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My assistant was just saying today that it was a good thing video phones have not become standard for communicating since clients could tell by my face what I was thinking when I answered their calls.

I'm in India right now. Get the tech support Guy's name and I'll look him up. Maybe have a chat about best practices.

Well, I certainly do. The one that comes to mind is the jackass that always says, "I don't know why I don't do this myself. I could do it in 15 minutes." He hands over his stuff and proceeds to chat for 30 minutes about all the candidates for POTUS, how everybody should tithe (but he doesn't - hello) and how ObamaCare screwed him over last year. The thought bubble that I hope was not visible over my head: Oh, yeah, because you applied for the subsidy all by yourself because you are so smart and then had to pay it back. Oops. Tell me again how you should do this tax return yourself.

Thank you for that reminder. I called the client, and decided to return all his materials. The minor income was from new billings, and he is an attorney who should have known better. I did not e-file an extension. We have parted as friends. This one is not my monkey, not my circus.

I'm sorry you are dealing with stupidity. That may be the winner of the most stupid response ever from a tech support person.

It really helps, when dealing with annoying clients, to be able to roll your eyes or make faces at the phone!

I didn't say I am not trying to keep up. I'm just saying that it is harder when you get older. The brain doesn't work as efficiently as you age. I sincerely hope your brain is still as efficient 20 years from now as it is now. Also, some people are naturally smarter than others and I recognize that I am not one of the smarter ones. I also recognize that there is a difference between knowledge, intelligence, and wisdom.

I have been at this nearly 30 years and many of my clients are like family. It is sad to see them decline and pass on and sometimes I stop and remind myself that they are also seeing changes in me. There are a few of my clients that are no longer able to leave the house and so I make a house call. I'm glad to be able to offer this small service and I am always happy to see them. That being said, there are also those that make me cringe when I see them coming through the door, but the good far outweigh the bad.

I emailed support about the MD 504 trust return calculating a negative local tax on line 18. I didn't bother to explain that it should be zero because THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A NEGATIVE TAX. Today I get a long email explaining that math gives you a negative tax when you have a loss. I'll let you read it for yourself: Good Afternoon, I have your 1041 return open, I went to MD 504, K01 page 2 line 18, and I see it pink override. When I restore the field, I get -7. Line 18 states Local tax, multiply MD tax table from line 10 by .0240. Line 10 of MD 504, K-1 is -284x.0240= -6.816 round off to -7. If the tax is incorrect on line 18. If not to be -7, what is it suppose to be? How did you determine the Tax Table for line 18 is incorrect? Can you point me to where the % may be wrong. I searched MD State DOR found Talbot County 2.40% Again my total is still -7 (-700) for line 18. Please reply back to what I should be seeing, how much you think it should be. What do you see that I can't see? You may need to call us on Monday so we can remote and review return with you. Please reply back attention David with a break down of what it should be, what I need to look at that you found to be incorrect. I will attach a screen shot how you sent return to me, and how I restored it to show -7. My response was quite short and may have contained some caps and exclamation points.

Its a correct answer if viewed as a math problem. Its bat shit crazy as a tax problem. Have fun on Monday! Rich

As you all know I've lost four of my companions in the last three years, and the three kitties during tax season. When my 21.5 year old went, I couldn't do anything for a week. In November I adopted a dog from the shelter - literally the first companion that I've actually picked out. The others have just found me or been given to me. She has been a PITA (wants so much attention while I'm trying to work!) and sheer joy. Still have three kitties and another dog to care for. Im so sorry for your loss. Grieve.

Geez, I can't believe how really devastated I am over this! Crying jags, the whole thing. I miss him so much and didn't take him for granted, but I also didn't expect to feel this bad.

Well I've been using Virtru for free with mixed results. About half the people I send emails to, tell me they can't figure it out. I knew this was going to happen. Of course, even when I send password protected pdf attachments, there are clients who can't open it, or they tell me there's no place to enter a password. I should fire all of my computer incompetent clients!

I gave up on "trying to stay current" and instead go for "trying to stay pertinent." There are features of my tablet that I will never use (because they have CRAP security) so I don't bother to learn them. There are features in my computer that I will never bother with (editing pdf's, for one example) so again I don't bother. Making a reasoned decision on what areas to ignore and discard off-loads a slew of work for me. I do want to edit videos, so I will take the time to learn basic editing techniques and expand as I have need. In addition, I have a long-standing habit of letting other people be the "beta testers" of new technology. I'll jump on after someone else finds the bugs and they get (mostly) worked out. But stuff that makes *my* life easier I jump on -- like using Gruntworx Organize to turn those disjointed pdf's into beautifully indexed source documents.

In addition to what Judy said, you can also add a custom paragraph to the bottom of a standard letter quite easily -- also to the bottom of any bill. I use that one a lot, with little notes when something is very different. Example: "Bill higher this year due to two state returns needed." That staves off many of the questions, I've found.

Yes, it has the K-1 letters and a variety of letters to choose from for all the types of returns. They are easily customized too. I use the shortened letter that gives the highlights of balance due or refund in block-style format without much in the way of instructions, but there are more comprehensive and detailed letters available. The program also has a nice 3-year comparison and a summary sheet also.

It is OK to cry. I still tear up when I think about my last two cats and one has been gone for 21 years. (He was an amazing guy!) Our pets love us unconditionally and are such great companions. I will grieve terribly when I lose any of the three that we have now, but they are worth it. They will help me, because I will probably lose my husband much sooner than we would like. Hang in there. I am really sorry.

He's family. You're going to grieve. Let it out. You can vent here. We've been there, done that, and empathize.

And now my thought bubble will have "you windjammer" at the end.

Have you seen a copy of the sales contract? Could be some sort of rent with option to buy. Best to get the whole picture before you jump in. Why is seller still paying property taxes and original mortgage?

Let's hope more companies do this. This is the first one I've ever seen. http://www.mondelezinternational.com/investors/stock-information/spin-off-information

Thank you, Catherine. I was hoping it was simple when all-year coverage. I'm going to email daughter and mother to get her insurance card info.

You won't need most of Schedule HC. Tell it taxpayer, full-year coverage. TIN of the insurance company is either available online or from me; I've accumulated a database of a LOT of them over the years! Subscriber number is on her insurance card. You don't need the 1095-B for this. If she was covered all year, ALL the rest of the schedule should be completely ignored. Call my office if you want a walk-through. 781-899-2200

Can they make IRA or SEP contributions to lower AGI?

If you switch, I'll be happy to answer questions also.

Ah heck, don't be too hard on yourself. It is that time of year.

I have that one beat, but chose not to post it. There are eyes everywhere!!

very bad planning and also the adm should have consulted an attorney, it might have been possiable to get the benificaries the IRA but not now, have seen it done twice in the last few years and it was all dependent upon how the trust was worded, but once the trust cashed it in, it is over, big tax bill

My chosen profession dictates that I must stay current with technology. There are dozens of other professions that do not. I choose to stay current. "Elderly" is not what makes "technology more difficult." Attitudes make staying current difficult. For the record, I am almost 60 years old, and amongst my generation and my peers I am one of only about 5% that have bothered to stay current. I taught an 81 year old lady with ZERO computer experience how to use a computer. In the process of a year afterward, she e-published 3 books and had her own website. Your objection due to being "elderly" is without basis.

I do not print out all the worksheets for clients. Just the statements and depreciation schedule if applicable. I do give them the tax summary and last years comparison which is great for those "I got a refund last year, why do I owe " questions.

About 6 years ago I decided that for all of my computer literate clients that I would only provide them with a pdf copy of their tax returns. I accomplish this by using a cd rom. For some of my elder and/or high wealth clients I give them the option. Should any client that I provided with a cd rom to request a copy of their return there is a minimum $25 charge. For all returns in excess of 50 pages the charge becomes $50. This has worked quite well for me in saving time, paper, toner, postage, etc. Mike Dubin CPA

In our office with almost the same client flow each year we tend to think of them as our extended family. It is amazing when you ask about things that don't apply to tax. We had one that at this point has beat breast cancer twice. we always inquire and she is quite appreciative of the question. Of course we always tell her she looks great.

My letter says somewhere that extra copies at pickup are free; after that $30 up-front. BOY did that stop the calls for copies when they want to refinance and "I can't find the one you gave me." I remind them of the fee and all of a sudden it's "Let me take another look and get back to you if I can't find it" which of course means they couldn't be bothered to look until it was going to cost them money.

I am looking at Drake now. I did download the 2014 as a demo and when I get time, I will try a simple return and then a complex return to see how it handles both.

I a situation like yours, my instant answer is $17,000. Then when they catch their breath I say... "Without all the information I need, that is what it will be. Get complete information to me and it may be lower." Then I tell them... "When all your missing information is here, you will be put at the back of the list." Sounds cruel, but I grew too weary of babysitting for lazy clients. Oh, in addition, I institute a 20% "Preparation Interruption Surcharge" to their bill. Their apathy and laziness cost me productive time.