Leaderboard

Don't tell him that - he might not GO!! Just tell him he needs to find someone else, who specializes in expat issues. If he insists on you doing the research, that's billable time paid IN ADVANCE. He'll leave. (I don't usually advocate charging clients for research time. However, if the research benefits him and him alone, and he is the one insisting YOU do it -- bill him!)

Whew!!! I just had one of clients leave that drinks and smokes and literally smells up my office to point I want to puke. Half the time he can't remember what he has done with his documents, dumps a pile of letters; etc, on the desk for me to rummage through, and couldn't tell me if he paid his vehicle taxes or not. BTW, current license tag and in NC if you don't pay the vehicle taxes... not sticker and no registraton. It killed me to have to take time and look them up on the county website as the air in my office was no longer suitable to breathe. He has been coming to me for quite a few years now and I have to go through the same air filtration process when he leaves each year. I can definitely prove all of those febreeze commercials wrong. It takes at least two or three applications to begin to clear up smell. So, this year I raised the price of preparing his return with the idea that it would make him mad and he would go somewhere else. Not a fat chance. He didn't even blink at the increased price and wrote the check. Now he says he is headed to Costa Rica to leave in a year or so and needed tax advice. I naturally told him that I was not an expert on foreign taxes, US taxes when living abroad; etc, and advised him to find an expert in this area. Nope, wants me to bone up on this. At the very most I have one year here in the US left with him and if we do business when he is in Costa Rica or wherever he goes, the only thing I'll have to fumagate is the envelope when it gets here. Ok, rant over and the febreeze has finally taken over!

Oh sure, blame the dog!

Do we even know if Terry's client was smoking at the time? I've had drinker/smoker clients that reeked and brought a lingering cloud in with them on their person and clothing, and my office had a strong odor of stale bar and grease, sweat, and smoke even though the person didn't not smoke while here. I also have one business client whose wife has similar heavy bad habits and smokes those skinny black cigar-ettes. They have a stronger and more stinky odor, the biz papers themselves reek of it and make the whole room stink while they are in my possession, and the smell gets on my hands while working on the records. When I have to visit their site, I freshen up in the morning and shower when I get back so that I don't have to smell like that all day, and I always leave my jackets or coats in the car. *gag*

I find it amusing how folks tend to read into this original post. I said "he smokes" I never said he smoked in my office. I would NOT let that happen. I too am a reformed smoker from over 30 years past and can't stand the smell. From this guy it was a combination of smells but the sour ugly alcohol smell is what just about made me sick. I work out of my home and have an office that is attached but separate from the rest of the house and I can close a door so no one can see the rest of the house, but the smell from this guy leaked into the laundry room and kitchen. Kinda reminded you of pig pen on Charlie Brown with the cloud of dirt following him.

ok - i have farmers, oilmen, and smokers. And my dog likes to toot every once-in-awhile.

The rich do not pay the most taxes, they pay ALL the taxes. Buried inside a Congressional Budget Office report was this nugget: when it comes to individual income taxes, the top 40 percent of wage earners in America pay 106 percent of the taxes. The bottom 40 percent...pay negative 9 percent. And of that 106%, the top 20% pay 93%, the second 20% pay only 13%. The top 1 percent of taxpayers pay more in federal income taxes than the bottom 90 percent. As you can see in the chart below, this is a stark change from the 1980s and early 1990s. But since the early 1980s, the share of taxes paid by the bottom 90 percent has steadily declined.

Sent to me by a friend -- really funny. Less than three minutes. The "Manslater" from 2010.

Personally, I wouldn't buddge on refusing to handle his work after he goes to Costa Rica. Trying to bone up on somehting like this for a single client is a losing propostion. I'd tell him he has to find someone else and he can expect to pay them a lot of money to prepare his returns. If he can't afford it, then he can't afford to go to Costa Rica.

Sorry, I have been so busy have not been able to answer. When I worked for the IRS, when we did an audit and it appeared the preparer was making up law, or doing something seriously wrong and per the audit it appeared this was systemic problem of his, we could and did acquire other tax returns he did to see if there was a problem out there. We also had an unofficial QP (questionable practitioner) list, at least in the locale I was in.

And rightly so. We have to consider, IMHO, the honesty of our clients. We all have some that we accept at their word, and some that we ask to see their receipts, etc. Based on our feelings of their honesty. So when a client says things that make it clear they are not only willing to cheat but actively looking for ways to cheat, it seems to me we have no choice but to fire that client.

I recognize this is not the most professional approach, but I would not be able to listen to that. I would have to mention the spirit of the EIC is for those who find themselves out of work and not for those who choose not to work. Yes, there are many who freeload and the EIC is not perfect by any means, but I wont have someone like that sit in front of me and complain about low EIC refunds and not catching a break on hospital bills. It's her choice not to work and it's her choice not to have health insurance. It would be my choice not to complete her return. I couldn't complete it and would place everything back in the envelope and hand it back to her, telling her to go to H&R. May not be the right approach to increase my income, but it certainly would be the right approach for me personally.

Sometimes I give up on something I want to post cause I don't want to take the time to pre-address every misconception that is going to happen. And we are the people who pay attention to detail.

Not sure we have enough facts to respond. Is the baby sitter a business (as opposed to an occasional in the home thing)? If so, is this more of a cancelled debt thing - which should not be on a 1099M? Or is it this a situation where the TP worked for the "baby sitter" in exchange for "free" baby sitting? Need more facts.

Terry, Do yourself and your other clients a favor and put up a no smoking sign outside your office (or thank you for not smoking). Evidently, there were only 2 tax offices in the country that a taxpayer could smoke.....mine, as I smoked like a train until January, and yours.....be glad you don't smoke. Just tell him that you had another client to come in after he left and his smoke residue caused your other client to have an asthma attack, and you can't be responsible nor do you want one of your clients to get sick just because he/she came into your office at the wrong time.....behind a smoker! It can happen....just one of the many reasons I quit.

This should be standard issue --- at birth and each female should be OBLIGATED to share with any guy she talks to. THINK how many poor guys would be saved from their perceived "understanding" of what was said. Of course, the woman's rules are # 1 --- should any guy understand the rules, the rules will change immediately ...

This might help. http://www.currentfederaltaxdevelopments.com/blog/2015/2/13/simplified-accounting-method-change-procedures-issued-by-irs-for-small-taxpayers-to-comply-with-repairtangible-property-regulations You might need to copy and paste the link.

My client base is pretty much middle income, from about 50k to 150k. The higher end tends to be two earner couples. Have a few in the 300k range (doctors, nearly all), but just picked up a neighbor who is on SSDI and earns a little as his daughter's in home health care person. That guy I'm happy to compute EIC for. Especially since he managed to buy a house on his limited income!

Yep! Anything out of the ordinary gets an up fee. The fact of the matter, as Lion stated exceptionally, it takes more time than if it was in the current year. I charge and never apologize for what I charge.

I love it when people cry the rich don't pay enough and when I ask how much they think they should pay they haven't a clue or come up with a % lower then they currently pay.

I keep waiting for the snow globes to turn to wire trolleys (shopping carts) and then to shopping malls. [Read Sir Terry Pratchett's "Reaper Man" where Death himself is put on layoff by the Auditors, and shopping malls are parasitic life forms that feed off cities. They hatch from eggs that look like snow globes and have a juvenile phase as shopping trolleys.]

Client who gets back about 8,000 in refundable credits said his neighbor had to pay in about $10,000. He then says to me, "How does anybody have to pay 10,000?!" I am convinced that there are a lot of people out there who have no clue that a tax return is not an application to determine how much money they print up for you. Well, ok, on the other hand...

Gail, the real significant change is that the number and size of 'refundable tax credits' skyrocketed in the 80's. In the 50's and 60's there was nobody paying NEGATIVE income taxes. Then the geniuses in DC [both parties] decided to make the IRS part of the welfare/safety-net system. That changed the whole direction of the trends. This is not meant as political commentary, it's just the direct cause of these trend lines.

So the Nanny owed the TP some money and did "free baby sitting" and the Nanny issued a 1099 to the TP? The facts do not fit together. The Nanny did not work for free. The Nanny worked for the money that the Nanny received - previously. I still fail to see the need for the Nanny to issue a 1099. The TP, if this was a business transaction, may be warranted in issuing a 1099 - but not the other way around.

Cold Faygo rootbeer and two egg salad sandwich's.

Shari's Berries http://www.berries.com/is similar to Ed Arr and I think even better. Have been given both; Shari's were better and the packaging was incredible. You can pick delivery day. They also have non-fruit items; bite-sized dessert items, popcorn, toffee. Swiss Colony also has very nice gifts and they also have cheese gifts, nuts, and baked goods. We love their petit fours. http://www.swisscolony.com/

WOOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I have checked "let the program decide" and there is no state return. I'm done with this issue until I have some free time, which I guess will be May, but I appreciate the comments and suggestions. I just wish the program did what it has always done and print the mailing address on the letter when you have a 1040X. Just leave $#^& alone already.

I see now I have to select either Long Term or Short Term, then the link becomes available.

Interesting chart, KC. I would love to see it also compare incomes by the top 1 percent of wage earners to the incomes of the lower 90 percent, and stretch those numbers back to the 1950s or 1960s. It would be interesting to see how they compare over longer periods of time.

Do you have an "Edible Arrangements" store in your area? Those are lovely, healthy, and easy to eat.

I have a female client that thinks perfume was made for her. Lovely person, great client, would always have my back, but uses way too much perfume. We have to air out the building after her car has left the parking lot. I pray that she would never return immediately for some reason and find all of that airing out going on. I sure would not want to hurt her feelings

Wow, we are getting really too far into this situation. While I appreciate all of the cautions and advice, you all can rest assured that I have completed his return with him claiming no exemption for himself. I have already explained and shown him the refund differences between claiming the exemption and not claiming the exemption. He doesn't want his mother to claim him because of the amount his refund is reduced. When I suggested he could paper file and let the IRS investigate that is when he said he didn't want to cause his mother any problems and he just wished he could get all of the refund he can. As Lion said, I gave him the exact same thing to do. Show his mother the difference and ask her if it benefits her much more than him if she would be willing to make up the difference to him. Totally his call. As I noted earlier, the education expenses are from financial aid neither he or his mother are paying anything for college. KC I agree that 250.00 per month wouldn't feed him and my wife and I can't each that cheap per month. Whether it is true or not, this young man said he buys his own groceries. Again, I am not getting into her financial situation. She prepares her own return and does it very early and quick. We all can figure out why.

Kristin asked development to enhance this, per the other board.

I had three delinquents and a current last year, all from the same person. I got a retainer up front for half and DID charge more than I normally would have, but I didn't think of it as charging more for a delinquent return. The IRS would have prepared his SE returns from the transcripts otherwise and I was able to save him several thousand dollars. Since we were already working with an agent, I guess I figured if I didn't get the second half, I would still be OK. However, client was pleased with the results and paid up. What I was charging extra for was the unnecessary waste of my time, especially when he turned out to have two years when he didn't even owe.

I have charged more to prepare prior year returns due to having to review prior year laws, working on something that's not fresh on my mind nor anyone else's. Or, I've taken my price for the highest priced year (taxpayer filing multiple years at once) and used it for all the years, even when a year might be simpler, for the same reason, dealing with multiple year's laws. All that is for the clients that have brought their materials after the year, after 15 October or the next year or years later. I have had years where I had their returns in what might've been a not too late time, but something like Hurricane Sandy or ear surgery or whatever delayed my preparation. In those cases, I hold the price on multiple years the same. Or, discount a single, almost current year. It's not a punishment for filing late. (The governments will take care of that.) It's due to needing more of my time to review, proofread, etc., when I'm not working in the most current tax year. Line numbers are different on forms. Laws did or did not get extended. Tax prep software evolves. Fewer people around to ask that could be working on a similar issue from a prior year. That sort of thing.

ABSOLUTELY

does anyone else think it is just NUTS that the regs. old and new have us scratching our heads over how to treat a toilet. And having to depreciate it over 27.5 years make me laugh out loud.

Having raised 3 sons, I assure you if he eats at least two meals a day at home most days, no normal 'rent' would ever cover that 'perk' for a teenage boy.

A few are paying attention to the fact that I put my foot down last year and refused to file the returns until I was paid. They are coming in check or cash in hand. Amazing....and they are sending new clients. I did seriously judge one client who ran several scenarios past me; such as taking her friend's three children as dependents because the friend was on disability. The next one was, could she take her boyfriend's daughter because the mother was willing for him to take her as a deduction this year. Then the mother changed her mind because he was behind on child support. I told her to come and pick up her papers. She was always at least a year behind in paying. YES, I am judging.

Where is NC 8453 The NC 8453 is no longer a requirement. The taxpayer will not have to complete or sign a NC 8453 and the form will not have to be retained by the tax professional. The tax professional will continue to retain NC 8453s from previous tax year in compliance with the three-year rule. NC also does not require/support an EF signature form such as the 8879.

I agree with ILLMAS. I have had this happen a couple times and both times resulted in letter writing campaigns with the IRS. You are doing nothing wrong. The IRS simply is not recognizing the entity as an S-Corp. The last one I had, after the efile rejected, I filed it via paper. That resulted in communication from the IRS which actually simplified the letter writing campaign. Good luck!

Marilyn, Sounds like it's time to open the Comparison form...but hooray for you if your clients will let it slide that they have a balance due for "no apparent reason". The Comparison form will let you nail what happened in 2014 that was different in 2013. I usually find a change in jobs together with a change in withholding (claiming more exemptions) is usually the culprit. Once I show my clients that it was THEM and not my preparation skills, they leave satisfied with plans to correct their withholding....or plans to call me BEFORE they take an early distribution from a retirement account as 20% is usually not enough withholding tax. On second thought, maybe you do have the right idea with the "no apparent reason" theory. Take care, Cathy

There was a really great article in Forbes today and it was put in a q/a conversation between the author a tax preparer that was funny also. http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonynitti/2015/02/14/repair-regulation-relief-what-does-it-really-mean-not-as-much-as-you-think/

Possibly. But I also *highly* recommend Sir Terry's Diskworld books. But not for public transportation; you WILL suddenly laugh out loud when one of his inimitable zingers comes up! And then people will look at you like you're dangerous or something. Or at least they used to, before they were all plugged in to their i-things.

The wife who tries to clean up her husband's messes. You can imagine what she goes through. Hope someone works an intervention soon to get her into a shelter and and eventually to forge her own life.

Since you forced hinm to find someone else and pay more, I think you should reimburse him the difference. Good client relations and all that stuff, you know. After all, whatever happens to him has to somebody else's fault - may as wel be you.

If I hit that 500m lottery, I sure as heck won't be worrying about clients, the ACA, or repair regs and the 3115 ever again. Maybe I'd even hire someone else to prepare my returns.

People like her are becoming more and more common place. There isn't any shame anymore either, in fact some are proud of the way they live.

Unearned income has a lower filing requirement