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If they have the funds available, I often suggest to my elderly clients that they make one ES payment for the year and get it over with. That way they don't have to remember IRS's odd quarterly dates. Almost all of them love the idea.

Good for you Rita, going above and beyond for your clients to be sure they are OK is both honorable and to them, a comfort. They deserve it as they know they have to get their taxes paid, worry about it, but sadly, may forget why or when. That's where having the patience to satisfactorily get the job done gives us and them peace of mind. Means more than money hearing "thank you, I don't know what I would do without you." I know you gave these guys a hug, but for a different reason. Frank's brother is going to be talking about you at his next shuffleboard match.

It's certainly not for everyone.

I also have some older folks who prefer the single payment. But then I also get the calls in June, September, and December, asking if they have to send more money. I need to keep careful notes of who does what so I don't mis-advise them all... And there is an older couple that I worry about quite a bit. She has been fighting some odd type of cancer for some years. It's not curable, but it is treatable and they are managing to keep it in check. Every time chemo-latest stops working, they have (so far!) just come up with chemo-next. He has been taking care of her. But he also a bad fall a couple of years ago on an escalator and ended up with trauma-induced dementia which is worsening. Between the two of them, they make *one* fully functioning individual. It's really sad to see, and I worry about them. One loser son who would cheerfully rob them blind. One good son who lives far away. One excellent grandson (loser's boy) who has all the maturity (at 21-ish) that his father completely lacks - but who is also not that nearby, working (finished college early), and engaged, so a bit distracted with his own life.

This little gentleman's brother from Florida (whose return I also do) brought him in today to pick up 2017 1040-ES forms. Brother said, "I received my forms that you mailed me, thank you, but Frank didn't get his," and he winked at me. I printed Mr. Frank some more forms and I'm hoping we talked enough about what I need to prepare the 2015 return that brother will get the ball rolling. It's sad, and I really feel for the ones with no family to help.

Thanks Eric (and everyone else). Lots of very helpful information on this thread. I think I'm going to print it out. That "eye of Sauron" gadget sound pretty intense.

It's very simple. Focus on the law itself, and do your best not to make it about the people who are making the law. This has nothing to do with sensitivity, and everything to do with staying on topic. If you are unable to tell the difference between bean-counter law discussion, and snowflake libtards vs the evil cheese doodle president, for example, then I don't know what to tell you.

Of course, if you have money to burn, there's this ugly thing. https://www.amazon.com/RT-AC5300-Wireless-Tri-Band-AiProtection-Complete/dp/B0167HG1V6 $300 for a wireless router might sound like a lot, but it's quite a deal if you take into account that when you turn it on, the eye of Sauron will appear in flames between the antennas.

If you spend about $120 (give or take) on a new router, chances are it'll be good quality, and do what you need. This isn't scientific, but if you head to amazon and search for router, generally you'll have pretty good luck with whatever model tons of people are buying. https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Nighthawk-AC1750-Smart-Router/dp/B00R2AZLD2 EDIT: As far as getting better signal outside, simultaneous dual band routers support both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. 5GHz will get you better speed/bwndwidth, and 2.4GHz is slower and more prone to trouble with interference, but is better at penetrating walls... You can have two active networks (one for each frequency) so if you're outside and 5GHz isn't cutting it, you can switch to 2.4 easily.

I read in Reuters and Politico that Sole Props are included. When they talk tax reform for a pass thru they consider Sch C since taxes on business income is paid on individual side. Really can't be certain with the one page they gave us, need to be a mind reader. If that's true I'm all for it, we all have plenty of people with Sch Cs in 25 or 28% bracket who are paying out nearly half their income the more successful they become.

Not just pass throughs will get the new low rate. From the article: " Mr. Mnuchin offered few specifics about the blueprint, other than confirming that its centerpiece will be a 15 percent business tax rate, which would apply not only to corporations, but also to small businesses...." The IRS has been working hard to reclassify "subcontractors" who are really employees. If this passes, bet their lead dry up.

You need to make your dog a .0001% partner.

More conjecture I have no time for. I am making plans to spend time with my Grandson. Now THIS is important!!

And if they did write a correct article, the reaction of the general public would be this

Just like when media people assumed that a candidate did not pay any taxes of any kind for 20 years because of a loss on one return. This is my face when anybody, any profession besides this one, either party, tries to explain taxes. They can't. They don't know.

I read the article. It was like watching someone trying to chew the cap off a child proof bottle. I don't think the media is going to be able to write correctly informative articles without having at least a basic understanding of how the current tax code works. And, they don't. So, we should be prepared for a lot of amusement and amazement.

It can be frustrating trying to help clients when they get in this predicament. And we don't always know the whole story. But sometimes it seems that wealthy clients have family in the wings who can't wait to get their hands on the money. I've seen clients that have lost the ability to handle their own affairs get totally ripped off by family. And family that turns on each other as soon as there is an estate to divide. Makes me so sad, and mad. I wish sometimes that I could hug as well as Rita.