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The older I get, the more I am realizing that people will assume my work is worth what I value it at. If I am inexpensive, they will assume that I am not worth much. I tell myself that every time that I am tempted to match a competitor's price. Besides, as someone (might have been the late, great Robert Anson Heinlein) once said, "Free advice is worth what you pay for it."

I hope i did this right - I am a poll virgin! (that sounds REALLY dirty!)

Moving toward not keeping ANY paper. Digital is too easy. Archive takes up 1 cu.ft of space. Total security of 10 years of records only requires a fire safe about 3 ft high. The only thing in the client's folders are demographic info and special notes. This is the second year of my moving this way.

Congrats to the 6 people who voted for Jan 22nd. The IRS announced Jan 20th open for efile. Tom Newark, CA

I will not participate in any venture with Turbo-Tax in any manner, shape or form. You have a taste of what you will be getting. RUN FORREST RUN!!!

I tell people I don't grade papers. If they want me to check their return, they must pay me for the time to do a preparation from the ground up. Even at that, the processing time involved in setting up a new client means the first year's return is often much less profitable than subsequent years. You can't build a strong business based on providing the cheapest service for one-time bargain shoppers. Catering to that crowd just makes you one of many people out there trying to see how cheaply they can work. It's a no-win situation for you.

Support gave me the direct download link: download.cchsfs.com/tech/atx/atxYYYY.zip Just replace YYYY with the year you need. Right now this works for 1996-2012. Happy New Year!

Just remember, Jack, you might be owing me a hot fudge sundae.

Issue Number: 2014-1 Tax Season Opens As Planned Following Extenders Legislation Following the passage of the extenders legislation, the Internal Revenue Service announced today it anticipates opening the 2015 filing season as scheduled in January. The IRS will begin accepting tax returns electronically on Jan. 20. Paper tax returns will begin processing at the same time. The decision follows Congress renewing a number of "extender" provisions of the tax law that expired at the end of 2013. These provisions were renewed by Congress through the end of 2014. The final legislation was signed into law Dec 19, 2014. "We have reviewed the late tax law changes and determined there was nothing preventing us from continuing our updating and testing of our systems," IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. "Our employees will continue an aggressive schedule of testing and preparation of our systems during the next month to complete the final stages needed for the 2015 tax season." The IRS reminds taxpayers that filing electronically is the most accurate way to file a tax return and the fastest way to get a refund. There is no advantage to people filing tax returns on paper in early January instead of waiting for e-file to begin. More information about IRS Free File and other information about the 2015 filing season will be available in January Well I guess all the doomsayers were wrong

I guess we were, but it hasn't started yet...

RUN FORREST RUN!!!

Nah, I just got back from TN, it's not so cheap! If I were you, I'd: (1) go up on fees, and (2) tell the pleasant old lady to go be pleasant somewhere else (there are some real nice bat caves in Kentucky).

And if you have to amend the prior year return you just changed? If you have questions about what exactly was entered and where? I am not so cavalier about tax return files, accuracy and purity of information. If you must "play" with the prior return, duplicate it and play with the duplicate. I am surprised that your methods have not bitten you yet.

I really like the "I don't grade paper's" answer. Checking a return is the same as preparing it for me. Same fee. None of my clients spend $35-55 buying TurboTax and checking up on me. Yet, these folks have spent that, and then want to save *money* because they have *done all the work*. No, they haven't. Nor have they done the training. Rich

I never check self-prepared returns. I'm in the business of preparing returns not checking them, and if I found something wrong, then what? That person would want my advice on how he could fix it up himself and wouldn't want to pay me what my time is worth for that advice or for me to teach him, or for me to prepare it. (Used him as generic for him or her) The only return that I sign my name to is one that I've prepared and done my due diligence on.

Impossible to have a concise questionnaire for such a convoluted and complex set of rules. I am reminding my clients over and over: "Congress passed these rules. This complexity and extra expense are both due to the ACA.

I work for those who pay me. Professionally, the IRS gives me nothing, not even telephone support. I don't do "stupid"...but I don't make clients take lie detector tests.

Clearly that is not a viable option for most of us. Small business that do their own books are the backbone of many offices. And QB has only boosted the number doing that.

My fee for amendment by taxpayer choice is 125% of original preparation fee. Besides, if a client does not have the forms needed to properly document insurance purchased through an exchange, to file a return without that information or to input incorrect information is not allowed by Circ. 230. If my clients don't have all the information, I will not do the return. If they are in that all fired of a hurry, H&R is just across town.

Rita, I love your snippy commentary.

But.....suppose those early filers who must get early refunds don't get whatever form they may or may not need for medical insurance purposes. At this point....I plan on telling all the early birds that if an amendment is needed due to early filing they will have to pay the fee again.

I have a terrible cough every year from the middle of January thru about the third week of February. Then I see all the actual tax "payers", and my cough goes away but I get depressed and eat a lot of comfort foods.

That's what I was saying in the other topic where this came up. I think it will still open before the end of Jan for those early filers (cough) that must have the refunds they are (cough) entitled to.

I'm going with multiple dates in early 2015 if North Korea says it's ok. Too soon?