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Many of mine drop off or send e-docs, but yesterday a couple who had always come in even though they live a good 40 miles away, brought in their 8 week old puppy. So I interviewed them with a puppy on my lap, and we talked dogs while also talking taxes. It made my day. They even wanted to meet my new pup, a 45 lb wriggling jumpy ball of excitement pittie. Tiggy gets SO excited to meet people! I have to cage her because she likes people too much, not because she's a danger, lol.

I spent all day Friday at the vet with a kitty that took sick, put him to sleep yesterday and buried him today. Got a bunch of returns and even thinking about the 2k + vet bill isn't getting me up off the couch. I know you guys will understand. On a nice note, one of the clients I saw yesterday brought in their 8 week old Rotweiler puppy, and cute puppy was really welcome knowing what I was probably facing later in the afternoon.. This is is the third February in a row that I've had fatally ill kitties.

Our Super Bowl Party.....Just Arrived......

Warning - even dumber.... How do you know a dumb blonde has been at your computer? The white out on the monitor gives it away every time..... Tom Newark, CA

Warning - an even dumber blonde joke. I'm wondering if this was a text from one of my clients.

This doesn't help your situation but a reminder to clients to keep all their annual statements for annuities and insurance policies. With these companies merging so much, it may be impossible to get a history of your accounts.

Had that happen to a little dog three years ago. Me and my mom were so heart broke and lonely that 10 days later we went in search of someone to love and got our Mickey Boy! Best decision for us. It didn't take away the hurt but it gave us something to channel our love to and he in turn has given us so much love. He is very affectionate so we gave him a middle name. His full name is Mickey Valentino (Mickey, after Mickey Mouse because we are great fans and associate him with happiness, and Valentino after the latin lover because of his kisses)! It takes time, but eventually life will go on and the motivation will come back, but I truly do sympathize with you. Having to put a pet to sleep is very difficult but is sometimes the kindest thing we can do for them.

Looks like I need to change that attachment to "Got Pounded". Great game, Denver.

But, he didn't send me a message! I think I'm insulted.

Form 4137

Rich, if you follow Jack'a advice.

John, The State of North Carolina sounds like a wonderful state to live in! Don't know if I'm naive or just really hoping that North Carolina's justice system (or any other state's justice system for that matter) is better than Louisiana's justice system. I could see a contempt of court charge being immediately filed on anyone who corrects a judge in Louisiana....no matter what injustice would take place as a result of the judge's statement. I was almost sentenced to 10 years at hard labor for my cell phone ringing (I thought I had the volume off) while court was in session. The court bailiff was to have collected my phone before I entered the courtroom, but let me keep it as a personal favor. As it would just happen to be, the judge was walking around in the courtroom while lecturing the defendent during the case I was observing. Said judge just happened to be exactly in line with my row of seats when my phone rang. Of course, I was sitting on the end of that row. The judge could have touched me he was that close. And of course, he looked at me instantly. Thank goodness we both coached and referreed soccer years earlier when it was first introduced to our youth years ago. Also, I was greatful that the night before I had changed my ringtone to his Alma Mater, LSU's, fight song! Now every time I see my "ex friend, the court bailiff", I automatically hand him my cell phone...whether I'm at the grocery store, the post office or Wal-Mart, he keeps it until I leave to go home.

Thanks, we all need a "ride or die" homie!

Then there's the ones that take 8 months to get you their info, all along sending emails and placing phones calls to your office. When they finally give everything to you they then expect to be your top priority, and be ready for filing. I wish all forms had to be mailed out by 01/31/2015 subject to automatic penalty without waiver, and that the personal return deadline could be changed to the end of May, and lastly, that all refunds were held and mailed on the last day of tax season to eliminate 99% of the fraud cases. Maybe that makes too much sense though.

...and Yes, I know my cats cannot understand a word I say, but I always shares stories with them of Smokey....our first beloved cat that paved the way for all future kitties. Regaling them with "tales of the Great Smoky" makes me feel better and eases the pain of losing her a little bit.

I haven't done it but seen it done with the mother & son owning the home and mother taking out the mortgage due to son's credit. Search on Equitable Ownership. At least one good Tax Court case about this issue. Did the son act like the owner, paying all the bills, maintaining the home, working on his credit to be able to refinance in his name only, etc.?

Oh, Joan, I, too, am so sorry that you've lost this kitty. It is unimaginable to have this happen 3 consecutive years! All of us who have or had have pets know too well the pain in your heart at this time. Several years ago one of our dogs couldn't wait until after busy season but, in a way, having to focus on work helped - a little. How wonderful for you and the kitty that you had each other for whatever length of time was granted.

EVA, thank you. The rules were changed about a month ago by Congress. NO AMENDMENTS to claim EIC.

We amended three years prior returns claiming EIC. After about 6 months, clients had received all the refunds.

I was at my cousin's funeral memorial this weekend. Loss of pet or loss of kin, it was not a good weekend for tax returns.

If I remember correctly my wife received a bonus of $20,000 one year and that is what was put into the annuity. I don't remember any other contributions. As for records, I have our tax returns back to 1956 but did not keep the Fidelity statements once 5 years had passed after the 1998 1035 exchange to Kemper. I have the 1998 1099R from PFL Life Insurance Co. showing the code 6 distribution, but of course box 2a was zero and box 5 was blank. I like you line 21 adjustment concept. Will wait to see the actual papers that was received from Fidelity by Kemper at the time of the exchange.

And yet, how much worse it is for them if we do not make that decision. They depend on us to know better and to act on that knowledge, no matter how much it hurts *us* at the time. Every one who has chosen to feel the pain and guilt, in order to relieve the pain of a pet, gets the reward of a special kind of strengthening in their character for so doing.

Sorry, Joan! Hugz! I still have pictures of my dogs in my office, even though they are long gone. They were very special to me, as I can tell yours are.

This kind of news breaks my heart. Especially when we have to make the decision. Our little friends are so helpless...........

This is one of the times that clicking a "Like" button just doesn't seem right. I don't like it, and I am sure you don't either. I am so sorry for your loss.

So sorry for you loss, Joan. Pets are more than pets. Those little spirits have a profound impact on us. Thinking of you~

He can use c/o Santa Claus, North Pole, if he wants. However, the partner may have a legitimate reason. If there are employees that receive the mail, it is possible that one of them could see the K-1 and find out what the partners were earning. It's the sort of info that no small business owner wants to be let known to their employees.

I totally understand. This is a place to come and talk to people who understand. I am so sorry for your loss. Give yourself some time to grieve and feel better. It is so hard to lose our pets. I still tear up when I think about our two cats that we've lost even though we have three new ones.

Sorry, Joan. Our pets are our family, and missing them does get in the way of work. Give yourself permission to grieve.

If anyone received a PM requesting tax prep from a new member whose name starts with rica..., vacationing in the Bahamas, please ignore it. I've banned the person as a spammer. That seems to have automatically removed the PM from my mailbox, so if any more were sent by this member, this action should remove them. At least 2 of us have received this, and this "person" made the unfortunate choice to PM me. BANNED! If anyone receives a similar suspicious PM from any other new members. Please report it. Similar to posts in the forum, all PMs contain "report" links within each message of PMs that we receive. Thanks.

Tom, I would not dream of removing or moving your post, we can all use a laugh now and then, especially this time of year.

I sometimes did, sometimes not, basically when I had all the info already I usually input it, like Catherine, just for neatness, I guess I'd say. But if it would take significant extra time and digging out info, I did not, because I felt it was not fair to charge the clients for time to do something not required.

It's only Feb 6th and I feel burnt out already. Had a young lady in her 20's email me all her info. I finished her return and she came by to pick them up and she hands me a bunch of quarterly broker statements and say "do you need these"? I look at them and there is no year end with the 1099B though she did have some long and short term gains. She says to me "Can we just leave it off for now" I so want to RETIRE but I can't yet

I just wanted to . What am I going to be like in April?

And Congress, who we all know has it in for the IRS, just authorized the use of third-party bill collectors again. Didn't they try that a few years ago and it didn't work? What bugs me is that in response to the massive telephone scam where the "IRS" calls people and demands immediate payment of back taxes, the agency has screamed on TV, the internet, social media, their website that "We DO NOT call taxpayers, or text or email them." So now legitimate bill collectors will be calling and demanding money on behalf of the IRS. I think the scammers lobbied for the new law because it just gave their phone calls credibility.

I have just finished up my 41st return (1-1065; 1-1120; 11-1120S; 28-1040) and was thinking just how smoothly things are going this year. I have to admit though, I am on pins and needles waiting for the other foot to drop. But like Jack says, make it worth your while. This is a teaching moment for that client.

Large extra fees!! Make it worth your time. On the invoice/receipt, list the additional charge as "Babysittng 1099B."

I understand the frustration, but I don't charge for missed appointments. Most of my clients mail or email their info to me, and appointments are only for those who simply MUST bring their info in and hand it over (hopefully not one piece at a time). There's always something on my desk to be done so I just turn to something else and don't consider the time for a missed appointment wasted. But I'd probably have a different attitude if I kept a full appointment calendar and a missed appointment throws it off schedule.

I feel the same way this year.

Who are these clients who show up when they say they're going to? What? I'm jealous. I swear if somebody tells me they're coming Monday, all I know for sure is they are NOT coming Monday.

Last week's Kiplinger Letter talks about the IRS's future corresponding via email and text. I hope they do not. I tell all of my clients to never ever respond to IRS email or text. I think if the IRS opens that door it will be nothing but trouble. Next we'll have the IRS on Snapchat!

I never enter the information unless it is required for multiple reasons: 1. Do you charge clients to enter information that the IRS isn't interested in receiving? Do you inform the client you are doing so? 2. Why give the IRS information they don't want? If it's wrong, you've produced a problem which could have easily been avoided. 3. Having dealt with auditors and regulators - I NEVER give information unless I'm told or specifically asked. It will usually come back to bite me later.