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I really do not like extensions. I put off my legal and financial clients until after tax season, and I feel like I really need to attend to other things after 18 April. (I'm aiming to be done by 15 April. I do NOT want to work that extra weekend.) I agree with treating clients like they are special. They are. Some of Rita's clients are extra *Special*, but if they pay the bill . . . If not - there's always the goodbye hug and the back yard of the farm.

I just said f%^k it. I'm watching another episode of Justified. So there! Stack of tax returns. I just showed YOU!

The deduckshuns were all out in my duck puddle, but since it hasn't rained in a while, the puddle has been deducked.

Keep track of all startup expenses, then when the business actually starts making income, amortize total startup costs for 15 years. No deductions or tax filing until the business actually starts producing income.

And then you see them on a Turbo Tax commercial taking every deduckshun they can think of. I am 500% done with dating I mean calling these inconsiderate excuses for taxpayers who are only interested in one thing: a free tax return.

Too funny, laughing to tears! We all need to find more deduckshuns!!!

And everything is deduckable. If it quacks like a deduckshun... You don't even need Bank Ruby to sign the return. Whip it right out there to cyber land, yer a tax pro.

The Turbotax slogan "It doesn't take a genius" is really illustrated by some of the questions on their Turbotax (ttlc) live community. If you ever need a good laugh, just shoot over there and look at some of the questions that are posted. Today's favorites are these: don't remember my cost or basis on a house I sold From the answer: If you can't remember the cost basis and don't have any documentation to prove it, then you must claim a cost basis of zero and that means that the entire sales proceeds are a taxable gain. is cost of filing Bankruby deduckable From the answer: Unfortunately no , the legal fees that you incurred to file for bankruptcy are considered personal expense and are not deductible on your tax return. and my favorite from today: putting in an amend so i put in an amend because i didn't know i was supposed to file both my w-2s at once and was wondering how i would know if it went through? You cannot make this stuff up!!!!!!!!!!!! It may not take a genius, but I guess you at least need opposable thumbs!!!!!!

Put it on the proper form regardless of the amount.

So far my only identity theft victim this year was also a client who got compromised last year and filed with a pin this year. I asked the auditor the other day about this and his thinking is that the system is broken because he is hearing a lot of this. The pin solution is not working. (Although, it has worked for some of my clients). Also, want to thank all of you for your remarks, solutions and advice regarding my anger management issue. I feel so much better now and am happy with the way it was resolved. All that remains is a dull ache; which will fade.

My husband goes too long without shaving, and during the day, he is running around working on our rental properties (or at least that's the excuse he gives), so he wears crummy jeans and a ratty t-shirt. Since I am up to my ears in taxes, he took our 10 year old son to work at the Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen, which my Son does once a month. Someone looked up, saw my husband standing there, and said, 'I'm sorry, Sir. We're not serving until 1:00!' These are people from our Church! It actually shocked him (my husband) a bit, but it made me laugh until I cried when my Son told me the story. My husband could look a little better even if he is working!

We also appear to be poor. Sometimes when Hubby is out walking the dog, I'm afraid some kindly stranger is going to offer him money.

I've actually completed a lot of work this week and it feels good. The last 2 weeks have been hell around here with one of my larger C corps in the midst trying to negotiate the sale of their business. It's been a lot of interruptions and I lost any motivation and momentum with my other work that has been piling up. Then this same client's attorneys started with the calls about the sale 2 days ago. I got on a roll with some partnerships and personals and now have only a handful that are in that haven't yet been worked on. Everything else is either waiting on signature forms or have been printed and are ready for pickup. Of course, there are still those that aren't yet in, and some new clients that I've agreed to accept at this late date that have yet to drop off. There's a wee pinpoint of light at the end of the long tunnel though! In other good news, I raised my prices this year by 10-15% and no one has complained. I've started giving a small discount to those that are using the drop box and mentioning it to those that chose not to. I hope that will encourage more people to use it in future. I should have done that years ago.

Just to add, I am a teacher by day so I can tell you the schools are open. I'm not sure about the minds that come through the doors. Students don't have the requirement to think or implore critical thinking or problem solving due to technology. Some, as you can tell from deduckshuns, can't even use spell check. All they have to do is push buttons, which they do quite well. Sad thing is they have no idea what the buttons mean. What drives me crazy is when I ask how they got a particular answer all they say is I don't know that's what the calculator or computer said.

Why do they always do that? You had a good time with them, they take your number, say they are going to call, and you wait and wait.

Nice. Very well done. Gave the refund and billed at the same time. Very well done. Tom Newark, CA

I love this

This brought and big smile to me, but then I realized it is very sad. Did they close all the schools?

Judy, giving a discount if they use the dropbox is a wonderful idea! I definitely am going to start doing that. The less time I have to talk to people, the happier and more productive I am. I'm as much at fault as they are, because so many of them have become dear friends over the years. Some of them have been with me since I was in college which was many moons ago.

AND VOTE!!!

and not only do they walk among us but they breed!!!!

Every one I pick up today, I say, "Oh, no, not you." I am running out of alternatives, and gonna have to do one of these eventually... So many incompletes right now. And I actually had a message yesterday from an out-of-towner who couldn't find his stuff and wondered if he had already brought it. I didn't call back. I'm not dealing with that. Maybe he will forget where I am and find another preparer.

Box 2 is empty and "Taxable Amount Not Determined" is marked because the company handling the money has no clue if there is non-deductible basis in the account. To accurately determine Box 2 amount, you must find out if and how much non-deductible basis she has in the retirement account, and pro-rate accordingly. Code 2 DOES exempt her from penalty.

130. I need to do 8.7 returns per day.

Stupid, lying magic 8 ball

Rita, I had lots of returns that were 95% complete that have all been waiting for that last bit of information and was frustrated with the delays. They are finally getting done and yours will too.

Yes to all of the above. Sincerely

I thought this post going to be about marriage

Me calling client: Did you make estimated payments for 2015? (New client, so I did not set them up.) Client - somewhat haughtily: Yes I did, the information is in the packet I dropped off for you. Me: Do you think I would call you if the information was in the packet you dropped off for me?

This was going to be the year i filed extensions instead of pushing to get the returns finished. Pretty nervous about that. Most of the clients want their returns by the due date, no matter when then give me their paperwork. I don't want to lose clients My business model has always been to make every client feel like the only client, and I charge pretty high fees for that.

We had stopped keeping originals of W-2s etc but started up again this year because of refund identity theft. Last year we had 12 cases and had to call each of them to return to the office so we could get the originals out of their folders to staple to the paper returns. Decided to just hold onto them this year and scan and shred AFTER the return is accepted. This season so far we only have one ID theft victim, who was also a victim last year and both he and spouse had IP PINS issued by IRS. He's the only client I sent home with his original tax docs in his folder because I just assumed this year he was safe. Silly me. Most of the other rejects are those brilliant kids claiming themselves, but at least now we have the originals to put on the parents' paper returns.

$1,607. SE income of $60K * 92.35% * 2.9% = $1,607

I used to be much better at saving money. Now it seems I've always got those unexpected bills: vet bills, sidewalk repairs, still paying on the HVAC unit I put in one of my rentals over 2 years ago. But I have about half of what I need for retirement in actual retirement accounts and the rest in real estate equity, so I don't feel like I'm bad off, except when I'm scrounging money in December and January.

Oh, she'll probably be introducing herself to the back yard. Figuratively and financially speaking. You did good, my friend.

funny - my secretary was just saying she has run out of niceness. I just hide in the back office lately. Even my dog has been reluctant to go see who's here.

"Me, too." I love how you put that "Nice" in quotation marks. I feel that. I really do.

It just struck me in these waning days or little sleep and much work that one of the things that makes me really angry are employees who are too cheap to print their W2s on perforated paper. Second; client called last night. She originally was going to change to another preparer but could not find anyone who would take her. Brought her 18 W2 and 1099 forms to me (She inherited her father's estate in 2015) After looking through the forms, I found at least two that were coded incorrectly; to her disadvantage. Had three separate phone conversations with her financial manager. Convinced him that the coding was wrong. Distributions are coded as normal instead of death; which will result in a hefty early withdrawal penalty for her. Now he told her that she really should take her return to a CPA. She finally found one who will take her and called and asked if she could pick up her paperwork. Of course, I told her that she could, but also told her that I am not exactly a fly-by-night preparer and that if I had not found the incorrect codes, she would be paying a lot more tax. The corrected 1099's have not been forthcoming, though they were promised in three to five business days. Now: her Mom gave me a $75 retainer to prepare this return. They want it back. How much of the retainer am I allowed to keep for the consulting, etc that I have already done? This one really pushed my anger button. I am not sorry to be getting rid of a longtime client because they have been getting a courtesy discount for many years. I hope that venting here will help relieve my furor. I wouldn't take her back now even if she offered me triple my normal fee; and the Mom can go right along with her if she so wishes.

I'm kinda late getting to the party on this one and (true confession) didn't read every reply so someone might have beat me to the punch on this. When they show up for the refund explain what you did and why and then ask them in view of all the work you put in on their behalf how much of the refund they deserve. Ask them to put themselves in your shoes and then state how much they think they should give back. Then watch them squirm. First to speak loses.

In general, yes, but there are some exceptions. Bad debts and worthless securities have longer. Not sure if your Ponzi scheme amendment has some special rule. Check the instructions for 1040X. In general: File within 3 year (including extensions) of the date the original return was filed or within 2 years after the tax was paid, whichever is later. To determine the date filed - if no extension and the return was filed earlier than April 15, then use 3 years from April 15. If on extension until Oct 15 and filed earlier than Oct 15, then use 3 years from the date actually filed.

I've sent copies my whole career, also. Sometimes a copy of the D copy or recipient's copy or whatever I have to copy or to print out from my electronic storage. When I mail a copy to client to sign and mail in, I tell him he's welcome to replace the W-2 copies with the "B" originals if he wishes but that it's not necessary. (I have some worrier clients who would call me to ask, so I head them off.)

She can't pay me more than $80 to prepare the return much less any fee to deal with the bloody aftermath. This does not add up? She can afford to pay with that fat eitc check. Tom Newark, CA

A return with schedule C and EITC for $80 is NO BUENO! Good choice.

Just wondering, are you not preparing the return because of the drama or potential drama, or because of the EITC/Schedule C issue? Does the fee of only $80 play into it at all? My questions are sincere, I'm not questioning your motive, just trying to understand it.

Yes, I was raised to live this way. I thought 1970 was the Great Depression. No, it was just that my daddy socked away money so nobody would have to pay his bills later. I hope to do the same for my kids. If I can just get this last one through school...

I am so tired I almost broke my face operating a construction tool

RitaB: Is the backyard getting crowded? Rich

I keep paper. It's true. I love getting the file out and holding last year's return in my hands. With all the notes and all the forms and calling clients and saying, "Hey, last year you had $435 interest income from Cumberland County Bank." And they say, "OMG, thank you!" And they call the bank and the interest this year was 34 cents, and I saved the day. Just kidding.

At the high risk of sounding like an idiot, why do you cut the W2s apart if you're electronically filing all the returns? I'm panicking that I've been doing something wrong for, oh . . . about 12 years!