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No, not me. A customer! Late yesterday afternoon the office door suddenly jerked open and in swooped a large woman fully-shrouded in a gray plastic cape; arms held straight out wide to the side and wiggling her fingers with some kind of goop smeared all over her hair and face. The appearance was of a cross between a pterodactyl and a W.D. extra -- through a Joker-like grin she said "I'm letting everything dry." Then, "What do you charge for taxes?" Startled, I realized she must have walked from Kay's Kuts 'N' Kurls a few doors down where they were evidently giving her "the Full Monty". BB (recovered): "Uh, what do you have?" PWD: "One W-2, no kids, no credits." BB: "$75 to $95." PWD: "Okay; see you on the 18th." With swirling cape and slammed door she was gone before I could say we might be busy that day......

Caption: "On April 18th, Mr Tax Preparer headed outta Dodge as those last-minute so-special clients are after him to do just one more return." Sorry I couldn't find one of the TWD zombies clawing at a locked door or gate.

Should I charge extra for all the damn envelopes in my garbage this year, or should I just stuff them in the folder with the tax return - "here, take your damn envelopes back."

^ This is what I feel like today. Everyone is contacting me to see if I'll prepare their return, not wanting an extension. It's after 3 p.m., and I finally answered everyone and got some info I needed and e-filed one from yesterday who uploaded her signatures today and ate a small piece of leftover meatloaf. Finally going to proofread one I prepared yesterday that picks up tomorrow. Not going to finish the ones I thought. I expect an uprising of unhappy clients!

I hate envelopes. It's like they think they are doing us some giant favor by leaving their stuff in the envelopes. Ugh! I say charge extra, shred them, and give them the pile of shredded envelopes with their tax info! Oh, and if they were unopened and you got the pleasure of opening them all, then I think that is worthy of still another added fee. And extra on top of that if you suffered a paper cut while doing the opening!

I am not an employee of the federal or state government. Like I am sure all of you I try to put down correct information but in the end it's the client's info. In over thirty years I have had only two field audits of clients. One gave far too much money away and a farmer who went over fifteen years reporting losses and who on audit WAS REFUNDED $54.00 FOR THE FEDERAL GAS TAX .

lock the door on the 18th; give existing clients a password for entry....

I have a sentence at the end of my January letter, "Please remove all documents from envelopes to prolong the life of my shredder." This way I could tell who reads the letter or who I am wasting paper on.

I had one client that insisted on not answering the question. I didn't like it, and I made it clear what could happen, and I sincerely hope she gets a letter asking for the $343 or whatever it was that she owed. But, you know, I have gotten 15 new clients this year and every single one of their 2015 returns had blatant errors on them. Every. Single. One. All professionally prepared. None were audited. I'm not holding my breath. Additionally, I've been around here long enough to know that DANRVAN is an outstanding professional, and I don't think either he or I need to lose a lot of sleep over this very weird situation. And I'll betcha there have been more screw ups over ACA than anything in the history of the world. We might not go to jail.

I have a female client who updated her Social Security card some years back and her efiles only go through under the old registration. Clearly the system needs some tuning.

so for next year - I will just use this years and ask did anything change... if the IRS isn't abolished by then WI revenue lady called yesterday - 2 days now and has to talk to me - really... how long can I make her wait - she couldn't wait til next week?

All I can say is Amen! After a day like today, Tuesday can't get here fast enough!

I love it when they take the stuff out of the envelopes (that they had opened with the yard shears) and then staple the one piece of paper that we need to the envelope along with all of the other contents of the envelope.... and then they make notes on the paper and the envelopes.... so you don't dare toss the stuff!

I got a paper cut from a manila folder Tuesday. Has nothing to do with this thread, but I'm lonely and need sympathy from my interweb friends. It hurt so bad...

Every Godzilla-woman I know talks your head off and forgets half her forms. The other half have that oily goop from the beauty shop all over them and you can't read the numbers. Probably have to explain to her why she can't claim her 30 cats. You'll be lucky if you can get her address and SSN for the extension request in five minutes. ISTG.

It is a cost of doing business.

I throw them in with my other shredables. Kids due the shredding then it becomes mulch for my tomato plants. Something about the acid in the paper so I am told.

Random call today, I was referred to you by bla bla, next year I would like to do my return separate from my spouse to get more money, what do you recommend? MAS: A divorce

Don't worry. If the 8962 doesn't stop a letter, you have a one-sentence explanation.

The law is the same. The IRS has never rejected the e-filing of returns without full ACA info. This tax year the IRS announced it would reject, but returned to it's former method after the EO. So, the IRS has not changed it's acceptance of e-filed returns and will continue contacting taxpayers for missing information when they deem appropriate. We continue filing complete and accurate returns. If you did it last year, you should continue this year. Nothing has changed. I'm not putting my license on the line for a client.

A kiss for your finger, always makes you feel better.

Well...see; it depends! I might just happen to be doing a $500 last-minute return for a tardy but repeat Johnny-come-lately customer and I'd rather not lose him by getting bogged down with Godzilla-woman's $75 job (I've seen many a "five-minute short-form" devolve into a time-burning royal PIA). You run your shop your way and I'll do the same.

How do you do a brand new client, whose information will contain much more than he says on the phone in 5 minutes? If you can do that, I want to hire you...

Active business owners are exempt from the 3.8% tax when selling property that is part of their business [Sec. 1411(c)(1)(A)(iii)]. Seem to me that this would qualify?

actually asking if the refund will get held up, or filed before finalized only the first persons opinion it is a hobby! talking to her and then on to appeals - he satisfies 8/9 points on business vs hobby

Try her "other" last name and e-file. If that works, you don't have to call them.

At this time, our heads are not solely reliable at times. At least mine isn't, which is why it is good to check with the other heads on this great board!

hhmm and 8867 is going to help prevent identity theft , like I haven't vetted my clients already - figured it cost me four weeks of time! That's how far behind I am.

A kiss is fine, but better still is wine! That is the specific remedy for paper cuts, I believe. Unless it is the cause....

I'm sorry. That totally sucks.

I have a good-ole bulldog Brit for a secretary, and she has told everyone that forms and money have to be in the office by Friday afternoon. PERIOD. Monday we will be here but we are not filing any more taxes we are only efiling and double checking that we got everyone. Tuesday I have to be out of town with my daughter. I haven't decided if my secretary should be here Tuesday or if we should just lock up for the day. But she will be wanting to file and cleanup the mess.

Thank you, Catherine. Yes, I've already noted to tell her to get weekly passes. Good to know about the annual statement. And, I was just checking what I'd charged the whole family last year to hike this year's bills an appropriate amount. Great minds!

The IRS has stated that "Silent" returns concerning line 61 "May get a notice if the Service deems it correct to do so." Tax law concerning the SRP penalty has NOT been changed. Just because the software and e-file system allows it does NOT mean that it is filed correctly. Until the law is changed by the Congress, or the IRS issues clarification, the law is still as it was last year. If you want to risk your clients getting letters, and possibly you getting dinged because you knew the law but did not follow it, go ahead and file "Silent" returns. I choose to follow the law as written.

Preparation is - done! Extensions are - done! I am - DONE!!!!!!!!!! Will work on some quarterly payroll reports tomorrow and Thursday while putting out minor fires that pop up - and then we we are out of here for four relaxing days!

I'd like to be able to write off the time I waste explaining these exact same issues to certain clients - Every. Single. Year.

That's exactly how I feel about it. It wasted so much of my time. I don't take any client that isn't related to or comes highly recommended to me.

I am so jealous that I'm not sure I'm speaking to you right now.... Congratulations, my friend!