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And as I wind down my day, merry Christmas to all of you too! And a happy tax year!

Merry Christmas

My first season was in 1979, but I was still an intern in college. We did them by hand first in pencil and then finalized them after they were reviewed. I don't miss doing them by hand, but I do miss being able to rattle numbers off of the top of my head, because the rules were easier and didn't change constantly. I used to be able to memorize almost everything, but now I have to look everything up.

I always liked their accountants - Dewey, Cheatem, and Howe.

Merry Christmas to everyone. Here's a favorite of mine: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening By Robert Frost 1874–1963 Robert Frost Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year. He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound’s the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake. The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.

To all here, I'm wishing you all a joyous and safe holiday, and may you all enjoy the company of loved ones, dear friends, good food and merriment.

Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all on the ATX board!

My first season was 1981, and I've worked in public accounting my entire career. Is there really an end in sight?

Dear Client's Investment Advisor, How come you and client both called in early Nov about withholding from the RMD, both got my messages about the Fed AND state amounts, and only managed to withhold Federal tax when one of the points of your call was to tell me that withholding state taxes was possible this year? How did you manage to not withhold any state tax even though I gave you the exact amount in dollars and as a percentage? How is that we've talked about an annuity payout at least 5 or more times this year, went over the gross, withholding and net numbers each time, and yet you still failed to tell me that the a portion of an amount that was to be Federal withholding was shifted to the state? Why don't YOU tell the client that she will owe taxes, either on estimate or with the returns since this was your doing? Oh, you want me to project 2016's tax liability and adjust that annuity withholding now when you can't give me solid data for 2015 without the numbers continually changing like shifting sands under my feet? Why did you set up the annuity payment to be in very early March of each year when you know this is a complex return that couldn't possibly be ready or projections done before the distribution is made? Why must you wait until the very last week of the year to make the other RMD? No it's not an inconvenience at all. Remember how you stubbornly insisted that you wanted to control the timing of the RMD each year and not set it up for automatic calculation and payment through your computer's system, and then that very first year you completely forgot to make any RMD to this client? Remember how in Jan 2013 you nervously called me and asked about the provision that would allow the RMD to be paid to a charity to get your behind out of trouble for the 2012 missed distribution? Remember how unhappy our client was about giving that to charity? Remember, do you? Client is presently out of area for the holiday, and if she decides to stay on beyond the 4th quarter estimate due date, at least I know that she has enough paid in that she won't be subject to an underpayment penalty. I thought I gave up babysitting as a teenager.