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I have had clients bring in a handwritten sheet of notebook paper with all expenses neatly presented that I felt completely comfortable in using. I have had others bring in receipts that I had no way of knowing if they were business expenses as was mentioned. Ultimately, we have to accept the word of the taxpayer unless we have reason to believe that the figures they give us are not accurate. I used to have a client that brought in a hand written schedule F every year that I felt completely satisfied that the figures were genuine. I wish that I still had him, but he died about three years ago.

They're already telling you they like to take chances and they don't listen to advice. Any guesses on who they will throw under the bus if IRS comes calling?

"After further review of your situation in light of our recent discussions, we have determined that this office is not positioned to fulfill your requirements. We wish you the best in finding a firm with whom to work. Best Regards, " Nothing more.

They have already proven they will NOT listen to your advice. They have already proven they don't care about disregarding laws. And you might want these cretins for clients WHY?? There are plenty of honest and honorable folks who need help. Don't put YOUR reputation on the line for these people; when they are caught they will blame you and drag your good name through the mud.

but they can't reach the keyboard or the plate of cookies!

I have a Brother HL-6180DW that I'm quite pleased with. I used HP laserjets for many years, but it seems to me their quality has gone down recently.

I would say your gut is telling you something for a reason.

I have used nothing but laser printers as well. I have a two drawer HP2015 that puts out 30PPM and toner from rapid refill costs approximately 118.00 per year. As others have stated, the IRS required everything printed on laser. Probably doesn't need to be said here but inkjet will bleed off the page if it gets wet for any reason. Inkjet is also easier to wash. I learned about check washing when I worked in one of my business client's office when some of their employee payroll checks had been stolen or given to someone who had the capability to do so, and the amounts paid were changed. Yep, never thought this could happen either but it did. So, for me it is all laser. Just my 2 cents worth.

Love that one !!!

I guess I am missing something here. Why aren't the preparers being trained that they will be held accountable with job loss if they alter a prior year return. And why, FredomTax, with multiple preparers in your firm haven't you placed password entry into a return and then at the start of a new tax season CHANGE THE PRIOR YEAR program passwords for EVERY EMPLOYEE? If you change the password and not tell the preparers the new one, I guarantee they will stop and ask what happened and why did you do this and you have another opportunity for quality control training. And then do not tell anyone what the password is for the prior year without a supervisor request? .Have each preparer MANUALLY enter the signature dates on the tax returns for clients AND preparer. Change the status of each return to complete when you receive the e-file acknowledgement. Use the "hide returns marked complete" option in the Returns manager. Print all returns to PDF BEFORE printing to a paper printer. Print the client paper copies from the PDF files, not from the tax program routine. And don't forget to pester ATX to add bookmarks to the PDFs printed like their nemesis Drake does. It would be helpful to not have to change each PDF to open in bookmarks index and bookmarks at least on the major stopping points in the PDF. Seems to me that ATX is simply lazy in not adding the bookmarking protocol to the program. Or in the organizers, too, for that matter. I like the idea of changing the colors of prior years to something other than the current year default as a means to remind you the prior year original return is etched in stone. For over 10 years I have rigorously followed the above steps inside my own office and have had several part time preparers see a light bulb light up over their head in tax season when they have to ask for the new password to open a prior year return and realize that the new password is a stop sign to allow for time to think before jumping irreversibly off a cliff with client return data and simply saving the return when they're done with it.. I have very little trust in ATX backup routines. I do use import and export frequently rather than relying on a backup routine from ATX. Especially when upgrading computers and moving datafiles, Last, but not least, take off the letter date field on the cover letter. ATX will always insert current date on your letter if you leave that pesky date field in the cover letter when you access the file and it is one of the reasons why the program asks if you want to save the changes you've made when you've accessed a return marked complete. Better to remove one more source of grief causers from the chain of events, IMO.

To the best family in the professional world: Very Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!

It goes without saying that most of us echo this post. May 2015 be the healthiest and happiest ever. Today was my Mom's birthday for nearly 91 years. We had an extra special reason to celebrate.

Happy New Year, my friends! I hope this next year is the best ever for you!

But, you're great just the way you are! Don't change! Happy New Year!

I can't believe it's been a whole year since I didn't become a better person.

Well the entire key to this conversation is if we are reasonably sure the information presented is accurate or do we have reason to believe it is not. Hence the need for the additional questions and documentation. I guess I should have stated my feelings about the one notebook paper guy I had. He was always skiddish answering questions and if I read into everything he did make me feel his figures were inaccurate. Bingo, last time I seen this guy he was trying to answer why he forgot to give me a 1099R that cost him big time. Never felt comfortable but always had the engagement signed that stated as Catherine said that all receipts for expenses and income must be substantiated and that an independent verification wasn't being done. The was good enough but now with all the due diligence issues I think we need to further protect our selves. Now, if I smell a rat as in my other post, I tell them I can't help them or throw such a ridiculously high fee at them they leave. Not worth it.

Me too! I will not get involved with these guys. Catherine you, Jack and the others are correct. My reputation and good name is not worth anything they have to offer me. I wanted to walk out during the interview session but wanted to try to find a professional way of saying no. Would you guys send a letter stating your position or just call and tell them you can't do it. What is the best professional way to do this without sounding like I am blowing them off or being a jerk.

I agree 100% with both.

I have one guy who brings me everything on notebook paper. At one point he offered me his paper tape calculator tapes for all his categories... I declined. His is a known business, he keeps everything (and thank heavens does not bring me every scrap), and can always answer any question I put to him (but usually starts with "I'll check my records when I get back into my office and get back to you). As with all clients, I emphasize that he will need to produce ALL his receipts and details should he get audited, so please keep them safe and filed by year. I think I can trust his figures.

I am not sure that I see the difference in writing down their figures on a sheet of paper or filling in numbers on their organizer. I am not auditing their business, but I do ask questions if I think that there is an issue. Many of them bring me their whole year on notebook paper, including their individual items and where they added the items up. I don't think that means that I have to check their addition. Many people are not comfortable with computers. Some of these clients have been bringing me their information the same way for over 20 years. I've had a few Schedule C audits and only one owed the IRS a fairly small amount.

RUN FORREST RUN!!!

I use Brother laser duplex printers, saves on paper. Cost per page for a laser cartridge is less than ink cartridges and the laser cartridges give you more pages. But I do have a HP Laser Jet 4 that is over 20 years old and still working; it weighs much more than the Brother printers - must be less plastic inside! Just runs slow.

Don't use the disk for installation. Download the latest install file from the support site. If reinstalling with the other program still there does not work, you will have to delete the old program before reinstalling. This is more than using the uninstall function of Windows.

To all my online friends here at the ATX Community Forum. Catherine

I just got Brother MFCj6720DW for 199 from staples before Christmas. 35 pages for color and black and white with print, scan, fax, copy. I am lucky with brother. I have other brother laser going 5th year and strong with 25 pages.

I googled and found this article and suggested wording from Camico today: http://www.thesavvycpa.com/camico/2011/09/camico-risk-management-articles/the-disengagement-letter-what-are-the-components-and-appropriate-language/

I used to charge 2% per month (24% APR) for invoices over 60 days outstanding. In 2015 I'm shortening the time to 30 days outstanding. If credit card companies can charge 29% on their credit cards, (which is what's stated in some of the monthly statements I receive) then I'm sure I'm well within reason charging 2% a month. I'm not a bank. Nor is anyone else on this forum. I've learned the hard way that some people will pay it and some won't. Those that don't pay it are either one-time customers or no longer a customer. QuickBooks makes it easy to assess, prepare and print finance charge invoices and monthly statements. Starting in 2015 I'm also sending any account at 120 days to a collection agency and dropping the client if there isn't a payment plan in place with us. Enough is enough.....

Happy 2015 for everyone.

And, some scanners come with the full Adobe Acrobat, so check if you're buying a new scanner anyway. Or, your software may have a good Adobe add-on for organizing tax files.

Here's to a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2015!

Thanks for updating the link today. Odd collector that I am it was nice to download years 1996 through 2000 for my archives. Now all I need are valid install codes for those years and I could theoretically roll up a client from 1996 to 2014. Or at least listen to Max in the interview movie again.....

Just exactly how is this information going to be sent to the IRS? Don't overthink this and turn off your logical mind. The IRS will ONLY receive the W-2 information. GOOD GRIEF!! Has the IRS struck such deep fear into all of us that we think they are monitoring all conversations? Don't overthink it!!!

Don't overthink this provision. As long as the employer adds it to boxes 1, 3 & 5 and withholds tax appropriately, what you call it is totally irrelevant.

You need to get some training about the ACA RIGHT AWAY!! It is by no means that simple!!

If you have a high-deductible health plan, do you pair it with an HSA? It hurts to get it funded the first year, but you get some help at tax time. And once it's in the pipeline, each successive year feels smoother.