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We are scheduled to go home tomorrow afternoon !!! Pray that nothing bad happens to change this, please!

Thursday I got a call from a client I helped last year win a battle with his girl friend over who claims the one year old twins. The dollars were significant (for him) so I am thinking this guy is a lifer. The call went something like this: Client: I need you to do my return this year because I tried doing it on Turbo Tax and it kicked back because the kids social security numbers were used on someone else's return. I have a court order permitting me to claim them. So I am going to fax you my info - can you have my return done by tomorrow? Me: Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Really? You fired me now you want me to bust hump to get your return done? Why don't you just print it and send it in? Client: I don't know how to do that. Me: Put your stuff in the mail and I will add your name to the extension list.

Joan -- if you'd be willing to send me one, I'd be glad to buy it off you and pay postage. Drop me a private message... Thanks, Catherine

At the income levels I deal with, people erred in their own favor, usually unknowingly, sometimes because they were told by promoters, etc., and then received that goverment letter. The clients that did a rollover and didn't report it, but maybe had 20% W/H so that'll be taxable. The NY commuter who worked from home and didn't report it as NY-sourced income. The OIH who used the same area % as the depreciation % (that was a HRB preparer doing returns on the side from their kitchen table, paper and pencil, for a baker using her home kitchen on Saturdays, not regular nor exclusive anyway, but 25% ?! Whole house'd been depreciated in four years long ago!). The IRA distribution with 10% W/H who didn't report it "because I already paid taxes on it." The multi-state returns that didn't start with federal AGI but just with their income in that state. The SE that deducted 100% of their car or their cell phone or.... Those ladies who sell clothing or make-up or...at home parties and deduct their own products and the furnishings they bought for their living rooms to show their products and their vacations where they wore their products or.... The losses reported on sales of primary residences. Have one now who got caught in 2010 for 2008 not reporting his investment income; but he didn't amend NY and CT. Now, NY wants as much in taxes, penalties, and interest, as his unreported income was! And, it's too late to get him a credit in CT for 2008. Yeah, when I fix the DIY, it costs them more.

Thank you all. Waiting now for the Doc to come and give us the go-no go decision. Expect it will be go. On a lighter note, this is a hilarious short video. Funny how people just have to press that button! http://www.tvkim.com/watch/1909/kims-picks-push-to-add-drama?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=notd&utm_content=2012-04-20-fifl&utm_campaign=s

Praise the Lord! I know you will both be relieved and a lot more comfortable.

Hopefully you will also find at least one small mistake he made. Often, when dealing with the same sort of situation I found that they had either left off something or entered something in the wrong place. Making it easy for me to point out their need for my help. The best thing about that they cheat themselves more often than they cheat the IRS, in my experience. Which makes them appreciate my value all the more..

Ok, so someone who does not know how to print thinks he knows how to prepare taxes?! At least it seems he's seen the light. Put him at the bottom of the pile and make sure you charge him more than before!