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I have a mental battle going on over how to respond to this. My initial thought was "Wow! That was a real kick in the gut". But then I thought, "Wow! 85 days is a long time". Then I thought, "I will never get all of them done!" And then I thought, "oh the heck with it. Get to work."

I'm so glad that I posted last night. I got a lot of good ideas and chuckles. I don't feel like such a dipstick today. I do have a drop box that has helped a lot. It is a locking mailbox that is bolted to the house. I am going to try to train my hubby to put returns together and maybe do a few other things. Our city laws don't allow home offices with outside employees. It was really easier for him to put them together when everything was mailed. They were all pretty much alike.

Yes, I do want the forms to autofill as well. And, I want the program to explain to the client WHY they should be on extension. And, dust/vacuum my office

Thhhhhhppppbbbtt!! (my standard raspberry)

JJStephens, The answer is on the W9 that they give you. Send the recipient a W9. If they don't indicate that they are an exempt payee, send the 1099. If they are exempt, they will tell you. I run into this all the time. "Why did you send me a 1099?" My answer, "Because that is the way you filled out the W9." Some vendors don't want to give a W9. My response "Then I have to take 28% of your payment and give it to the IRS. Without a Tax ID number to match it to, good luck getting it back from them. But if you give me a W9 and it says you are an exempt payee, then I will not issue a 1099. This is your choice." This works like a charm. Tom Newark, CA

My two year old computer was getting "windows arthritis". Installing an SSD as my main drive breathed new life into the computer. It was never this fast even when brand new. All my staff have two monitors. Did that at least a year ago. I have three, cuz I'm the boss.

Naveen: I am very sorry to hear of your situation. It must be devastating to you at this moment. As many on this forum have also done, I have been involved in several situations in which a decision to discontinue life support had to be made, although not my wife. But in each situation, it was a great comfort to know that the loved one had clearly stated via a living will that this was their wish. It is a much more difficult decision when the person's wishes are not clearly understood. So your wife in her foresight gave you the peace of knowing that what you are being asked to do is according to her wishes. You are not making this decision alone, because you also have the advice of the medical professionals to help guide you in complying with her wishes. You aren't pulling the plug - you are doing what she requested be done if this situation ever occurred. But that doesn't lessen the grief, so just know that I and others on this forum will be praying especially for you over the coming hours and beyond.

Only one solution to the stress - E-X-T-E-N-S-I-O-N-S Lots of them. No giving in to the clients' demands and whining. If you let them, they will completely burn you out without giving it a second thought. Many of them think we derive meaning & purpose in our lives by being martyrs. Unfortunately, sometimes they are right. I must say, if someone asked me why I'm not at work on a given day or evening, I'd simply respond with "Why aren't you?"

Wouldn't having a cow be a good thing in your area?!

Looking at your profile pic... Do you have any employees named Abby?

Issue a 1099 so you have accurate records. No need to research.... just issue the 1099s-misc.

I do not have the physical room for even 2 with the current layout of my office. This WILL be changed for tax year 2015. I am totally jealous of your three monitors. At the firm, I have two. When I work at home, it feels like I am working with a huge handicap.

We will also be held liable for verification of these. All this study and requirements for due diligence were thrust upon us by Congress, the Senate and the President. I am making sure that all my clients know this. I have no remorse in charging extra.

I love my three monitors.

i took a lot of courses in this. Those forms are not going to be cheap. Maybe $100 each.

For my practice in a small rural town, minimum of $25 additional (check the box only) to a max of $100 additional if through the marketplace or no insurance. I will have a separate line with this additional amount. It will be designated: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act surcharge. I am considering including the phone numbers for our Representative and both Senators in the line below it.

That is one return completed. Schedule C, no assets. Very clean. Health insurance coverage for all persons on the return with same health insurer for the whole year. Would that they would all be like this. Amen? Oh - and BTW - it is really nice to be back in familiar territory!

I spent around $1800 including software which I had already, but decided to upgrade to Office13 and downgrade from Win8 to Win7 Prof. 64-Bit Dell XPS8700 $800.00 2XDell 23" LED monitors $260.00 Dell dual monitor stand $125.00 480GB Msata SSD $240.00 Office13 $220.00 Win7 $130.00 The dual monitor wasn't necessary, but what the heck now I can work twice as hard.

It's a good thing we have the ATX community for when we get ourselves in a pickle!

Here is a link that maybe very helpful that answers a lot of questions that we and our clients may have. If you need to determine the eligibility for an exemption while preparing the tax return, this site has the 2014 and 2015 market rates for the bronze plans for all States. The link will take you to Burlington, NC which is my main target area but you can navigate to any city once there. For Bronze - http://www.legalconsumer.com/obamacare/rates.php?CITY=Burlington&ST=NC

Anyone else enjoying the benefits of using a SSD HD?

On Friday, January 16th, the IRS issued new procedures (RP) in RP 2015-13 and RP 2015-14 covering automatic and non-automatic method filings that supersede the prior RPs that taxpayers had to follow. RP 2011-14, and its supplements RP 2014-16 and RP 2014-54, for automatic method changes is now superseded. RP 97-27 for non-automatic method or advance consent method filings is also superseded. The issuance of the replacements to RP 2011-14 and RP 97-27 solves several problems that the IRS had: (a) it updates the guidance of RP 2011-14 and RP 97-27 that had been outdated, (b ) it combines the automatic and non-automatic into one document, and (c ) it pulls the listing of automatic method changes into a separate document. Now future additions to the automatic methods will not require the replacement of the main method change revenue procedure. Taxpayers should now use RP 2015-13 and RP 2015-14 to make accounting and non-automatic method changes. Rev. Proc. 2015-13 contains the rules taxpayers should follow to make automatic and non-automatic changes in methods of accounting, which are changes that do and do not require the IRS’s consent, including those related to the employment of the Tangible Property Regulations (TPRs). The new RP 2015-13 contains the procedures for applying for automatic changes in accounting method (which are those that do not require the IRS’s response for consent). Instead of RP 2015-13 being a complete document with an appendix of all of the automatic method numbers, the IRS issued Its sister issuance of Rev. Proc. 2015-14. RP 2015-14 contains the list of automatic changes in accounting procedure to which the automatic change procedures in Rev. Proc. 2015-13 apply. Any method of accounting a taxpayer adopts must clearly reflect income. Under Sec. 446(e) and Regs. Sec. 1.446-1(e)(2)(i), unless otherwise provided, a taxpayer must secure the IRS’s consent before changing its accounting method. To obtain the IRS’s consent, taxpayers file Form 3115, Application for Change in Accounting Method. Even when the IRS’s consent is not required, taxpayers must file Form 3115. RPs. 2015-13 and 2015-14 modify and supersede, for the most part, RP. 2011-14. The new procedures apply to Forms 3115 filed on or after Jan. 16, 2015, for a year of change ending on or after May 31, 2014.

Hi.... I need my taxes done.....What do you charge....? You look kinna old.....Do you know the current laws?

Administrator's (reply to my e-mail: "Yes, his wife and kids are covered." Crying. Ok, let's try this again...

Jack, I hear what you are saying, but I also know my client base. I could go out with a very high charge and blame it on the POTUS, but that is still taking money out of my client's pocket. A lot of my clients are simple returns, and they are used to paying a certain amount. An extra $100 for 15 minutes of interview and form entry is too much. And remember, some of those forms are going to be required multiple times on the return. You may still be right, and I may be giving away my expertise at a low price, but I have to run my practice for the long haul. Tom Newark, CA

Rita, I am reading it as Jack does, that IF the church buys the policy, then it's treated like a group plan, not taxable to the employer. BUT if the pastor bought the plan, and the church is just reimbursing him for the premiums, it's taxable.

The W9 now asks whether the LLC is taxed as a partnership or a corporation. The reason the IRS added that was so you save issuing 1099s to entities that are essentially a corporation. So the answer to your question is (as always), it depends.

Pacun has the correct advice.

Naveen - I have no words of guidance. You are walking a path that is frightening beyond measure. I have been married for over 41 years and just cannot imagine the emotional turmoil thrust upon you. Life is very hard at times and can seem so unfair. I cry with you - even now. You have received some very good counsel on this thread. Just know that you are not facing this emotional trauma alone. I can say without hesitation that you will never get over the grief. You will learn to cope with it as time goes on. And grieving is like finger prints, it is different for everyone. A time limit cannot and should not be placed upon it. I would encourage you to rely heavily on family and friends. And know that this group is strong with prayer warriors. I too will continue to pray for you. I have no strength of my own, but the God of all creation hears our prayers. And that is why I pray for you - because I believe He hears when we pray. So even now Lord Jesus, I come before You with a very heavy heart. I do not know Naveen or his wife, but You do. And You know the situation. You are a sovereign God. And not just sovereign in the big things. You have told us that You care even about the sparrow. And so too, You care about Naveen and his wife. You are in the situation, even now, with Naveen and his wife. I pray, Oh Lord, that You will guide Naveen in every step that he takes and every breath that he makes today, tomorrow, in the time to follow this heart wrenching time, and forever more. Father, I am mindful of just how deep Your love is. I pray, even now, O God, that Naveen would feel that love completely and unquestionably wash over him and that he will know that he cannot take one step outside of Your incredible, unsparing love. This is a hard time for Naveen, Father. We take great comfort in the knowledge that You have known these kinds of times and You will carry Naveen through this. Father, please wrap Your loving arms around Naveen and his wife and let them feel Your peace in this, their hour of need. Father, I also pray for every member of this extended family. I pray, O Lord, that You would keep us mindful that You are with us now, and always. Help us, Father, to be there emotionally for Naveen as this situation develops . And, Father, if there is anyone here that is near to Naveen physically, I would pray that You, O God, would lay it on his/her heart that he/she needs to be "boots on the ground" right now. But, Father, if none are here, I am confident that You will rise up Your people to be with Naveen and his wife as this situation unfolds. Father, our hearts hurt for Naveen. Please be with him and let him feel Your presence in a very real way. Father, thank You for hearing my prayer. And I pray all these things in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen and amen! Naveen - please know that we care!

I forgot to mention that if the added wording doesn't work in the printing routine, the saved wording in the "short version" template you created is the wording of the letter before customizing so you could delete the contents of the edited Federal letter and paste in the wording from the saved "short version" original.

My father-in-law had to do just that. He called his only son, my husband to go there; we hopped in the car and hit the road from CT to PA. But, Dad decided he wanted that to be a private time with his wife. He had a friend out in the waiting room; the friend took him home when all was over and waited with Dad until we arrived. I guess I'm saying to not be alone, to have a trusted friend with you or just outside, someone who can stay as needed and just be quiet or listen to you. If that's family, that's wonderful; but families can be spread far apart. My husband had just been with his mother, so he had less of a need to say goodbye than Dad who needed the time to say goodbye in his own way after 50+ years of marriage. I have an engineer client, very analytical, who lost his wife a few years ago. When he returned to have his taxes prepared a year after her passing, he teared up and said to me that people tell him he'll be better now that a year has passed. But, he said, it never goes away, you just learn to live a new way. I was very touched that he could open up to me. We are your family and will listen to you and love you and cry and pray.

Oh Naveen, Words are really inadequate at such a time. How moved are we all that you would share such painful news knowing that we are a family of sorts and hold each other in our hearts, now especially you. Listen to your heart and the wisdom around you and be guided by the most loving act you can make whatever that may be. I, too, hold you in prayer for guidance and comfort.

I charge by the form, so I am not charging for "Check the box" this year. I am charging for the the Premium Credit form and the Shared responsibility tax form. Tom Newark, CA

Tom, From Pub. 463 To meet the directly-related test for entertainment expenses (including entertainment-related meals), you must show that: The main purpose of the combined business and entertainment was the active conduct of business, You did engage in business with the person during the entertainment period, and You had more than a general expectation of getting income or some other specific business benefit at some future time. Business is generally not considered to be the main purpose when business and entertainment are combined on hunting or fishing trips, or on yachts or other pleasure boats. Even if you show that business was the main purpose, you generally cannot deduct the expenses for the use of an entertainment facility. See Entertainment facilities under What Entertainment Expenses Are Not Deductible? later in this chapter. You must consider all the facts, including the nature of the business transacted and the reasons for conducting business during the entertainment. It is not necessary to devote more time to business than to entertainment. However, if the business discussion is only incidental to the entertainment, the entertainment expenses do not meet the directly-related test. See below link. http://www.irs.gov/publications/p463/ch02.html#en_US_2013_publink100033852

In Virginia, SOL can be either the steaming pile or the Standards of Learning. Wait - is that the same thing?

YES, Definitely!! Prices are reasonable now. Boot time from pushing the button to my desktop, 7 seconds.

NECPA you have to make time for yourself. From time to time we all need to recharge those batteries. You might want to consider getting yourself a helper. I have a couple of them and it really frees me up to do other tasks.

I laughed and laughed at this post and I hope NECPA did too. SIL seems to me to be unhappy with her own life and finds great solace in trying to control others' lives in lieu of her own unhappiness. I love the flag up. Have you thought of telling all the other clients to put the flag down when they drop something off? That might further confuse SIL.....

Sorry to hear about your frustrations....and glad to know you're laughing about it today. I used to "never leave home" during "the season". Then I remembered....I'm not in prison. About the supermarket thing...probably the person was joking? You are allowed to breathe. Another option...plan a trip for April 16th...it will be like the prize at the end of the game.

Funnier yet was my other SIL's first time using the box. She could not figure out that the front's top portion is a hinged door because it looked like all one piece that included that bottom locked part. She's very intelligent but without too much common sense, and she decided that there MUST be a slot somewhere on the back. So where did she put her envelope of documents? She stood in my flower bed and found a small 1/2" gap between the bottom of the box and its mounting plate for the post!!!! We both laughed when I showed her the little hinged door on her next visit. I never envisioned having to instruct smart adults on how to use a mailbox!

I never had more than one or two extensions before last year. For 2013, I have a bunch. I used to hate extensions; now I am grateful that is an option. I try to save returns that I know won't have to pay until the end starting about April 1. (just in case)

Hey Terry, I appreciate where you are coming from. I am taking a different tactic in my practice (that some may call reckless - and that is OK). I am not going to grill every one of my clients this year. There will be a couple of simple questions. 1. Did you have health insurance all year? If Yes: Did you get that health insurance on the exchange? If no: Why not? And then I am going to take it from there. I don't see any reason to subject all of my clients to the questions that may not apply to them. If they say they had health insurance all year and it did not come from the exchange, I am checking the box and moving on. If they did not have insurance, then I am going to see if there is an exception. If not, they pay up. If they got their coverage on the exchange, I am going to calculate the credit and include either the additional credit or the clawback on the return. I know I am making this out to be a little simplified, but I just can't go through the brain damage of trying to figure out every possible scenario that might be presented in my office this year. I am going to take it one client at a time and do the best I can for them. I will learn things as I go, and hopefully I will recognize when I don't know one of the nuances of the law. Not changing my engagement letter for this. Just treating it like any other provision of the tax code. Tom Newark, CA

Yardley, Run, as fast as you can, to take these offers up to help you out. The type of free training they are offering you is priceless. There are many pitfalls to doing clergy returns. They are usually very rewarding to do if you are in to helping out people who are generally good folks, but just care more about their profession and faith than they do about the government and taxes. If you don't want to read a whole book, GuideStone Financial Resources out of Dallas TX (Southern Baptist Affiliation) has an excellent web page called "Minister's Tax Guide". Use this as an overview of the whole clergy tax system. It is written as if the clergy member is reading it. It is the best I have seen out there. Richard Hammer writes this for GuideStone. Good Luck. There is a lot of help out there for you. I suggest you take advantage. And Mike Malody is a first rate guy. I have received great advice from him in the past. If he is willing to offer his time for you, I strongly suggest you take him up on it. Tom Newark, CA

Beyond what's already been said, if I needed specific help from someone on clergy issues, the member on here that I would contact would be MAMalody. His entire practice is clergy work and nothing else. Here is a >great thread where he talks about parsonage, see post #6 in that topic and maybe that will help you some too.

Adam Kokesh said, "If you don't do politics, politics will continue to do you."

Agreed on numbers with one explanation (I used "Tax Policies Calculator" at: http://taxpolicycenter.org/taxfacts/acacalculator.cfm ). Not stated but assumed to get the answer we received: Family was considered married filing jointly. Should all the "household" income have been from other than "married filing joint" (still with dependents, kids, etc.) the numbers do change. Thanks for question as I had "forgotten" about the penalty aspect (current clients ALL have insurance) but it now "easy" to find/look-up for new ones that do not have insurance, etc. .

According to the classes that I took, Michael is correct - there has to be a filing requirement before income must be counted,

only if the kids needed to file a return themselves, and this doesn't include a kid that made 1000 and is filing to get a $6 fwt back. the dependent has to be required to file a return based on tax laws.