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Michaelmars, you really were going to give it your all so close to the deadline--fully staffed, ready to roll--but the stars were against you. Maybe it's time to rethink your dedication to your clients, who when you think about it aren't that deserving of your Herculean effort on their behalf. I believe I'm starting to feel like Catherine. While I bend over backwards to complete as many April 15 returns as I can, even for those who deposit their disorganized messes with us on April 10, I am starting to feel differently about Oct 17 stragglers. It's not like we didn't contact them multiple times to get their act together, or call them repeatedly when they only brought in half the needed info this week. I caught myself getting frantic about the penalties they'll face, until I realized that here I am caring more about their tax obligations than they do. Not good. I worked all day today. Completed a $2k plus return, looked up basis for stocks purchased decades ago on another and checked everything so it's ready to go when those last two tax docs come in on Monday (maybe), and stopped caring about the others. One has a kid in college who will have his financial aid rescinded if parents don't file on Oct 17. Another already owes a zillion dollars and will get hit with a massive failure to file penalty (which the IRS calculates back to April 15 when the return isn't filed by the extension deadline). Even if she brings in the volumes of needed data at 8AM Monday it won't get finished. Too bad, it's not like we didn't try. The others I intend to bill for the work already done. I have 5-10 hours into some returns, and I don't intend to wait until they're finished, if ever, to get paid. Bills go out this week. Next year, set a deadline of Oct 1 and don't promise anything to those who show up after that date. Don't schedule weekend hours to service clients who have been enjoying their weekends for six months and finally woke up.

Not only do I click the save button often; but I also export the return to a jump drive every time I make a major change on it. Just can't say this often enough. This also allows me to move the return to another computer if necessary to work on it. Of course, I am not networked.

It's probably time to invest in a new scanner that is compatible with WIN10, I recommend the fujitsu s1500, the software that comes with it scansnap is excellent, I had to pay close to $500 just to get the software for free.

I'll start by saying that I could be totally wrong here, but something sticks in the back of my mind about this COD income related to a rental and I couldn't find specifically what I was looking for. I did find the the article I've linked to below though. There are differences in handling depending on whether the debt is recourse or nonrecourse, so you should consider that. If you look at the section "Foreclosures Involving Recourse Debt" it talks about inclusion of the deemed gain and also the application of Rev Ruling 92-92 that would classify it as being attributable to the passive activity. In that instance, it might be that this income would be considered investment income because it is tied to the rental. Sorry, I don't know for sure if this is helpful or muddies the waters more, just putting it out here for your consideration. It's a CPA's blog post, but it does give references to the code and rev ruling in it that may be helpful: http://www.wipfli.com/BlogPost_Tax_prop_foreclosures_consequences_031511.aspx *IF* the above is true and must be included, I think the taxpayer would be knocked out of the EIC by the investment income under IRC 32(i) subitems (C)(D) & (E) https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/32

This post has made me realize 3 things about myself: 1. I'm not intolerant. 2. I can be polite as usual, even under extenuating circumstances. 3. I'm not a son of a bitch, unless I should be, it's those extenuating circumstances that makes everything alright if I tend to lose it a little . It's nice to know I'm normal and not alone. Thanks everyone for saving me a ton of money at the next practitioner therapy session. I'll be spending the savings on a nice dinner somewhere.

In an bold business move that will save lives, I am changing this question I ask clients: Do you have an e-mail address? Do you have an e-mail address that you check every %^&$ once in a while?

The firm where I work part time is closed on Fridays from May 30 to Jan 31. We publicize that all extended returns must be in our office by Oct. 1. I had 3 emails at 4:30 today saying they were overnighting their information to us so it would be here Saturday. Imagine their surprise when we open on Monday... I agree with Catherine, I am not paid to baby sit irresponsible apathetic people. 9 months is long enough for ANYONE to collect and gather their tax information. All of our extended clients have been mailed a reminder letter each month for the last 3 months. I have a list of 19 that still have not sent information to us. At least 10 typically owe around $5K. I have lost all sympathy for those folks. Let the penalties roll!!!

I like the meme except he has a paddle. Most of the time I don't feel like I do.

I just want to thank everyone who contributed to this "OH SHIT" thread. Helped me a lot yesterday.

I was so grateful that my sister, husband, daughter and family and son and family were able to evacuate from St. Simon's Island in time. They had to go to Montgomery AL to find a place, over 500 miles. They are back in Brunswick GA now but can't get to the island for another day or more. My sister could take her 2 dogs but not the several finches that she raises. She is so worried that the extra food and water she left may not have been enough or there may be damage to the house. At least they are all safe though it has been very costly for them. Scary....