related stimulus payment should be addressed by the legal representative of the decedent's estate. [New 2/27/08] Seems to me the rebate is going to be issued to anyone who is eligible based on the 2007 tax filing. So someone who died in 2008 will still receive the rebate, based on their 2007 filing. I'm still not sure about someone who died in 2007, but I don't see anything in the rules that precludes the rebate being paid to them either (i.e., retired couple, MFJ, one spouse died in 2007 - I think the rebate will still be up to $600 each depending on tax liability, or $300 each if only a Stimulus Retun is required). This makes sense to me, because it is a rebate based on prior years taxes paid - death would not invalidate the eligibility.

>>> When you know the plural of "ya'll" is "all ya'll" <<<< But you also need to know that the plural possessive of "ya'll" is "yor'all's"

Pacun: We've been down this road many times before, and with all due respect to the majority who constantly promote its many benefits, I'll begin e-filing when they pry my copy machine from my cold, dead hands. :)

I assume from your post that you are paper filing. Unfortunately, SC doesn't offer the "Web-Fil" forms that many other states offer. That means you can't fill in the form on their site and then print it, but you can print the blank form and then fill it in by hand or type it. But I've taken that approach when it was necessary. Another possibility is to give the client their Fed forms for filing and tell them you'll get their SC forms to them as soon as available. I assume you're updating regularly, but I did notice quite a few SC forms on the update I did yesterday.

Let's say a taxpayer owes money on his 2007 return. He files & pays by Apr 15 (either paper or electronically). He will be mailed a rebate check sometime between May and August. However, if he enters his routing number and checking account number on his "balance due" tax filing, his rebate check will be direct deposited. Probably means he will get his rebate a little earlier. So whereas we ordinarily would not worry about entering checking account info on a "balance due" return, this year the taxpayer will benefit by our entering that info if we want to take the time to do that. (I didn't dream this up - it's explained on the IRS web site)

The phaseout is a straight percentage - 5% of the excess over $75K/$150K. It's explained under the general info on the Stimulus Rebate on the IRS web site

Dont forget to adust downward for income over $75K / $150K, where applicable.

17: You know the grammatically correct use of "Fixin to" and "momenymns" i.e. "We just left church and we're fixin' to go to momenyms for dinner" 18: You're certain that dinner is the noon meal and supper is the evening meal.

But can we still do the musical notes? I forgot how that's done.

Jack: Happy Anniversary to you & your wife. Hope you enjoy your dinner.

Our church Finance Committe has at various times required dual signatures on checks exceeding a certain limit (usually $1000 or $1,500) issued by staff, but I've always regarded that as an internal control matter for their own proctection. I've never known of any legal requirement for dual signatures for any type of organization.

I actually had a client a couple of years ago to tell me that her son didn't have to pay either Social Security Tax or Self Employment Tax on any of his income any more because he changed his sole proprietorship to an LLC. When I explained that wasn't the way it worked, she said "Well, what does Limited Liabillity mean if it doesn't mean Limited Liability for Taxes?" I told her to talk to the lawyer who set up the LLC since he's the one who collected the fee. I'm just glad the son wasn't my client.

Someone posted on another forum that Drake now has a rebate calculator built into their software. It prints out a sheet as a part of the client letter advising the client of the estimated rebate they will be receiving. Nice foresight - certainly not necessary but a good client services feature. Any bets on when ATX will have this capability? :(

What? Are supposed to actually LOOK at the forms the software generates? I never knew...

I wen back & looked at some CP2000 notices I've seen lately. Every one of them showed the Federal withholding and allowed credit for it in the calculation of tax due. If IRS can figure out he had earnings, they can figure out he had withholding. If there's none showing on the CP2000, I doubt you'll find any on the W-2. I infer from what you orignally posted that the client had W-2 forms from other employment. If so, was there any Fed tax withheld on those jobs? If there was none or very little, then chances are you have the same situation on this job. Also, if it was part-time employment, there's a good chance there was no withholding regardless of what is showing on the other forms. You may be able to get some useful guidance form the info you have on hand. As for overall practice, I'm on board with Pacun. As far as I'm concerned, a missing W-2 means filing an extension. That's about the only thing that will build a fire under the client to get their info together. If Oct 15 rolls around and they still don't have the W-2, then it's time to file the return with a 4852. This helps head off the type of problems you're having now. Once he got a notice regarding a return you filed, his problem becomes your problem regardless of what was discussed when the return was filed.

Are you sure the taxpayer had any taxes withheld? I handled a couple of CP2000 notices recently from the 2005 year. Both gave the taxpayer credit for withholding taxes. (However, both were for 1099-R's with a Code 1, which may mean they are handled differently than W-2 forms).

My brain is fried as well, but I think you just follow the money and ignore the FMV on both vehicles.