Leaderboard

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!

Anyone else enjoying the benefits of using a SSD HD?

I found this site with a complete listing of extension requirements for the States. http://www.irs.com/articles/state-tax-extension-information

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

Pacun has the correct advice.

Yes, but where is your computer and monitor that you actually use for work and not show?

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.

Oh dear, no! I am so very, very sorry Naveen! Reading this has the tears rolling for you and your wife. I have not been in your situation, but my husband battled cancer 12 years ago and survived. When we heard his diagnosis and the slim chances he had for remission, I did mentally say goodbye in some ways, and it was so hard to think about in those early months of his treatment. I'm sorry that I don't have any words of wisdom for you except to trust that this is truly what your wife wanted if that is the path, be kind to yourself, and rely on family and friends as much as you can for emotion support. If there is anything that I can personally help you with, please don't hesitate to ask.

Naveen, I am so terribly sorry. I have not been in this situation, but could be at any time. You are correct, we are your extended family and I'm sure that we all would like to help you with your grief. I can't imagine your pain. I can only tell you how sorry I am and that you and your wife will be in my prayers.

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?

Really? Come on man! That is just too funny! LOL out loud!

Just to confirm, every time I see "SIL" I read it " out of luck" the first time, think "that can't be right," and laugh some more!

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!

Too, too funny!!!!!! I was gone for two days (TWO DAYS). Came home to a crammed drop box. I don't know how some of that stuff got through the slot. I might not even have checked it except that one client was going out of town and called and told me he would be dropping some of his papers off. The punch line is: My red flag wasn't put up by anyone.

All great advice so far. I'll add that you should also consider finding some way for clients to drop of documents without having to see you. The drop box I installed has cut down on some appointments, and it's convenient for those locals to return the e-file signature forms. It's definitely freed up time that I've been able to work on returns more efficiently during the day without those pesky interruptions. My vent is about that very same drop box and the one business client that is supremely annoying with it. I've been getting her papers around the same time each month for the last 16 years, and she calls to announce the impending delivery even though I can see the driveway from my desk and the dogs bark when they hear the car pull in. She puts a red flag up, and then about an hour later she calls to make sure I retrieved the papers. If I don't answer or call back, she might drive back later to see if the flag is up because she's only a couple of doors down from me. If flag is still up she calls again later. I've told her every. single. time. that I check that box twice a day and all of this is NOT necessary and to NOT put the flag up. I am ready to rip that stupid red flag off the box! What did I do with it instead? I've left it in the "up" position all month to aggravate her so that she'd tell me I had papers to retrieve and ask why I hadn't gotten them yet. I told her the box was empty, and when she asked why I'd left the flag up, I simply smiled and said "because I wanted to." Best part of all, this is my sister-in-law that complains about everything, just everything, and there was total silence. Not a peep, and all of this nonsense has stopped for now... until her next major area of dissatisfaction.

NECPA - I get it. You are being hammered from a number of different directions. And your husband's health is not the least of those. You know that he and I are somewhat alike - but his issues are more serious than mine. I cannot image the stress that puts on you. After last tax season, I told my wife that I honestly did not think I had another tax season in me,. I did not say that to put more stress on her, but to vent like you are doing now. Well, here we are on the cusp of another season. My feelings are the same as when I voiced that comment, but I will not burden her with that stress again. That was not fair. If your husband has not yet checked out www.pacemakerclub.com he should. As to meeting clients in the store, a few years back I went to a high school play that my son was in and ran into a client whose information was setting on my desk. The husband questionrd why I was not at work. Fortunately, before I could raise my fist to punch him in the face, his wife takes him by the arm and says, "leave him alone, he needs time off too." Well, in retrospect I realize the guy was just making conversation but I took it personal. We all need to guard against taking it personal. Now here comes my most potent advice I can give - BREATHE! That's right, take a deep breath. OK - do it again. And again. Are you feeling better yet? Sometimes we forget to breathe.

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

As of 01-17-2015 there's been no final response from Drake Software. AND There are 300 organizers in the mail with the Drake copyright in place front page before the regular organizer from our office out in mail today. While I can appreciate getting permission to use a blank form, I believe 5 days was long enough for Drake to send me an email yay or nay. Copyright is in place on each blank form. For me the issue is closed for 2014 organizers containing a questionnaire page being mailed. I can only hope that for 2015 CCH/ATX puts money and programmer time to write their own ACA page, OR borrow one from sister CCH company ProSystems which ATX user LML posted on the ATX community website. Link is here for ATX people reading this: https://community.atxinc.com/forums/permalink/196085/196636/ShowThread.aspx#196636 At least ProSystems gave their users an option to include/exclude and reasons about it. Why nobody at ATX programming or marketing thought to ask to borrow the CCH/ ProSystems form, or at least disclose on the community page that permission had been denied is a mystery to me. Perhaps it's a function of corporate politics, and being a one preparer office I don't have such politics. After thinking on it some more, I now believe that the reason why ATX organizer didn't include 2014 ACA question page is a lack of dollars spent on something management deemed not having enough importance to its 40,000 (claimed) customer base. And smaller company Drake found the money to do it right and put in a whole page. Forward thinking, Drake. Thank you. Kudos to Drake and better thinking next time CCH/ATX.

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.

That is NOT the case in most instances. My wife's is being drastically reduced due to it being "too good." Our out of pocket expense will increase 1,600% for 2016. Her employer, over 1,000 employees decided not to pay the "Cadillac tax" on the healthcare plan. The old plan WAS compliant. The president said, before the law was passed: "If you like your plan, you can keep it" had no reference to "compliant." The speaker is totally out of touch with reality of the working people and adding things to what the President said, in order to "cover" for the failed plan and the people that passed it. I refuse to spread untruths to my clients, whom already know better. The speaker is out of touch with the real world of working people.

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

According to the 8965 instructions and form, one worksheet should cover up to six family members (you just list each in the proper section of the form worksheet). No mention of -- what if there are more than the six (at least --- not at this time --- changes happen). Also, possibly if the number is above six ---- then the amount MIGHT (just a gust/thought - do not remember where I pulled this from in my brain) take you into the "flat dollar" penalty,,, errr,,, "tax" amount and numbers would be irrelevant. Only one Form 8965 should be filed for each tax household. If you can be claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer, you do not need to file Form 8965 and do not owe a shared responsibility payment. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i8965.pdf

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