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This was posted by JohnH in 2008. I keep it bookmarked. It makes me smile EVERY time I listen - Especially the first two weeks of April. Thanks, John, for 5 years of smiles! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TkuZ5oI9uY

Time to sue the pants off (a) the school -- teacher, principal, superintendent, and (b ) the town authorities who pulled the dad's permit for NO reason. "Shall NOT be infringed" means _exactly_ what it says. Every attempt to disarm just underscores the crucial importance of the 2nd Amendment and exactly the type of government high-handedness the framers were working to prevent!

I am taking a couple of hours off today to go shopping with my Granddaughter for Maternity Clothes. Yes!!!! What is more important, tax returns or a new Great Grandbaby, the first? I am thankful that all of you will be helping me with my work while I am out. Have not been out of the house since Monday. They heard the nice, strong heartbeat yesterday and are so excited.

Here's hoping they DO file suit. This sort of insanity is happening more and more these days, but this one went a huge step further I do think that spreading the word of what is happening is important too, because when I first started seeing such stories I thought "what idiots" but assumed it was an isolated incident. But it's spreading like wildfire now, and the current political climate is feeding the insanity, it seems. We need to all be looking at how our schools and our police are handling discipline and our rights as both parents and as honest citizens. If the true CRIMINALS have more 'civil rights' than honest citizens, IT IS UP TO US TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

Two and three quarter days to go. The coffee cup is full, had about 4 hours of sleep so let the games begin. I can see the finish line but hope I don't crap out before I cross it. Hang in there everyone by the time June rolls around and things are all calm, you'll miss all the fun you have had. On a more serious note, it is funny how things always seem to work out. I, like many others, dealt with software issues, learning curves for new software, paniced and drove my self nuts on January 30 wondering how it was all going to work out. And now that the dust is beginning to settle, I have realized that I have had one of the busiest and mostprosperous tax season for the last five years and all the worry proved useless. Cudos to all of you on this board, and the TRX board for being there for me and everyone else. This is an invaluable asset to all of us. Here is wishing each and everyone of you a good and restful break after Monday. One more thing, I think we all should take a moment and think about the software developers, support folks, and others that worked long hours that have done their best to help us get through this tax season. My hats off to them as well. Thank you!

I used to be from the "penalties and interest are the responsibility of the preparer" camp, but then other prepares have shared that the taxpayer had access to that money for that period of time. So now my position is to take responsibility for any penalties (and not interest). And we also we require that we must be the ones who contact the IRS first, or all bets are off.

NEW PROVERBS If you're too open minded your brains will fall out. Age is a very high price to pay for maturity. Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry he'll be a mile way—and barefoot. Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity. A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory. For every action, there is an equal and opposite government program. A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good. Eat well, stay fit, die anyway. No husband has ever been shot while doing the dishes. Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it.

http://commack.patch.com/articles/dad-s-pistol-license-suspended-because-of-what-10-year-old-son-said-in-school Read especially the third paragraph !

Before the final, final rush, to express my deepest gratitude to this group as a whole and to each member as an individual. First let me state that if I have offended anyone in anyway during these last thirteen weeks I offer my deepest apologies. It was never my intent to offend. But enough of that. I know in my heart of hearts that I would have made it through this season in your absence, but I would not have wanted to. I have gained such great insight to the software, tax issues, office practices, and other issues from you. And as a whole the season has been made tolerable and at times enjoyable because of you. As has been often said, this group is a family, and it has never held more true than during this convoluted season. Thank you all for the comraderie, the fellowship, the sharing and yes, even the scoldings. I am better for having spent this time with you. I wish for each of you nothing but the best of everything good in every aspect of your lives and a very, very bright future. May God Bless you in every way imaginable!

No rejects!

Congratulations!! At 83 years young, my mom has about 115 grand, great & great great grandchildren. She still gets excited each time she hears a new one is on the way

I did them free for years. I got paid in the good feeling it gave me.

Ultimately we need to take back control of ALL our levels of government - local, state, federal. We, the People, created the government "to preserve these Rights, governments are instituted..." -- the ONLY legitimate purpose of government is to protect our individual rights. As we created it, it is our creature, subordinate and subservient to US, its creators. We have forgotten that. So have the entrenched bureaucracies at _all_ levels. Until we take control back, we have to pressure all the various legiscritters and other officials, reminding them they are our servants, not the other way around. This is not a sprint; it is a super-marathon at least. A generational fight that that mcb's new great-grandbaby may see the success of.

Awesome! Congratulations! We have fourteen grandchildren but the oldest is only thirteen so greats are still a ways off (yeah, I know, the blink of an eye!).

Absolutely, it is all about giving back. They allow us to sit in our nice warm offices and complain. I do continue to discount after they are out, also.

>>losses on the rental wiped out the cancelled debt<< Possibly this time the cancelled debt will wipe out the loss. Remember to reduce tax attributes on Form 982. They don't get a capital loss for money they never had to pay.

When I run into an error on a previous return I tell the client...and I tell them the IRS may catch it...or may never catch it. it's up to them to amend or not. I would think that the taxpayer is still responsible for the tax....and insurance would just pay interest and penalties.

It takes the IRS on average 2 years to get around to sending notices, but the always do on the MFS situation, since each of those returns has both SSNs on it.

Active duty deployed military have 6 months AFTER they come home to file their return. A note at the top of the 1040 is all that is needed. No need for extensions.

Thanks, I will check them out. I never thought I would have to switch from ATX....

THEY HAVE TOTALLY MISSED THE BOAT. HOW THEY CAN NOT BE THINKING OF GOING BACK TO 2011 IS UNTHINKABLE. TO TRY AND QUANTIFY THE REASONS IS MADDING.EITHER THEY DO OR WE GO TO ANOTHER VENDOR. I AM NETWORKED WITH 6 STATIONS WINDOWS XP PRO. THE SLOWNESS IS UNMERCIFUL. TO DO EXTENSIONS OF TIME IS 10-25 MINUTES DEPENDING ON SIZE OF FILE. MOST FILES MY STAFF IS SAYING 20 MINUTES. WE ALL REMEMBER HOW EASY LAST TAX SEASON WAS WITH 2011 PROGRAM. MY STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING NONSTOP TOP TRY AND MAKE UP FOR THE SLOWNESS. MY IT GUY SAYS THERE IS NO FIX TO THIS PROGRAM. WE ARE USING 12.11 SINCE WE WENT TO THIS WE HAVE SLOWED DOWN EVEN MORE AND DO NOT DARE UPDATE. HOPE YOU ALL GET THROUGH THIS AND I DO HOPE ATX IS LISTENING REMEMBER WITH 31,000 CUSTOMERS AT AN AVERAGE 1,400 PICK A FIGURE, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT $40,000,000 BUSINESS. COMPETITORS ARE BEATING AT OUR DOORS TO SWITCH. I TOLD THEM ALL GOING EVALUATE IN JUNE.

Ever more reasons to homeschool.

JB, It sounds like she definitely is suffering from spousal abuse (mental abuse which sometimes is the worst kind). It's almost impossible not to care and be concerned especially when you see with your own eyes the abusive situation that exists even with a tax return. I positively agree with others that she is in need of counseling....desperately needs counseling as a matter of fact. I know you wish there was more you could do, JB, but no one knows what keeps abused spouses from getting out of a horrible situation. I don't see anything other than strongly suggesting she gets counseling. There are many "free" or "sliding scale" counselors available in some communities for people of little means. Again, strongly suggest that she seeks counseling as counselors are trained on how to get through to abused spouses (if it's possible at all with a particular individual). Counseling might not give her the courage and self esteem that she needs to change her life for the better, but it's her best chance at the moment! If she lives in a community property state, you have a completely different situation and steps that could be taken to rectify the problem. If memory serves me correctly, the state you (and she) live in isn't a community property state. Too bad.......... Take care, Cathy

Agreed. I do wish clients would understand the limits of my powers.....tax prep...not therapist.

If you know her husband is likely to itemize based on what your client told you, you have the obligation to file her return correctly. If she Turbotaxes it with the standard deduction, or if you didn't know her before and she tells you hubby takes standard, I have no idea if she'll hear from the IRS. I would think so, but don't know how efficient the IRS is at matching up MFS returns and then looking at itemized vs. standard deductions. But, this isn't your situation. Know or should have known. You can't unknow it now. You can only prepare her taxes. If she wants some type of solution, she'll have to go to a divorce lawyer or a counselor or....

JB for what it is worth, don't play the role of a divorce mediator or marriage counselor! The only one who will get burnt will be you. A long time back when I was inexperienced I got myself involved in a similar situation trying to play the good guy, doing all sorts of projections MFJ/MFS HH etc only to find out that I could not make anyone happy and at the end lost both as clients within a few years. These people were my friends before. I worked with the lady in my very first job! I now say sorry i am not getting in the middle of a couple's financial issues in marriage. I am here to do a tax return. I explain how MFJ and MFS works that's it. Their marriage and financial issue are their problem not mine. Sorry.

Things I sometimes wish I could say . . . but probably never will! I see your point, but I still think you're full of baloney! I see your point . . . perhaps you should wear a hat. I don't know what your problem is . . . but I'll bet it's hard to pronounce. How about never? Is never good for you? I see you've set aside this special time to humiliate yourself in public. I'm really easy to get along with once you people learn to see it my way. I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter. I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message... I don't work here. I'm a consultant. It sounds like English, but I can't understand a word you're saying. Ahhh...I see the screw-up fairy has visited us again... I like you. You remind me of when I was young and stupid. You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers. I will always cherish the initial misconceptions I had about you. Thank you. We're all refreshed and challenged by your unique point of view. The fact that no one understands you doesn't mean you're an artist. Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental. What am I? Flypaper for freaks! Do I look like a people person? This isn't an office. It's a nightmare with fluorescent lighting. I started out with nothing & still have most of it left. Sarcasm is just one more service we offer. Errors have been made. Others will be blamed. Whatever kind of look you were going for, you missed. I'm trying to imagine you with a personality. A cubicle is just a padded cell without a door. Can I trade this job for what's behind door #1? Too many freaks, not enough circuses. Nice perfume. Must you marinate in it? Chaos, panic, & disorder – my work here is done.

A local business was looking for office help. They put a sign in the window, stating the following: "HELP WANTED. Must be able to type, must be good with a computer and must be bilingual. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer." A short time afterwards, a dog trotted up to the window, saw the sign and went inside. He looked at the receptionist and wagged his tail, then walked over to the sign, looked at it and whined. Getting the idea, the receptionist got the office manager. The office manager looked at the dog and was surprised, to say the least. However, the dog looked determined, so he lead him into the office. Inside, the dog jumped up on the chair and stared at the manager. The manager said "I can't hire you. The sign says you have to be able to type." The dog jumped down, went to the typewriter and proceeded to type out a perfect letter. He took out the page and trotted over to the manager and gave it to him, then jumped back on the chair. The manager was stunned, but then told the dog "the sign says you have to be good with a computer." The dog jumped down again and went to the computer. The dog proceeded to enter and execute a perfect program, that worked flawlessly the first time. By this time the manager was totally dumb-founded! He looked at the dog and said "I realize that you are a very intelligent dog and have some interesting abilities. However, I still can't give you the job." The dog jumped down and went to a copy of the sign and put his paw on the sentences that told about being an Equal Opportunity Employer. The manager said "yes, but the sign *also* says that you have to be bilingual." The dog looked at the manager calmly and said, "Meow!":)

It goes without saying. This forum is a "friend in need" for a sole practitioner. Thank you all for easing the stress level this year.

I agree with everything rfassett said except for one part. I'm not sure I would have made it through this season (or any other) without this forum. As a sole practitioner, I really rely on y'all to help me with my questions. Thanks so much.

Twice this year something that someone shared as a sad tale of client inanity happened to me for the first time ever within 24 hours of reading the post. Hope this one isn't #3!! People continue to amaze me . . . alas, not always in a positive way!! I still want to tear out my hair when I hear, "Oh, just put me down for the standard charitable deduction."