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Just wanted to mention a great idea I originally got from a client - a standing desk After saying for several years I wanted to do this, I initially got that done last year. Can't think of enough superlatives to describe it. Working while standing is great for the circulation and I think it keeps one more alert. Pairing it with a bar stool for those times when you want to alternate sitting & standing gives you the best of both worlds. Even better is to put one of those bicycle pedal exercisers in front of the bar stool ($20 at k-mart for a cheap one, which is really all you need). There's another great benefit I hadn't anticipated. When a client drops by unexpectedly, I just keep standing while speaking with them. They won't sit down unless I do, and most people will finish up the conversation faster if they don't settle into a chair and get comfortable. So in addition to the health benefits, a standing desk helps to get clients out of your office faster so you can get some work done.

http://tinyurl.com/odx5t2d Enjoy!

You and me and most of the rest of us too.

Bought my desk at Beyond the Office Door. It was just under a grand. http://www.beyondtheofficedoor.com/Electric-Sit-to-Stand-Desk.php Just bought a new floor pad from Varidesk.com so I can stand longer. http://www.varidesk.com/ Versa Tables also makes sit to stand desks. http://www.versatables.com/promo/sit-to-stand.php

Hey, if I don't go to the store, I gotta send my three kids with a credit card. Not letting that happen is like doing two tax returns.

A few years back, at an IRS conference, the speaker said to drop the 20 per cent "bottom feeders" so you can concentrate on the other 80 per cent. I had to drop someone yesterday...basically I gave her options for getting the paperwork to me. But, nothing other than sitting with me in my apt, was acceptable to her....and that's entirely unacceptable to me.. I probably came across as rude....and I felt a little guilty....but then I remembered the 20 per cent bottom feeder rule. Moral of the story....cut them loose.

You deserve it. Everyone who works in this business deserves flowers at least two times a season. Don always made sure I got some on a date that I was not expecting them, and they always helped my mood amazingly.

When I get price shoppers I just *love* it when they ask if my fees are negotiable. I tell them, "Yes, they are - UPWARDS only." They RUN. Tee hee. (There is an old Rita Rudner comic routine where she talks about getting rid of boyfriends you can't stand and who won't commit. She said to tell them "I love you, I never want to be apart from you, I want to have your babies." then she said, "Sometimes they leave skid marks." I want those price shopping PITA folks to leave skid marks.)

We all have come across the penny pincher power trippers. They are hard to please unless everything is perfect, cheap and fast. You never feel good before, during and after their project. Take the satisfaction from them and turn their work down. Let them know that you have taken on new clients and your dance card is full.

Don't remember where I first heard this - maybe on this forum. "Rather than work for free, I'd prefer to just take the time off from work."

5. They want free work. Boy ... Have I had those over the years.

That's why I also have a bar stool. Mostly I stand, but if I need to sit I just pull the bar stool over. Sitting on the bar stool and pedaling away on the little exercise pedals while working at the computer is actually very relaxing.

You can shell out some big bucks for standing desks - $1,000 - $2,500 isn't uncommon, especially if it has multi-position elevating mechanisms and other bells & whistles. Here are a bunch of images, just to give you an idea of what is out there and how some people have approached this. https://www.google.com/search?q=standing+desk&rlz=1T4WQIB_enUS591US591&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=ZeT5VK7xHcWagwSonoHABw&ved=0CGUQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=892 But mine is more basic and very much a DIY project. I just used a corner desk from Office Depot and had a carpenter/client fabricate a riser from 2x4's to elevate it. Then I positioned it beside some wall brackets with adjustable shelving so I can extend the top as far as I wish to make the desktop wider on one side. Other shelves serve as places to hold papers, reference books, etc. I mounted one monitor on the desk and I attached another monitor to the wall beside the desk using a movable bracket I bought at Sams's club. I can move the wall-mounted monitor to suit my working position. As you can tell, my office isn't very fancy, but it is highly functional.

All these postings of the popcorn makes me WANT popcorn!

Life is too short for PITA clients. I would not quote a price. I would tell them they are not a good fit for my business and they should find another preparer.

My buddy Joe D has a desk that moves up and down, so you can stand or sit when you are working. Along with three monitors, and they all move... I am quite jealous. It is my intention to do the same in my office after tax season. I have been banging my knees on the corners for years, and the back issues seem to appear as tax season progress's, so it is time to make a change. I did not know about the "Standing" not sitting result.... I like that. Rich

The age restrictions only apply if there is no qualifying children. So if the disabled adult child meets the criteria to be a qualifying child client is eligible for EITC.

I remember the story of this client too. The only status she can properly file is MFS and must itemize. At least she is now living apart now.

I hope you can make him understand that filing is his legal obligation, not something you only do if it benefits him.

Bless you for that. As an adopted child, I never considered anyone but the people who loved me and disciplined me and raised me to be my 'real' parents. I am sicked any time I read of a child "returned by the court" to those who either 'gave them up' or did not stick around to know about the adoption till much later.

Actually I own some stock in FTD. Sounds like I am getting away from this madness for two days this weekend. Of course that puts me that much farther behind, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

Yep, MFS or MFJ unless they were legally separated by 12/31/14. I have never seen a legal separation, and think the odds are better that a unicorn comes in for tax prep.

Very cool. A lot nicer than my setup. But both serve the same purpose, and results count.

Just march in place! I really like your setup, though. Thanks for sharing.

I just came from a clients office and the accountant had this configuration on her desk. http://www.varidesk.com/stand-up-desks?gclid=CjwKEAiAveWnBRCzjqf4zpuUkGYSJABcoZbH2gFvpguzLM4V8WaWuKJabcD2Pd53fMpHdlLsP4FY8BoCTlDw_wcB

Yardly, Just saw an IRS video recently....tell the taxpayers to make a police report and ask the police department if they participate in the program to help the IRS in finding the identity thieves ... if the police department does participate in the program, they will have a form for the taxpayers to sign that will enable them to know what's going on with their identity theft.

Oh, my, Tom. Yeah, as I get older, my clients get older. Do your best. BUT, if you have to dig or wait while someone digs or suspect there's a better outcome out there, put him on extension. Have him pay in with the extension and pay his first ES payment, but put him on extension. The kids may get involved someday and think someone's cheating their father. Document, document, document.

Boo! I was going to say how pleased I was they were making solid donations. I see people with much higher AGI not making any donations, the cheapskates! Also, buying deductions is a losers games unless it's retirement contributions. He should def max out his 401K.

Most states communicate reciprocally with the IRS. You can run, but you can't hide in 2015.

I'm missing education credits because I am a single-mother-of-three-rich-mom making over $62,000. I cannot tell you how blown away I am at that. I am getting more flowers next month because of this.

I had separating clients for 2 years and they fought and fought and dragged their feet so long just to be vindictive, i was a stressed out mess. the 3rd year they came back, still not divorced i told them to go somewhere else. Its not worth the mess or stress. I say "fire" them now.

Yes, absolutely the best decision. I do everything I can to keep my clients out of my office so I can get some work done. That's especially true with the bottom feeders.

Sounds like a good candidate for an extension. Any time I can extend a return that is expected to take a long time to prepare, that means I can complete 2 or 3 others in that time slot and still prepare the extended return when things slow down.

The IRS has a glitch in their system re the homebuyer credit. Expected 'fix' date is 3/23.

Can't file single, Jack. You look up the regs. Only pertains if there are kids allowing for HOH.

good for you mcb! I wondered how they had time to go to the grocery store or any store! It is squeaky wheel time about 2 weeks early..

ISN'T it strange that the rich do not get any deductions and pay all the tax except that the credits start phasing out for children at $110,000! I do not think that is very rich

Yep - it depends on state law. In PA, the 1st dollar of tax requires a filing. So with our rate being a fixed 3.07%, income (wages, interests, dividends, Schedule C or E, etc) over $32 requires a filing.

Was the 1099B issued to the estate's ein? Who got the money? Regardless of whose EIN or SSN is on the 1099B, I guess, I would simply put it on the return of the person that received the money with a note regarding nominee 1099 if need be. I would not file a 1041 for an estate that was closed in 2010.

I agree with KC. I just did one today but had all of the info so ATX was pleased with it and let me create the e-file. 2013 expenses for baby adopted in 2014 and pending final approval in 2015. On a personal note, I am an adoptive parent and that period between placement and finalization is the most stressful, mind numbing, slow moving time in a person's life. Tax season is a walk in the park compared to that. I oft said that if there would ever be a change that would require my wife and I returning the child, they (whoever they would be) would never find the three of us - and I meant that. Fortunately it did not come to that. And we lived happily ever after. Anyway - it seems paper filing may be your only option.

Honey, just line 'em up and use a high-powered round.

I'm glad to see she left 'the bastard' though.

Ditto to Cat's answer. But Micheal is really right, not as much fun, but clearly this one is a PITA SQUARED. No price is enough to make you like seeing him coming in.

Really? I was leaving my garage yesterday, started down the drive, put on the brakes and just kept on going. The driveway is a third of a mile long, winding and on the side of a mountain, and yesterday it was a sheet of ice. Only the snow piled three feet high on the side of the drive slowed me down. Yes - I am ready for spring too. And it is on the way. How do I know this? One of my perpetual April clients dropped off his stuff yesterday. When he shows up, Spring is close at hand.

Hahaha well I broke off the key in the barn door going to feed the calf this morning and my son and I had to break in. I think it may be reasonable for me to check into the guns and ammo for all the people who will have left messages for me when I make it to work. Winter is kickin my @$$.

The varidesk is what I'm going to get. I have a large corner desk that it will work great on. Thanks for all of the great ideas and pictures everyone. I use my treadmill every day, but it would be very nice to not have to sit all day long.

Hey, here's a good one. I think the fine is "only" $100,000, but we don't care: http://www.ehow.com/info_7961824_happens-file-single-married.html

I'm more caught up than ever before, but have only had one client say she was going to try to self prepare this year (thought of saying, are you up on the new repair regs then?) and have plenty of new ones. I attribute it to my assistant being well seasoned. She's taking her income tax class at community college this semester and is acing it, plus she's now getting an idea of why things go where they do on returns. Never been this relaxed in March. Kinda scares me too though.... Oh yeah, I'm at a week turnaround. Really. At least to the point where I'm looking at the return and asking more questions if I have any. Less than a week if I work hard.