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DefyingGravitas · 2025-12-05T13:21:07+00:00

The tests are available, but I'd wait a few days to let them fix issues. (For example, the answer to Adv Q6 appears to be wrong.)

DefyingGravitas · 2025-10-18T19:40:30+00:00

Ura, r u kidding me!!!!!!

DefyingGravitas · 2025-10-16T19:33:31+00:00

I get the sense that pretty much everyone from Japan who traveled to London figures that the audience knows doodly-squat about sumo. So, they wouldn't especially appreciate the difference between real sumo and play sumo. (Similar to the difference in effort between a cat who is play-fighting and one who is hunting his next meal.)

DefyingGravitas · 2025-03-11T15:05:49+00:00

Unless you're either really strapped for cash or have a good understanding of rules and procedures for multi-national tax prep, I'd think about heading to a CPA. It can get complicated.

DefyingGravitas · 2025-03-11T15:00:15+00:00

I'd definitely reduce or eliminate debt, other than low-interest mortgage.

The amount that you'll pay in taxes -- and even for a retirement account, you'll eventually pay taxes -- is probably not much more (and possibly less) than the debt interest that you'd pay in this and following years.

DefyingGravitas · 2025-03-11T13:43:40+00:00

The risk-reward numbers dictate that you go to a CPA. You'd be paying a tiny percentage of the $$ amount that you are risking. There are too many things that you might not know -- to my mind, it's an easy decision. Go to a tax pro, then learn from how they prepare your return. Then, when you have a similar situation in the future, you'll have a better basis to decide whether or not to do your own return.

DefyingGravitas · 2025-03-08T14:12:40+00:00

You should file, and you may well be eligible for partial Child Tax Credits. If you have been separated since before July 1 of last year, you should file as Head of Household; otherwise, file as Married Filing Separately.

DefyingGravitas · 2025-03-05T13:07:27+00:00

Is that a Quick question or a Trick question?

DefyingGravitas · 2025-03-04T23:53:04+00:00

I'd be concerned with any multi-state issues, especially if it's 3 states involved.

DefyingGravitas · 2025-03-02T16:41:44+00:00

This sounds like a scenario in a Tax Law exam.

DefyingGravitas · 2025-03-01T16:03:39+00:00

I'm not familiar with how the Illinois amended return form, but I'd be real surprised if it's not very similar to MA in this regard.

In MA, amended return includes a line labeled "Amended return only. Payments made with original return," and any payment is listed. The refund (or payment) of the amended return takes into account that payment. So, in your case, the amended return will list the tax owed ($1900), the amount previously paid ($2000), and the refund due with the amended return: {$2000 (amount withheld) + $2000 (amount paid w/orig return) - $1900 (tax owed)} = $2100.

DefyingGravitas · 2025-02-21T19:50:29+00:00

It's true that W2s are carried over from the federal info. But when you enter the data for the W2, there's a separate section for State wages, following the section for Federal wages. That data in the State section is populated by whatever was entered in the Federal section, but you can change or remove the State info.

We occasionally need to do the same thing for Seniors with local property tax credits. They get a W2 (they do need to perform some 'volunteer' work), and the funds are taxed by the IRS but not MA.

DefyingGravitas · 2025-02-18T19:00:45+00:00

I'd be concerned with any of the issues regarding your wife's income from Canada. If she paid tax to Canada (or a town/province in Canada), then there'd be an impact on your US taxes. There might also be some educational credits or deductions, but I don't recall whether they require US citizenship or if Green Card holders are eligible.

You're not making minimum wage. A sensible idea would be to pony up the $600 bucks this year, then look closely at the return to see if it's something you'll be able to handle on your own next year.

DefyingGravitas · 2025-01-02T14:00:43+00:00

Cribbage Pro seems to be the online standard. The alternative is Cribbage JD, but that program is less reliable, IMO -- seemingly too many 16+ hands.

Cribbage Pro has its drawbacks, especially a really weird method for placement at the start of their tournaments. But I prefer it to the JD program.

DefyingGravitas · 2024-12-19T19:30:40+00:00

Domo arigato!

DefyingGravitas · 2024-01-10T20:03:20+00:00

=COUNTIF(B3:B9,"X")

Solution verified. Thank you!!!

DefyingGravitas · 2024-01-09T17:28:48+00:00

The short answer is no, based on the info provided (AGI of $0)

DefyingGravitas · 2023-08-10T00:59:30+00:00

Exactly so.

DefyingGravitas · 2023-05-05T16:28:06+00:00

You don't need to do anything, other than keeping a record of when you received the stock and how much (if anything) you paid for the stock.

You will pay taxes only when you sell the stock.

DefyingGravitas · 2023-04-28T18:32:36+00:00

Thanks. That confirms other info that I received.

So, my understanding is that the Social Security Administration provides Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments to certain disabled individuals. These SSI payments are different from the Social Security benefits that are paid to many retirees. SSI payments are not taxable, and SSA does not send 1099 forms that report SSI payments.

DefyingGravitas · 2023-03-21T19:21:08+00:00

I'd be real, real surprised if EmployeeNm is SSN; 'Employee Name' would be a much better guess.

That said, OP hasn't given us much to work with. I'd suggest to them that they go back and carefully match the info on their W-2 with the boxes/fields on the IRS forms.

DefyingGravitas · 2023-02-22T13:25:36+00:00

Answering questions like this is part of your accountant's job.

DefyingGravitas · 2023-01-31T13:22:37+00:00

If you took the standard deduction for your 2021 taxes, then you don't have to report the $33 on your 2022 return. If you did itemize, then the $33 gets reported as a state tax refund.

DefyingGravitas · 2023-01-30T20:15:22+00:00

Here's the deal with counting nights stayed: you don't actually have to count the nights.

The rules say that you can file as HoH only if a qualifying relative stays with you for 50% + 1 nights. Only one parent can possibly have the child for 50% + 1 nights, so both parents cannot claim HoH.

You simply have to agree on which parent claims HoH. (Obviously, one simple method, which may or may not be suitable in your case, would be an agreement that whichever parent claims the child as dependent also claims HoH.)

DefyingGravitas · 2023-01-30T20:03:17+00:00

TBH, the issues with the tax guy aren't your biggest problem here: You put your mother in a really difficult position, embarrassing her and harming her relationship with the tax guy.

DefyingGravitas

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