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"It is extremely easy in MA provided the taxpayer give you a form called 1099-HC received from the insurance company." Taxed, you've got to be kidding! It's "extremely easy" provided you enter the correct number from the HC, which is about 164 digits long. I had to check about three boxes before the software stopped charging a penalty for not having insurance for an elderly client who not only had Medicare but was dead. Then there are the quirks that arise with part-year residents (who also get a very generous credit for being renters). I definitely charge extra for MA returns, not because I want to make a "big deal" out of it but because it IS a big deal! Do you also consider California returns "a breeze"? If so, can you please move to New England and work in my office? We could really use you.

This song is probably from your time. http://youtube.com/watch?v=FchMuPQOBwA

Three years ago you were exactly half my age. Now you are 52%--so you are aging faster than me! Meanwhile, I really appreciate the work you have done on this forum. Great job!

I tend to use snoopes.com a lot but found a piece of information I'd like to share. Basically I'm seeing this as taking snoopes with a "grain of salt": SNOPES EXPOSED Snopes is heavily financed by George Soros, a big time supporter of Obama! In our Search for the truth...department, we find what I have suspected on many occasions. I went to Snopes to check this out and they said it was false and there were no such dockets so I Googled the Supreme Court, typed in Obama-Kagan, and guess what? Yep you got it. Snopes lied. http://www.snopes.com/info/notes/kagan.asp http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/birthers/kagan.asp Every one of those dockets are there. So Here is what I wrote Snopes: Referencing the article about Elena Kagan and Barak Obama dockets: The information you have posted stating that there were no such cases as claimed and the examples you gave are blatantly false. I went directly to the Supreme Court's website, typed in Obama Kagan and immediately came up with all of the dockets that the article made reference to.. I have long suspected that you really slant things but this was really shocking. Thank You, I hope you will be much more truthful in the future. Again, just as an FYI.

Like a lot of things, it'll take some time to train our clients. But I'm sure when W-2s were introduced there was a learning curve. And 1098s. Even last year, the 1098s that went out without the mortgage insurance figures? We dealt with it. I do train my clients, and train them well. If they aren't trainable, they pay for the time.

I'm in MA and I agree with SaraEA. Those 1099-HC forms are a Royal PITA. People don't know they're important and forget them/throw them out. They change jobs (or their employer changes insurance vendors, or the person changes plans internally) and there are multiples -- and your client only has one. Or none. Or something is missing. Or you get to chase down the TIN of the company because your client only has their card -- an oh by the way this is the NEW card and they changed the subscriber numbers since last year. Or they don't meet the MCC "minimum creditable coverage" requirements. Then you get to go through the gazillion worksheets to determine if there is a penalty. By family size. By income. By COUNTY. By months without coverage. Then perhaps request a waiver of the (truly nasty) penalty and go through a penalty waiver hearing (at least those are by phone and while I have never *lost* one the pre-hearing prep work is like an audit plus you have to fax all your documentation over days ahead of time). And the other PITA problems I've forgotten. It's only "no problem" IFF have clients with ONE insurance for the year AND they bring the 1099-HC with them. (For you non-scientist-trained folks out there -- "IFF" is scientific notation for the phrase "if and ONLY if." Great term to know.)

Intuit does not charge a monthly fee to ProAdvisors. I don't use a "swiper" but just type into my computer, or any place with internet access. I do have the Intuit GoPayment attachment for my iPhone but seldom use it. The 2+% is worth it to get paid immediately, to not have to drive to the bank from my home office out in the boonies (my business account does not yet accept deposits via iPhone, only personal accounts at my bank so far), to take their charge info over the phone when the person picking up the return is not the one holding the checkbook, to not have to mail out invoices/reminders, etc. I also take PayPal and have a link on the home page of my web site. I want to make it as easy as possible for my clients to pay me. I don't want to spend my time tracking payments. Some of my higher priced returns are for people who prefer to use credit cards to get miles or cash back; if that makes them happier with my fees, then it's worth a small percentage. If you are not yet taking credit cards and will start next season, raise your prices 2+% across the board so you'll come out even on those that charge and ahead on those who don't.

I believe if you set up a PayPal business account (which doesn't really cost for basic account) you can take credit cards not only through them on the internet but they also have a 'gizmo" (don't remember actual name) that they'll give you to use for free and it just plugs into your phone. (I don't have a phone so I didn't get it, so information is just from their offer to me several months ago). www.PayPal.com

>>> Personally....I try to avoid "lawyers as clients" because they can be so picky. I hear you, but you can have them as good clients if you know how to deal with them. At last count I have 8 lawyers as clients. They are self employed and just like the rest of us have to deal with the same issues. The advantage of having a lawyer is that I can e-mail them the cite of the law to a question and they appreciate it. Did I say that they are great source of referrals because they are centers of influence! Almost all my 1041 work comes from them. I think we have a few lawyers on this board. Joelglib comes to mind.

Since I'm curious (nosy) I went to IRS.gov to see if there was a 1099 HC. There wasn't (figured this was an MA form any way). Found apparently that as a small practice --- I've been blessed ---- as I reviewed the instructions on the 1099 H from the feds and also the 8885 form (feds too). I say blessed because I've never had to file either of these for providers or recipients. Many forms and procedures have "confused" me in the past BUT with patience, study, slow reading, etc. -- I could figure them out. From what I've seen, these (1099 H and 8885) may take a lot of time (for me). Althought that's why many of us started doing taxes --- since we're mostly independently wealthy (like the truckers) Anyway, here's HOPING "Taxed" wishes come true and the feds give us an easy way to work with requirements of the ACA. Happy taxing ....

There is a neat program (prey.com) to track your computer (also other devices) if missing, etc. Three users (computers) free, more you need to subscribe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzLVgrK8zlE&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=p_4iHNpjRbM

Yes the links go to the snopes comments --- when I originally saw this (few years ago) I did the basic search and believe (can't swear as memory not there) that snopes basically stated 'no dockets there between the two' --- at the time, I found there were dockets listed and fully believe the article was wrong when it stated there were no dockets --- which is not what is stated at the snopes article now. ---- Since from what I believe you said here - you've reviewed the cases, etc. -- I'll bow to your knowledge --- Regardless, my point here is NOT about Obama and Kagan --- but about taking what snopes states (politically wise) with a "grain of salt", since they apparently have (I have NOT verified this myself) a George Soros connection ---- NOT a Koch brothers connection (just in case you were thinking the Repub's have supporters too). People are going to believe what they want to believe --- my point is what I was guilty of (I blindly believed snopes was MY fact checker - without doing verification my self independently from them) only checking one source and believing they were impartial. I found I was wrong, and thusly shared an FYI here. Thanks for questioning me --- you've made my point too.

I have a (wealthy $$$) friend who carefully opens any gift she gets; carefully folds the wrapping paper and saves it for the next gift that she gives to someone. ME...I am really getting to like gift bags. You all know why. (recycle)