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I just have to share the system my client has developed to ensure that I know exactly what I'm getting into. If only all my clients were this savvy.

And the phone tax credit! I got 711 articles that year. Who cares what my basis is in my $180,000 stock sale? Get me that $30 phone tax credit!

I love the ones that include a magazine article, just in case I didn't know what People magazine said about savvy tax deductions, for instance!

I know! I have about three of these, but I didn't want to rub it in. I'm glad to know it's not just my good fortune. It's a great time to be alive! One told me this morning he didn't put his depreciable assets purchased in 2015 down, but he can get that if he needs to. You know, in case I forgot what they were. I had to wipe away a tear. I'm sorry I complain at times.

Some of my clients use that system too. The best also write their name, address, phone number, social security numbers and birth dates on the outside because i don't keep any information from one year to the next. They also bring back the copy of last year's tax return that I prepared for them in case I need to see that.

Looking at one just like it now, except the client also added her name in case I couldn't tell who she was from the documents inside the envelope!

You are so right. But that's a foolproof system you gotta give him that.

Rita, I have x-ray vision and whats inside that envelope doesn't look good for you

Well, my guy is all about protecting himself from identity theft. You might tell her. It couldn't hurt.

I have some clients who I *wish* were that organized....

Needed to share this because in an empty office no one can hear me scream. Longtime SE Speech Pathologist client who every year tries to pull something. This year she has listed "Trainings," with about 20 $150 charges for classes. So the suspicious deductive mind I have (I watch reruns of Murder She Wrote and Columbo), I asked to see a statement. It's from an art school. Asking how this applied to speech pathology she says she has to draw words. What? You draw words? Sorry. Then she gets mad and says who am to decide, what's the big deal, then continues to give me a hard time. Last year it was vitamins, the year before I think it was her Dunkin Donuts coffee habit. I didn't tell her she was just running up her bill with me. Maybe I should take a class in painting by numbers and claim it as CPEs. Borrowing from the Moody Blues...."But we decide which is right, And, which is an illusion." I hope you're all having a nice day.

Numbers are our business, right?

I always deduct painting by the numbers as CPE

Okay, okay, you wise guys; I'm throwin' in the towel. It appears the neighborhood hereabouts is swamped with physicists and philosophers. We have the same situation here in Hicksville - the woods are full of 'em. But on the down side, in order to pass a burgwide ordinance it takes five tavern louts and a jug of whiskey to raise a quorum. I don't know whether it's worse to be stuck in the seventies or in this lightweight century. P.S. to Abby: RE: "Probably. What's a checkbook? Oh, wait I remember those!" I'll bet you're old enough to remember what one was when you wanted to get a paycheck out of it and weren't so dismissive back then.

schirallicpa... What the cameras caught later....................

For the exact definition of "surviving spouse" contained in the tax code, please review IRC sec 2(a), and look specifically at the wording of 2(a)(1)(B) here: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/2 You can review IRC 152(a), 152(b) and 152(d) here: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/152 and review IRC 151, if you want to, here: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/151 OR, if Reg 1.2-2(a), sub items (i), (ii) and (iii) might be easier and look at the specific way it is worded, you can look at that and note that it refers back to IRC 151, and keep in mind that, in general, IRC sec 152 defines a "dependent" a either a qualifying child or a qualifying relative.

Me too. I'm always concerned of going back into the program and doing something that might make a change. I use my pdf copy like the old paper copy in the file.

I see an increased income opportunity...

You need to write Tax Tips in an e-Newsletter to your clients. Especially about bacon!

Elrod, I don't know how you always find such appropriate pictures/videos! Keep them coming! Please!

I nominate this reply from jklcpa for the Answer of the Year Award. Bravo!

Just goes to prove there is no such thing as "the present" in our perception. The moment we perceive, it is already the past. So there's no such thing as living in the moment. In this mortal life we are always anticipating the future and remembering/reacting to the past.

I have a client that repairs boats and motors. He tried to deduct expenses for a trip to Gatlinburg, TN as a business expenses. He said he left business cards at some of the businesses there. I guess some people would travel 300 miles to have their boat repaired. I remember some restaurants there had business cards displayed at the cashier's counter but didn't notice the locations of the business. It may be that each card represented someone that claimed business expense for their trip to Gatlinburg. I didn't think to leave my card there. Oh well, maybe next time.

When it is just one state (for example, mine) I make my best guess and file - they correct and send a bill or refund. But I like the idea of using zero and letting the state figure it out. You could append an explanatory letter stating the amount of withheld tax is unknown because...

its way too important to be down this time of year, for $500 or less I would buy a new machine [maybe with win7] and this way you can still work and have a back up. Whenever I upgrade I keep the previous machine handy "just in case"

I like the OP's method better. file with a balance due and await the notice. I think that's better than using estimated amounts for a document that you are supposed to have in your hand before filing a return. And I am sure all states match the withholding with the records of the employer. We get notices of discrepancies all the time here in NY

To get the refundable portion of the AOTC, the student has to be able to state that they provided over half of their own support.

I deposit via my iPhone. Take credit cards via QB. And, remember when picking up the dial phone (the only one in our house on the centrally located phone table that held the phone book and a chair, because you couldn't move away more than the generous six-foot cord) meant having to listen to see if someone else was already on our party line. Or, when a double-click was how you accessed the operator from my grandmother's phone to have her connect you to the person you wanted to call.

I think Fidelity is smoking crack, which is an experience I have had with them multiple times recently, unfortunately.

The camera is spanning down the street trying to capture the feel for the area, the young men hanging around doing nothing, the run down buildings, while the reporter is talking of the huge problem they are having in this particular area with drugs. I thought it was kinda funny when the Jackson-Hewitt office was right there in the mist of it all. "come here and we'll send your refund right to your supplier". No - of course it didn't really say that, but jeepers creepers don't the politicians ever catch on to the the whole EIC scam? Remarkably the drug problem increases in the spring. Gee-golly. Federally subsidized drug use.

I've done 5 of these for a high earner until this year as he turned 70 1/2 last month. I have authority over his brokerage account and I've avoided mistake 5 as the money was moved to the Roth when the deposit hit the non deductible IRA account. 1099R always had at most, pennies in earnings. Is it possible to contribute this year and move it to the Roth the same day? My thinking is no as this may be playing on the edge of the rules. Would like to give him good news, as he likes my advice, such as "don't die with all your money in the bank" and "everything tastes better with bacon, even broccoli."

You can do it each year. I've got clients that are taking advantage as long as the loophole is open

Your clients don't see the return before it's filed? That's not kosher.

If your computer guy hasn't tried it yet, I would suggest going to the Microsoft website and downloading the Anniversary Update update disc image, and installing it offline instead of letting Windows Update do it. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows_10-windows_install/how-to-upgrade-to-windows-10-anniversary-update/fab99802-4358-49d9-8278-e9664cd56311

What Jack said, except...if the child is married. Then the FASFA calculates them as and independent student. I have wanted for years to set up a website that puts Freshmen together at universities, gets them married, and then qualifies them for all the education scholarships. After Graduation, they get divorced and move on. What a great scam to the education system. And only for a small fee. Tom Newark, CA

True - but the "where it is" disappears at the Planck limit. Just as there is a lower limit to time, as well. The Planck limit to time is 10^-43 seconds. Tiny, but not infinitely so. Some think this lower limit is what was meant by "the twinkling of an eye" in 1 Cor 15:52, because - as it "just happens" to turn out - that is about the amount of time it takes light to transit through the human cornea.

Ohio does not receive copies of W-2 forms. Your process does not work here. The State sends a notice asking for a copy of the W-2. It is the same for School District and Municipal taxes. Here in Ohio, you gotta have the W-2 or you lose.

Including the refundable portion, right?

My mistake...what I meant to say is, "I send them a secure email with copies of the returns and the 8879's to sign." They absolutely have access to the returns before signing the 8879's.

You're thinking is correct, and yes, there are lots of things that aren't going well this season. Ugh!

Yeah, but I'm also old enough to almost forget. I stopped keeping a checkbook back in the 90s and the closest I have to it now is a QuickBooks check register. I realized that if I didn't keep a checkbook then I didn't have to reconcile it every month. Cross it off the list!

If the student is NOT disabled, the parents cannot claim him, but he can file his own return and get the education credits if he qualifies.

I have cable internet and it is mixed in with our six land lines and our 888-number and our television (I need that to watch my sports without bogging down my computer) and our static ip address. I have chosen to not even look at the bill - I just write the check. I would rather give up a couple of lunches every week to not be frustrated with slow internet.

Wow....this is deep thought. The philosophical aspect of this thread is invaluable. And I thought taxes could be complex.

But time was invented to keep everything from happening all at once, so everything can be where it is at any given moment.

Combine the federal and state letters and you won't have to rearrange.

Hmmm...this appears to be an algebraic geometrical question for Rita.

I asked Siri your question and she had nothing good to say.

FYI, From the Rolling Stones, you can't always get what you want lyrics - Google Search.url As for the Seinfeld episode with George doing the opposite to get what he wants, isn't that the same as a contrarian investing strategy, only works half the time, but then again every other strategy only works half the time. Now I've got to look up NCR.

Look! Young person! One day, all this forum will be yours.