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Hi everyone, I've set up a group for us on facebook, and RitaB has agreed to be a co-admin. It's our Facebook Water Cooler for us to post non-work related fun things, photos, share personal or otherwise important or frivolous stories. Anything but politics; we aren't going there. Vent if you need to, get away from the desk and relax for a while. For now I've used the picture of the desk piled high as the cover photo, but I am open to suggestions. I hope to see you there. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1688515908061571/

I cannot believe it. After years of having to override the information on the CA Sch B,C for my S Corps, I was shocked to open it up and see that the form is completely filled in and correct. ATX just scored a major point in fixing that issue. Saved me about 20 minutes of overriding on this one return alone. Wow....just Wow. What a geek I am to get overjoyed by a tax form and software. Tom Newark, CA

As Lion has done, I have also added "return reprint" fees when clients showed up and asked for a second copy (no fee if we know ahead of time), "bookkeeping fees" by the hour, and all manner of additional fees when required to really show the client what they cost themselves in carelessness. If that doesn't work after a year or two, I fire them. Just fired a client of a decade, today, for giving me crap data and not responding to requests for clarification. Then wanting me to meet on a weekend because they are going on vacation! Uh, NO.

I always used "full price first, then, less discount" not only so that you don't lock yourself into a low price for the future, but because you don't want them telling other future clients the low price. You want referrals but based on your competence and service, not only on price.

I hope everyone who uses facebook joins, it can be a fun place to share things.

You can't beat that! And I got my answer.

“Here’s to the best damned antagonist a guy could ask for.”

Yes but the numbers are for 2015 returns and I'm just hoping my clients don't notice and just stick the thing in the pile of stuff to hand me.

"Forms and Schedules Discount" if I discounted forms/schedules. "Professional Courtesy" when I bill for my free first half-hour consultation. Other discounts might be senior, military, family multi-return (folks bring in the college kids' so we don't get the rejects after the kids screw up and claim their own exemption). Those last might be percentages or dollar amounts depending on the client and how cooperative they have been.

My 2015 fillable blank organizer with page numbers is attached. The software that makes it fillable did a poor job on both the Dependents page and the Noncash Charitable page, but overall it's pretty good. If you don't like my cover letter, delete it. Feel free to email this to new clients. 2015 Blank Organizer.pdf

Galaxy Quest, Thank you for your movies. "By Grabthar's Hammer, you shall be avenged"

Gotta Love Taxes??????

If you're one of the millions of Americans who are asking, "When can I expect my income tax refund?" we have the answer. It depends on a couple of things, but the good news is that there are several tools to help find out. First of all, taxpayers who use a professional, such as a CPA or EA, can ask that professional for an estimated date. Taxpayers who've already filed can also go to the Internal Revenue Service's website, which has a tool designed specifically for that called, "Where's My Refund?" IRS accepts your return (by 11:00 am) between… Estimated Direct Deposit Sent Estimated Paper Check Mailed Before Jan 31 2016 2/5/2016 2/7/2016 January 29 and Feb 05 2016 2/12/2016 2/14/2016 Feb 07 and Feb 15 2016 2/19/2016 2/21/2016 Feb 16 and Feb 22 2016 2/26/2016 2/28/2016 Feb 23 and Mar 01 2016 3/5/2016 3/7/2016 Mar 02 and Mar 08 2016 3/12/2016 3/14/2016 Mar 09 and Mar 15 2016 3/19/2016 3/21/2016 Mar 16 and Mar 22 2016 3/26/2016 3/28/2016 Mar 23 and Mar 29 2016 4/2/2016 4/4/2016 Mar 30 and April 03 2016 4/9/2016 4/11/2016 April 04 and April 08 2016 4/16/2016 4/18/2016 April 10 and April 15 2016 4/23/2016 4/25/2016 April 18 and April 26 2016 4/30/2016 5/2/2016 April 27 and May 03 2016 5/7/2016 5/9/2016 May 04 and May 10 2016 5/14/2016 5/16/2016 May 11 and May 17 2016 5/21/2016 5/23/2016 May 18 and May 24 2016 5/28/2016 5/30/2016 May 25 and May 31 2016 6/4/2016 6/6/2016 June 01 and June 07 2016 6/11/2016 6/13/2016 June 08 and June 14 2016 6/18/2016 6/20/2016 June 15 and June 21 2016 6/25/2016 6/27/2016 June 22 and June 28 2016 7/2/2016 7/4/2016 June 29 and July 05 2016 7/9/2016 7/11/2016 July 06 and July 12 2016 7/16/2016 7/18/2016 July 13 and July 19 2016 7/23/2016 7/25/2016 July 20 and July 26 2016 7/30/2016 8/1/2016 July 27 and Aug 02 2016 8/6/2016 8/8/2016 Aug 03 and Aug 09 2016 8/13/2016 8/15/2016 Aug 10 and Aug 16 2016 8/20/2016 8/22/2016 Aug 17 and Aug 23 2016 8/27/2016 8/29/2016 Aug 24 and Aug 30 2016 9/3/2016 9/5/2016 Aug 31 and Sept 06 2016 9/10/2016 9/12/2016 Sept 07 and Sept 13 2016 9/17/2016 9/19/2016 Sept 14 and Sept 20 2016 9/24/2016 9/26/2016 Sept 21 and Sept 27 2016 10/1/2016 10/3/2016 Sept 28 and Oct 04 2016 10/8/2016 10/10/2016 Oct 05 and Oct 11 2016 10/15/2016 10/17/2016 Oct 12 and Oct 18 2016 10/22/2016 10/24/2016 Oct 19 and Oct 25 2016 10/29/2016 10/31/2016 Oct 26 and Nov 01 2016 11/5/2016 11/7/2016 Nov 02 and Nov 08 2016 11/12/2016 11/14/2016 Nov 09 and Nov 15 2016 11/19/2016 11/21/2016 Nov 16 and Nov 22 2016 11/26/2016 11/28/2016 Nov 23 and Nov 29 2016 12/3/2016 12/5/2016 Nov 30 and Dec 06 2016 12/10/2016 12/12/2016 Dec 07 and Dec 13 2016 12/17/2016 12/19/2016 Dec 14 and Dec 20 2016 12/24/2016 12/26/2016 Dec 21 and Dec 27 2016 12/31/2016 1/2/2017 The IRS will begin processing tax returns on January 19, 2016, for taxes paid/owed in 2015. In general, the IRS says that returns with refunds are processed and payments issued within 21 days. For paper filers, this can take much longer, however. The IRS and tax professionals strongly encourage electronic filing. How quickly a taxpayer receives a refund also depends on when they file and whether they have requested a direct deposit of their refund, or a paper check. This is because during some time frames there is increased traffic, with more filers getting their forms in. The busiest time, and which can experience longer waits on refunds, is usually for those who file in the last week before the April 15 deadline. The chart above provides a general estimate of when taxpayers can expect their refund, based on date filed and type of refund payment. The chart is also available at: http://refundschedule.com/2016-irs-e-file-chart.

Just remember, clients tend to hear what they want to hear, so if you say "odds are you will get your refund between 2/12/2016 and 2/18/2016," [trying to add some 'edge' to that chart], most clients will hear "2/12/2016 ' and at least one idiot will write a check on 2/12 based on it! And blame you, of course, if it bounces.

Jack: Thank you for fighting ATX on this issue for us. It is a stupid problem, and should be fixed. Rich

I get the server - retry error while using the program. Not just when starting. The CS(?) response is invalid. Also, it is the server program that resides on each computer that is the culprit. Whether you have stand alone or a network, each computer and workstation has an active server program running in the background. This is NOT news to the developers. My beef is that it has now been 3 tax seasons and the problem still exists. GGGRRRRRRRR......... For the record, I have yet to receive a response from the email I sent.

Done!

No, the print packets don't give you access to everything. I almost always have to rearrange the letters and cover sheets when printing a return for the first time, but I check the Remember box at the bottom so it stays right when I inevitably have to reprint the return.

Dear Abby: Great Job! Rich

Use my name and say this was HIS experience. For 3 tax seasons they have lied directly to me and everyone else about this issue. My software engineer son tells me it is a problem that is not difficult to correct, IF, they truly want to take the steps, and handle the cost of doing so. I have been told, by the TOP President of ATX division, that they will not invest time and resources for just a "few whiners" concerning a certain item. I was also assured, when I agreed to their price(s) increase for this tax year. I tire of being ignored about a real problem that they know exists and refuse to make changes. I am only asking for participation by others on this board to help hold their feet to the fire of their promises. If you wish to remain quiet, then do so. Last season, after we reached about 400 clients, this issue popped up multiple times each day. This is NOT just a minor problem. Sometimes the error box opens behind another box on the screen and can't be seen. This causes the program to appear to be locked up, at which point the user goes through the steps to restart, costing time. It is ok to be silent, if you choose.

All due respect, Jack, they know who called and talked to the three big guns. We can't copy and paste your letter unless we had the same experience as you. Nothing is plaguing me so far. They're not going to bend over backwards to accommodate a bunch of people who don't have any idea what we're talking about. I've not called ATX three times in four years. They keep records.

how did you get a picture of my desk????

I would probably charge pretty close to your planned fee BUT -- I would put the full price on the invoice and give a discount. People LOVE getting the discount. I get (occasional) thank you letters for the discount. And the client has a better idea of what my services are worth. (I price by the form and have a high per-form charge, so PITA clients and complex clients get no discount. Easier forms - like the elderly lady who does a smattering of translation and has a three-line Sch C - get small to deep discounts.)

"free federal and $9.99 for state" You can bet no one will walk out of an H&R Block office not paying more than that by the time they get through adding on all the extra charges. They advertise all kinds of gimmicks to get people in and then they stick it to them.

Sad news on his passing today. Remarkable, as well, that he kept his battle with cancer secret for the last couple of years. Also glad that he was surrounded by family. There are far worse ways to go than surrounded by those you love, right after a major album release, and without having made a spectacle of your illness. Also nice that unlike far too many musicians, he died of a disease rather than suddenly by drug overdose. Sigh.

No, if you file those on paper, they must be on the red forms. E-file those and you eliminate that headache. The recipient and payor copies can be printed on the black forms.

I see lots of familiar names appearing that haven't been on in a while. Welcome back to those of you MIA over the summer and fall of last year, and welcome to our new members that have joined recently. Also, thank you to all that have stuck around through the slower months to keep this site one of the best. I'm looking forward to this year and this filing season being better than the last one.

Judy has now started a fb group for us. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1688515908061571/

Gulf War Vet

This has happened to me 3 times this morning. I wish I knew what it was about my setup that causes it to happen since some of you have no problems at all. It was constant last year, and from this morning's experience, I assume this year is not going to be any different.

All six years. Get the returns filed. Then find out where he is. If he owes enough to get to a Revenue Officer or agent, then you can negotiate with them in person. And then you ask. Rich

I am right with you BB. I'd charge $65, no state return, also poor as church mice in Tennessee.

It's another loss of a man with incredible talent, and a sad week so soon after the loss of David Bowie. Two of my favorite characters that AR played are Col Brandon in Sense and Sensibility and Dr Alexander Dane in Galaxy Quest. GQ always makes me laugh.

Who took a picture of my office?

Depends on what people are looking for. That group is for software-related questions and has 44 members and would duplicate what we have going here. It's not a bad thing to get additional input on the MAX program from anyone that uses it. Maybe we should invite those 44 to join here. ETA - I see you are one of the 44 already. It really depends on what people are looking for: a place for more personal and fun postings, or more tax-related and professional items. Personally, I like to keep FB as one of my fun places to relax and share with friends, not more work-related material because I have enough of those sites already.

They only appear if you have both SE health insurance and premium tax credit. They show after the Ln 29 tab on the 1040.

Not any official site that I've found. Lots of us are probably on FB with personal pages if you want us as personal friends. Would people want an unofficial group on FB for sharing pictures and such? We could set up a group called something like "Friends of..." that could be managed so that friends could be referred and approved. Those are pretty easy to set up and would be much easier for sharing personal stories and pictures.

Our minimum fee this year, the fee that will entice me to put my signature on a return, is $200. For the scenario you posted, I would charge that guy $200. Where I work and play, that means, assuming he did not move during the tax year, three returns - federal, state and local. Where I work and play, the state and local do not play off of the federal. I practice in a town of about 5,500 people in what seems to be an area not so different than yours. I do not seek out the type of client you describe - but if he shows up and we do the return, he will pay us $200. And we will not apologize for charging him that/

If you are going to do a partnership return, your partner information will not show up. There is a KB article on this on the ATX support site and it is discussed on the "other" board. To fix the issue, you have to go into 2014, uncheck the complete button on the return you are going to roll over, open up the return, save it, and then go into 2015 and roll the return. Hope this helps someone before they finish a chunk of a return and lose their work because they have to roll the return again to get the partner information to come across. Tom Newark, CA

That is correct. The due date changes are for tax years AFTER Dec 31 2015.

I always put Health benefits and Housing Allowance in Box 14. Neither are required, but the tax preparer may not know about either of those if the W-2 preparer doesn't make him aware of it. And it's always good for the employee to know what he really made. They sometimes forget.

For anyone who hasn't ordered needed toner cartridges, here's a pretty good place to get them reasonably. SuppliesOutlet.com is the website - they're in Memphis. It's refills, not original equipment, but are very good quality. I've been using them for about five years and no problems so far. Over the years I tried almost all the used ones (remanufactured or "Remans" they call them) but something was always wrong (shipping mistakes, half-filled cartridges, prices not much cheaper than originals), so I finally gave up and started buying OEMs at Sam's Club ($68 each). Then somebody told me about this place. A package of five for my LaserJet HP1102w printer is $70 total and a set of 2 for my Canon 4770n copier is $34 total. I just ordered some and hopefully everything will be as good as last year. I got a coupon from Offers.com which took $15 off the total (it's AMZ15 and I just typed it in) which worked for me, but, as you probably know, those things work sometimes and sometimes not. Anyhow, just thought I'd pass that on to anybody interested and (Disclaimer) no, I don't get anything off for references.

In addition any return with a refundable credit, a change from the prior year's checking account etc will be delayed by enhanced electronic screening for an undefined period of time. Kind of like refund roulette

Agree with Jack. The charts are based on pass practices and "best guess" but is NOT from IRS, so why tell clients something not legitimized by the government? /s Of course the same can be said of many things "legitimized by the government" too! (could NOT resist )

You can give this information to YOUR clients if you choose. I am too smart to do so.

Here's some great news, I purchased the cartridge below from Amazon.com, albeit a refill, for a total of $12.07. I had previously purchased refills from a local franchise and the last time I paid $80 for 2 of the same cartridges. I have about 800 copies so far on the $12.07 and it continues to work quite well. 1 X Compatible Toner Cartridge Q2612X For HP LaserJet 3055 (Black) - 3500 yield - Black - Best of luck. Mike Dubin CPA

In the case of Graves v. Com., the Ninth Circuit held that a shareholder/employee loan to bankrupt corporation was a miscellaneous itemized deduction subject to the 2% floor given the facts and circumstances of the case. Several years ago I had a client with a similar situation. The 2% haircut yielded a far better deduction than the capital loss limitation.

You are right Gail. Most IRS communications are written upside down anyways.

I am sure many of you are aware of the changes surrounding the tangible property safe harbor rules and limits beginning 2016. However, I posted this link just in case anyone missed it or would like a reference to the changes for tax payers with or without an AFS. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-15-82.pdf

I think a lot of tax preparers probably have this talent from lots of practice either reading the forms our clients are holding in their hot little hands and reading to us, or turning forms around so the clients can see and then explaining them while they are upside down.