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I find it ironic that a bunch of politicians are meeting to discuss and pass judgment on anyone's ethics.

Big difference between incompetent and unethical. I would contend the unethical group should be a higher priority, and after they solve that problem then look to focus on the incompetent. Perhaps the committee should also hold a hearing on how to protect taxpayers from unethical members of the senate, but I digress....

A potential new client (referral) called me last night. Her Mom died last year and she needed help with her 2013 taxes. I explained that I would have to put her on extension. She then goes on the tell me that she needs to tell me something that nobody knows. I don't know this woman from Adam, but she needs to confess to me. Do I think she is married if she went to Vegas and got married, but didn't file any papers in Nebraska. I told her that I am not an attorney, but that she needs to call Las Vegas and check. I asked her when they did this and it was in 1999. He died in 2013. Both of them filed taxes as single people all of these years. She called me tonight and told me that she has been married since 1999, because she called and checked. What the heck are people thinking? Apparently they believed that what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. I'm pretty sure that she needs to talk to an attorney, since their taxes were all incorrect and who knows if she is responsible for any debts that he had when he died. I am going to have a piece of chocolate and my husband made me a filet for supper.

I'd tell him the Feds already know about the safe deposit box and are just looking to see if he is honest enough to list it. And if he fails to list it (even if it doesn't benefit him), they will tap his phone and audit him. Plus NSA will start intercepting all his emails. He apparently enjoys being a worry wart - may as well give him something to worry about. Plus, he will probably forget all about that .46% once you drop this bomb on him.

And I've got a bunch of folks who want to file by 4/15 (don't want extensions) who are NOT giving me the last bits I need. I'm ready to dope-slap the lot of them and WILL hike their bills. Sending me the exact same consolidated 1099 that I already have will NOT supply me with the missing basis information on those two stock sales. Sending me the same information on summer care for the kid who's too old will NOT supply me with the missing info on the younger one -- I understand calling the wrong name when someone has left a mess in the living room, but when you are asked for info on Ron and give me a duplicate of the info on Hermione you're not paying attention. Or you've watched Harry Potter too many times. Et cetera ad nauseam. Argh!!

This is on one me. In addition to tax prep/accounting, I'm also a pastor. Sunday morning our children's ministry leader thought it would be hilarious to hide my Bible and sermon notes! I didn't find them until about five minutes before service time! I didn't think that was near as funny as the time I did the same thing to someone else !

put away the guilt and accept your capitalistic ability/niche/good fortune...whatever it is. I think/hope I speak for all of us who play here in your sandbox... over the tax years, I have found tax/program advice several/many times each year that save me time and money. thank you to all the type A personalities (in spite of your political persuasion) who tell me/us what to do. that is why I am here.

Arrival gathering: My new niece picking berries: Uncle Lenny stealing the shot: Backyard games: Aunt Maude with new pet: Family gathers to all say good by!

I am partial to those that read the letter I send them in January, and follow the instructions. Heck, I am partial to the ones that can read....

Think I'll print all of them, cut them out, and paste them over my window panes to hide the gray sky, bare gray trees, brown grass, and all the logs from the trees knocked down during Sandy and Nemo/Athena.

Crickets........................................ After last Saturdays calls, and work.............. Yep it's absolutely ..................... Crickets.............. On a much happier side note, I just snatched up a new partnership with 2 individual returns today! Cha Ching! From the guy whom trained me back in 1988. Double Cha Ching!

First call of the day - TP exercised a stock option that added $107K to his W-2 and has AGI of about $430K. This couple owes $13K with the return and he can't understand it or that the company only withheld 25%. He's in the 33% bracket, hitting the AMT, exemptions completely phased out, Sch A deductions are limited.... He's going to dig through his pay stubs this weekend to figure out what went wrong.

And the first one that picked up today. Owed because of taking an early retirement withdrawal. Client: "But they were supposed to hold out the tax." Me: "Yes, like I said when I called you February 28, they held out 18.91%. The penalty you owe is 10%, and the tax on this is 25%." Client: "Well, they were supposed to hold out 20%." Crickets again. I'm not even trying with these people.

Back by popular demand. . . . In recognition of newly recognized executive powers to modify the law any old way I feel like, any time I feel like it, with or without congressional approval . . . (see, I was against that before I just now decided I'm for it! I just didn't properly understand its benefits ). My earlier 10 minute power nap pronouncement is hereby made a daily requirement for the duration of tax season (including extensions and loading/testing of next year's software) for all tax preparers and is extended to a minimum of 25 minutes. Sweet dreams!

No, I don't have THAT client (currently), but I do have a few of THIS client: Got the return done mid February and they are just now picking up because they owe. So I get to recreate the e-file, and I know that's a minor issue, but still a PITA. Also, love the guy with two 20 page 1099's who thinks I just need the first page. Well, yes, as a matter of fact, I AM on a need to know basis, and I need to know the details of your sales. MsTabbyKats, I also have gotten a few stinkers over the years because "friends" sent them to me. One person in particular has sent me nothing but trouble. When they drop his name, I'm not taking new clients.

I got married in Vegas. At least I think I did.

Or just tell him that 'rate' is a compilation of a lot of different calculations, and most differences involve rounding differences at each step, only the final number is carried out to that level. And that you will be happy to show him a worksheet detailing it, BUT not until May, and it will cost him $XXX due to the time required.

Construct an extensive, exhaustive document with the processes the software and tax regs use to establish those percentages. Then when he comes in, start at the top as if you are a teacher, and make him understand every detail... I will give him 5 minutes tops.... Then make him sign at the bottom saying he understands everything on the page. (before you e-file of course)

Word.

frikkin bananas for lunch?

PTL...they were accepted.

Have done that in the past, as well. Usually works! That guy actually found his info. Newest nonsense is a "nervous Nellie" who knows bupkus about taxes and plays stupid until she gets her electronic review copy (lives in another state... another story) when all of a sudden she wants details about nothings - while still demonstrating her ignorance and lack of perception. Latest: she thinks I made an error leaving the total tax due from an "earlier version" because it is not equal to tax minus withholdings -- completely missing/ignoring the PENALTY amount just left of the total due and which is the difference between the subtracted amount and the actual amount. Just bumped her bill $50 for that email.

MsTabbyKats...I think all of us have felt, at one time or another that we don't "click" with a client or two. Ultimately, we provide a service and if a client wants to speak to me on the phone or meet face to face, I try to accommodate that. They are the client and if that makes them “feel better,” than so be it. The extra time I spend with them would also be reflected in my invoice to a certain degree. If you’ve been dealing with the client for the past month, it may be a bit late to tell her you can’t complete the return but you may be able to suggest an extension so you can spend more time with her discussing it? I know what you mean about asking her to go away. I've felt that way too at times. J Good luck!

I will let you know, I am leaving for LV on the 16th......!

My favorite are clients are the ones that send their 1040-ES on a quarterly basis or the ones that know they owe taxes but have no problem writing a huge check

"You went up $5 on my return." Crickets.

The closer we get to April 15th, the stiffer the billing becomes. I charge a full bill on most clients - for each and every form or schedule we work on. Then give a "courtesy discount" on most. Those discounts go away after April 1st. I raised my basic rate 15 this year after 10 years. My secretary is great at pointing out that its been 10 years........

Take the sermon notes, copy them in the copier in mirror image, then replace the originals with the copies....

Client just replied to my near snarky replies to his queries. Thank you for your answers, you will see a few comments below but they are just meant to be responses to your reply which I found to be humorous on what are minor matters. Sorry for wasting your time at this time of year. We will get the paperwork back to you this evening. I feel a little bit better now...

Lol...the referring CPA just told me the X (she did their joint return when they were married) was already in contact about the capital gains. The client gave me 4 brokers statements. Two had the x-husbands name as primary. I didn't look at them. The other 2 had her name and her name only...which I used. Well...the CPA also said "extend".. So "extend" it will be....with my invoice in full.

If there are questions or open loops at this late date, I would only give her the option of an extension. The extension will give you both time to either get on the same page or for her to find another preparer. Also, the extension gives her until Oct 15 to put the money in the SEP. She can pay the balance due with the extension assuming she will put the money in the SEP by Oct 15, or if she doesn't come up with the SEP money by then, she will owe additional tax at that time. Of course, she can also make a partial payment (or no payment) with the extension request and simply pay the FTP penalty and interest when the return is filed. No matter how or when she pays, the important thing is to get the extension in. Of course if it were me personally in this situation, I'd already have had the extension in place... the run-up period to Apr 15 is exactly the wrong time to be dealing with this sort of nonsense from a client.

"Bazzinga" my... foot. We are not hypocritical because WE didn't start out whining that your post shouldn't be here because it gets in our way. Nor are we infringing on ANYONE's free speech or ability to not click on the thread. I see threads all the time (this forum, and several others) I don't bother to click on -- forms I don't need, states I have no knowledge of, whatever. I don't go barging in to those threads and complain that they should be posting in the e-filing forum or the states forum or the other software forum. And if I click on a topic that doesn't end up interesting me, I just leave. NT is the universal advance warning for "NOT tax." Learn it. Plenty of NT topics here: laugh of the day, KC's adorable pet videos, weeds, flowers, and spring allergies -- I don't see comments in any of those threads from you about how they don't belong. So when you make accusations of "inconsistent, hypocritical, simple minded political posturing" you need to be looking in the mirror at the time.

Please do not call me in 15 years and ask me if I think that you could be married.

The 8948 is easy to fill out. You just mark Box 1 indicating that the client wants to paper file. You also need to have something to retain in your files stating that the client was the one who wanted to do it this way. Here's one example statement that I saw online. Date:___________ RE: Federal Income Tax Return for Tax Year 2013 Our Federal Tax Return Preparer whom is (Preparer Name)has informed me that he may be required to electronically file our 2013 Individual Federal Tax Return Form 1040 if he files it with the Internal Revenue Service on our behalf. We DO NOT want to file the return electronically and choose to file my or our return on paper forms. My preparer named above will NOT file my or our paper return with the Internal Revenue Service, and I or We will file and mail the return to the IRS ourselves. In addition I or We hereby assume full responsibility for filing and mailing the said return for 2013 to the IRS to comply with Internal Revenue Service Regulations for timely filing. I or We was NOT influenced by (Name of Preparer)or any member or associate of his firm to sign this statement Client Signature Client SSN Date

Wow. What happens in Vegas never happens to me.

I'm not sending the IRS any broker statements this year as a test to see if they ask for them. I don't think they have the time or the inclination to check all those PDFs or paper copies. As long as the taxpayer's total sales proceeds equal or exceed the total in the IRS' computer, they don't flag that return. Eventually they'll be able to check basis too and they've already tipped their hand that they just want totals on Sch D for box A & D transactions. I put totals on Sch D for years before I learned that you're supposed to send the IRS detail sheets and I never heard a peep from them, so I doubt I'll hear a peep now. And if I do, I'll just say, Oh, did my office manager forget to send those to you? I'm sorry, she's new. Here you go.

Siberian Squill Crocus Daffodil

Better make RitaB's quota 60 !!

Of course! I'll do that right now. It's currently set to 20... so I'll double it to 40? What do you think?

8606 line 22.

My super is my client. I try to keep him happy because he can turn off the heat. But, how many pairs of work boots can he claim? And does he wear the same ones on his schedule A jobs as on his Schedule C jobs? Oh vey...but at least he knows that it isn't my fault that he owes $10K.

One of my friends (in NH) has a daily picture on facebook of the snow between him and his grill, out on the porch. When the snow pile is gone, it will officially be spring, he says. This morning it was about the size of a loaf of bread.

Finish it with $0 basis (which is what they provided) then call them with results. I'll bet you get their attention....

NOPE you have the right to estimate and thus you are estimating -0- but in these cases I usually use the same as last year, good old Aunt SALY as I was taught.

I'm pretty sure that if I wasn't sure if I was married or not, that I would have found out before 15 years went by.

I agree, Rich. It's the one's who bought tax software and don't really know what they are doing who are "bad preparers". The ones filing phony deductions and imaginary kids using the same address for hundreds of returns are major criminals, and those need to be sent to prison for a long time. Where they could share a cell with the worst o their clients.

At the firm, we have had 1099-Bs from several brokers with such errors. Sloppy programming and input of the program that produces the 1099-B. I think the producers of healthcare.gov went to work for investment companies...

I know spring is here when all the crazy clients start popping up like weeds.