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I wonder if there is some correlation between people who like to play with words and people who like to play with numbers. It seems like this tax board has an exceptionally high percentage of people like me who love puns and other fun with words. Maybe it just correlates with intelligence.....

For all the peeps, my friends and family that think my puns are just for lofts and goggles.

Here is the graduation from peas to squash. Much better. Jack, you have SO much to look forward to. It gets better and better.

Just to add: New Client calls me up on April 14th. Has not filed for 2012 and needs to do 2013... Referred to me by an existing client. This client was using VITA services in the past. So they we not paying anything for the returns. Until they got married. And they said, "Oops, sorry, income to HIGH!" However, since its the last year for you, here is how 2012 looks... You owe $4,000. So they do not file... Now, they are in my office. The VITA folks missed ALOT of potential deductions. I get the 2012 amount down under $2400, with additional deductions still to come to me that we discussed. Sounds good right? So I tell the client that I will charge her $300 for each years returns. Her eyes bugged out. She was getting it for free, before, right? Guess the fact that you paid $2000 more in tax doesn't count? We are worth it. So are you. If I don't get at least one angry client every year over fees, I am underpricing myself... Clients are going to get angry with you. Might as well be due to fees.... Rich

you see new software, scanners and other hardware, you see venders re: financial planning, insurance, payroll, get on lots of mailing lists and collect a lot of pens and chocolates and magnets.

For a fairly extensive list of what sites were or weren't affected by "Heartbleed" click on this link http://mashable.com/2014/04/09/heartbleed-bug-websites-affected/

And in case you don't know, a 'lumper fee' is the amount paid for the labor to unload a container. The people that do this work are called lumpers. And a reefer is a refrigerated truck, not something you smoke. and a "reefer mile" (which refers to the period of time that the engine for the refrigerator unit kicks in in order to keep the temperature at 41 degrees) is a separate charge you may come across.

Does having a left-handed son count? He is at least 20+ IQ points smarter than his Dad. I give him grief about it all the time. I exploit it all the time. Inside I am as proud as a peacock about it! He also is musical and artistic as well as being a programmer.

Basic high intelligence people like all things that require working the brain muscle. Ever watch "The Big Bang Theory?" We have a very high population of higher than average intelligence people on this discussion board, that is for certain.

Thanks, everyone. No, 2013 was not the first year and normally she is very good about remembering. However, her husband had a tumor in his esophagus that the doctors were sure was cancerous, and in the stress of dealing with that she forgot to make the withdrawal. My one experience with the penalty for failure to take the RMD did not go well. We filed the form, paid the penalty, and then wrote asking for abatement of the penalty. Instead of abating the penalty, they kept billing the taxpayer to pay the penalty again. Every year, she got a letter abut this penalty and I would call the IRS and explain that a) it had been paid and we had requested abatement. Every year, they said send us something in writing - we did not get the first letter. So for 7 years, we tried to deal with this problem annually when she got a letter. And every year, someone apparently put a hold on the account for a year but did not resolve the issue. Finally, the woman died and we just ignored the letters after that. But it has left a bad taste with me for these penalties. I hope the procedures have improved in the last 15 years. At least i know enough now that I would take it up with TAS or attend an IRS forum and take it up face to face with someone if i started getting this run around again. I just really hate dealing with this.

6:15PM 6lbs 11.2oz 20.5 inches Caleb David Schlafman Mom & Baby are doing great!! Grandpa is doing an AWESOME job of being Grandpa!!

Congratulations on the new addition!

Congratulations Jack! Not a Grandparent yet, but oh how I miss the "Baby Fix" It is great to hear how involved you will be as a Grandparent. I wish my in-laws were the same.

How to piss off a frog... http://grumpyelder.com/2014/04/how-to-piss-off-a-frog-video/

I can say one thing for certain about every client I ever lost over fees -> . . . . . they needed to go.

Reminds me of a quote I once heard about pricing - if your clients aren't complaining about your price, you are not charging enough.

The long list fro Pikester is absolute; except you have to remember that the $59 per diem is for "meals and incidentals". Any more questions, keep asking. Some of us have had OTR for years. It is a hard life and even harder to show a profit with the high cost of fuel these days. Then, there are lumper fees and reefer fees and an off-road fuel credit for reefer fuel. Good Luck.

LOL thanks can I send you some work to keep you busy JK

Right, you get paid for much more than what you do, you get paid for what you KNOW. It's the knowing what to do, knowing how to do it, and knowing whether to do it, that is the value you are providing.

The only time I do not charge for an amendment is when it is due to my error or omission. Otherwise, it is a paying situation. I am not shy to charge nearly regular price for reasons I have stated in my other posts. I get paid for much more than what I do!

You didn't just add parents, you had to possible, recalculate I&p, 2210, earned income credits, and estimate vouchers, You also had to reprint and collate, etc. I do a lot for free in special situations but never say "you just had to", its always more than "just"

Egad. That looks like it hasn't changed since the 50s!

I charge $100 for an amended return and if it takes more than an hour, I charge by the hour at $100 hour. (I have to estimate the time because I am a one man office and I estimate how long it would take me if I had no interruptions which I always do.)