Question

Prompt In your email back to the client, you must address the critical elements listed below. The codes shown in brackets indicate the course outcome to which each critical element is aligned. When responding to your new clients’ email, make sure to address all of their questions and concerns. This will help support the critical elements below.

I. Identify what additional documents the clients need to provide in order for you to do their taxes. [ACC-330-01]

II. Identify applicable deductions and credits available for the clients. [ACC-330-01]

III. Differentiate types of income and expenditures. [ACC-330-01]

IV. Explain how you utilized the IRS website for staying current in the identification and application of appropriate tax codes and laws. [ACC-330-01]

EMAIL FROM CUSTOMER

From: Freida C. Butler To: Jane Doe, Accountant Cc: Daniel B. Butler Date: January 20, 2016 My name is Freida C. Butler, and my husband and I were referred to you by our good friend Jackie Lynn. We would like for you to prepare our tax return this year. My husband works for WJJJ, Inc. and I work at a real estate company, Corbin Realty. I am not considered a subcontractor for them. Many of my friends are contractors for them and receive a 1099, but I do not. I believe I receive a W2—does that sound like the right form? We have three children who live with us. They were each in school at some point this past year. So you need to know which of them were enrolled in school last year or for how long? Will I get any tax breaks for them being in school? We also had income from some investments. We received interest and dividends from a few places. Can you tell me if those are reported on a 1099 form? If so, I may have to request this from my bank. We own our home and paid the typical homeowner’s expenses. What expenses will you need from us relating to our home? Are there any other questions you have for us, such as other deductions we can take? Just curious: this tax "stuff" is so much information to remember. How do you ever stay on top of all of these tax rules? I have always wondered that! Are you the best in the business? I look forward to hearing from you. Please let us know what other information

Answer 1

Personal Information

• Your social security number or tax ID number
• Your spouse's full name and social security number or tax ID number

Dependent(S) Information

• Dates of birth and social security numbers or tax ID numbers
• Childcare records (including the provider's tax ID number) if applicable
• Income of other adults in your home
• Form 8332 showing that the child’s custodial parent is releasing their right to claim a child to you, the noncustodial parent (if applicable)

Sources Of Income

• Employed
  • Forms W-2
• Unemployed
  • Unemployment, state tax refund (1099-G)
• Self-Employed
  • Forms 1099-MISC, Schedules K-1, income records to verify amounts not reported on 1099s
  • Records of all expenses — check registers or credit card statements, and receipts
  • Business-use asset information (cost, date placed in service, etc.) for depreciation
  • Office in home information, if applicable
  • Record of estimated tax payments made (Form 1040ES)
• Rental Income
  • Records of income and expenses
  • Rental asset information (cost, date placed in service, etc.) for depreciation
  • Record of estimated tax payments made (Form 1040ES)
• Retirement Income
  • Pension/IRA/annuity income (1099-R)
  • Traditional IRA basis (i.e. amounts you contributed to the IRA that were already taxed)
  • Social security/RRB income (1099-SSA, RRB-1099)
• Savings & Investments or Dividends
  • Interest, dividend income (1099-INT, 1099-OID, 1099-DIV)
  • Income from sales of stock or other property (1099-B, 1099-S)
  • Dates of acquisition and records of your cost or other basis in property you sold (if basis is not reported on 1099-B)
  • Health Savings Account and long-term care reimbursements (1099-SA or 1099-LTC)
  • Expenses related to your investments
  • Record of estimated tax payments made (Form 1040ES)
• Other Income & Losses
  • Gambling income (W-2G or records showing income, as well as expense records)
  • Jury duty records
  • Hobby income and expenses
  • Prizes and awards
  • Trusts
  • Royalty Income 1099 Misc.
  • Any other 1099s received
  • Record of alimony paid/received with Ex-spouse’s name and SSN

Types Of Deductions

• Home Ownership
  • Forms 1098 or other mortgage interest statements
  • Real estate and personal property tax records
  • Receipts for energy-saving home improvements
  • All other 1098 series forms
• Charitable Donations
  • Cash amounts donated to houses of worship, schools, other charitable organizations
  • Records of non-cash charitable donations
  • Amounts of miles driven for charitable or medical purposes
• Medical Expenses
  • Amounts paid for healthcare insurance and to doctors, dentists, hospitals
• Health Insurance
  • Form 1095-A if you enrolled in an insurance plan through the Marketplace (Exchange)
  • Form 1095-B and/or 1095-C if you had insurance coverage through any other source (i.e . an employer, insurance company, government health plan such as Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, TRICARE, VA, etc.)
  • Marketplace exemption certificate (ECN) if you applied for and received an exemption from the Marketplace (Exchange)
• Childcare Expenses
  • Fees paid to a licensed day care center or family day care for care of an infant or preschooler.
  • Wages paid to a baby-sitter.
    Don't include expenses paid through a flexible spending account at work.
• Educational Expenses
  • Forms 1098-T from educational institutions
  • Receipts that itemize qualified educational expenses
  • Records of any scholarships or fellowships you received
  • Form1098-E if you paid student loan interest
• Job Expenses & Tax Prep Fees
  • Employment related vehicle expenses (tolls, mileage, gas, maintenance, license, property tax, interest expense, parking)
  • Receipts for classroom expenses (for educators in grades K-12)
  • Employment-related expenses (dues, publications, tools, uniform cost and cleaning, travel)
  • Job-hunting expenses
  • Record of moving expenses not reimbursed by employer
  • Amount paid for preparation of last year’s tax return
• State & Local Taxes or Sales Tax
  • Amount of state/local income tax paid (other than wage withholding), or amount of state and local sales tax paid
  • Invoice showing amount of vehicle sales tax paid
• Retirement & Other Savings
  • Form 5498-SA showing HSA contributions
  • Form 5498 showing IRA contributions
  • All other 5498 series forms (5498-QA, 5498-ESA)
• Federally Declared Disaster
  • City/county you lived/worked/had property in
  • Records to support property losses (appraisal, clean up costs, etc.)
  • Records of rebuilding/repair costs
  • Insurance reimbursements/claims to be paid
  • FEMA assistance information
  • Check FEMA site to see if my county has been declared a federal disaster area