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It's true... all true.... I had a client come in bringing homemade jams, jellies, honey and caramel. He was all spiffed up, I'm sure to look good for my assistant. She was sitting at her desk with him, getting signatures and payment when I hear Siri very boldly declare: "I can't find 'ASSHOLE' in your contacts! Shall I keep looking?'" I yelled, NO! DON'T KEEP LOOKING! I look over at them, and he is staring at his phone with this shocked look on his face! "All I did was try to open my banking app! I never said that word!" We were crying... LOL LOL

Closing the season with 474 returns done - 5 -1120; 60 -1120S; 26 -1065; 5 - 1041; 3 - 990; 6 - other; and 369 -1040. Extensions are done. Will be here tomorrow, Friday and Monday working on quarterly payroll reports and payrolls and putting out fires - very low key, low stress.

Thanks to you all for allowing me to have a personal pity party at your expense. I appreciate you all. On to the next return. Tom Modesto, CA

?......4/17/18....? Be sure to get all the free bees, Abby...

No good deed goes unpunished.

Lots of way high ups and way far downs this year. I don't like drama, and my life is now like some sort of cult classic. My dad unexpectedly died in January and taking care of all his stuff (I inherited all of it) has been a part time job in itself. I have had no time to fully process any of this - losing him or what to do with everything he left me. Our last pet died last summer, so for the first time ever we are now free to travel without the hassle of a pet sitter and worrying about whether the pets are being sufficiently coddled. I miss all of them so much and have been lonely, but there are perks to not having the responsibility. I sleep with a stuffed animal and am privately embarrassed at how much comfort it gives me. Hubby is wonderful. I went right off the rails, and he has been patient and supportive. I feel like we've never been closer and it's interesting how I'm learning to let go and let him just handle things in his own way - which is pretty contrary to the way I handle things. For instance, he is a procrastinator and that usually drives me nuts. But, getting it done at the very last minute is still getting it done... I feel like I've finally reached a level of experience and have more confidence with my work. Good thing, because I'm really slowing down as far as the number of hours I can realistically work. There's no use working when I'm so tired I'll spend most of the next day fixing errors from the night before. Being so tired makes me think I'm unhealthy and the anxiety starts taking over and then I'm searching WebMD in the middle of the night and just SURE I'm dying of something. My labwork and my doctor disagree with my diagnosis, but what do they know? The dentist informs me that I need a root canal. Pretty sure that's going to release bacteria that will go straight to my heart and will kill me. Film at eleven

45 in the hole. I had a lot come in early, too. I think it's because they have learned that coming in late makes me a very stressed out, unhappy woman.. even though I view every single return as $$$ for fine wine after tax season. And that makes me smile again. I am really happy that I hired an assistant last year who is actually interested in learning the business. Hopefully, one day she will run it and I can hang out with Rita in TN during tax season. That is my goal in life. To laugh my way through it, and hug those special clients!

You're welcome, this was a perfect example of camaraderie. You would do the same for us, and without each other, we might just feel like crap.

I was talking to my sister the other night and Siri on her Ipad said something. My sister said "Siri shut up you (insert very innapropriate word)" and Siri replied, "There's no need for that". We died laughing. I swear these things really are getting their own thoughts.

I will bet you will find it would have been cheaper to just buy your own booze. Just sayin'

You know the difference between Alcoholics and drunks? Alcoholics have money.

Tom you are NOT crap, and you should NOT be fired. Mistakes happen. We ALL make them. Yours was a bit more spectacular than a bunch, but I would bet if we all dredged our memories we could come up with some pretty spectacular fails. (The mind eventually hides memories that are that painful.) You may find that this client - because you fessed up - will stick to you like glue. Or not. Either way, it says NOTHING about your worth. We love you and we respect you and we value you. If you *were* crap, you wouldn't care about a mistake. The level of your upset proves the level of your skills and your ethics.

Tom, You've already received very good responses from everyone of your friends and colleagues here. Anything additional I would add would not be anything different that what others have already said. My dad always told me, that a time will come when you screw-up. You're human and it will happen. But....beat yourself up for a little while and then get up off the ground, brush your pants off and go again. Never count yourself as a failure nor accept failure as an option. I am willing to be that your client will understand. Offer to pay any interest/penalties, not tax, offer next year for free or at a sizeable discount. Remember, we've all been there. Pick your chin up and be proud you've done the right thing to correct the mistake.

So I agreed to be on my friend's liquor license (in exchange for booze) for a few months so they didn't have to close their doors. Guess when the meeting is with the liquor board. Go on. I'll wait.

Proud of you rfasset. I'm trying to tie things up but unfortunately I have a lot of stragglers trying to decide how much to put into an IRA or simple IRA as that is something I always suggest for them to lower their bill. But it amazes me that they will drag it out to the last minute, no consideration for us. Like we are there to serve them. It reminds me of the "Twilight Zone" episode, "To Serve Man," that's what they make me want to do, along the lines of Rita's thinking...our Queen.

We use the same system except that my invoice says simply "Tax return preparation fee". I cannot remember any client wanting me to expound upon that.

What I like is the apparent acceptance of the duty by your staff person. I have always been one to consider my job description to be anything the employer asks, pays me for, and is not against any laws or contracts (the one time I did union work), or against my morals.

Years ago, I started seeing a charge on the mechanic's bill for shop rags. And what about the car dealer's charge for document processing? If enough people pay it, and enough people charge it, it soon becomes standard business practice.

The last bicycle trip I took, I brought with me a little stuffed bear. When my girls were little, I told them that bringing a stuffie to camp (or freind's overnight; wherever) would keep them safe - so of course, then *I* had to take a bear with me on my trip. I was a little embarrassed to admit it - but one of the tour leaders saw my bear (and thought he was adorable, because he is) and told me that lots of the women who take these tours bring stuffed animals with them. My little bear was the perfect size to tuck into the front zip bag on the handlebars; he got a great view for the whole trip. And the tour guide - she wanted her picture taken with him, too! I've got a great one, somewhere in my files, of my bear and the tour guide posing together. And yes, it was lovely to have a good friend with me on the trip.

I can't take a guess, but it may contain alcohol.

I have been seeing that around here for years. I, too, was blown away the first time I saw it. Talked to a practitioner that does that and he tried to justify the approach. I wasn't buying it. That would be akin to going to the car repair shop and getting a bill that includes a charge for the use of the mechanic's tools. Maybe we should also put a line item on our invoice for a charge for the use of our brains. Some days that would be deeply discounted, though.

I don't hate Jack's approach, but I think I would put the expenses in the medical section of Schedule A with a line item noted "reimbursement of medical expenses from xyz charity (see line 21 of form 1040)". I would then list the 1099M amount on line 21 of Form 1040 and then on a separate line zero out the amount with a notation that the amount has been moved to the medical section of Schedule A. Be sure to force the printing and efiling of Schedule A. The only reason I prefer my approach over Jack's is the Schedule C approach implies that your client is in some sort of business. Not so for this money - or at least not according to the facts stated.

New client today and she brought along with her last years bill. The bill included $50 "COMPUTER FEE". My mind is officially blown.

I was with a client and had left my phone in the mode where it reads incoming texts. A friend replied to text and dropped the F bomb. I thought it was hilarious. The client didn't react so I just let it be. But you know how half the time you can't understand the voice, well, they say the F word really clearly, believe me.

Original Enterprise NCC-1701!!!!!

Tom, every single one of us remembers the first mistake we made in the profession. I often wondered why that is, and why we fail to recognize all the good we've done--the clients who left our offices with tears of joy and brought back gifts because they had feared the worst but we knew about that exception to the penalty or whatever. So you made one mistake. You also did perhaps thousands of returns over the years that were perfect. Pretty good odds if you ask me. Like BHoffman, does anyone else have lots of clients going on vacation in April and have to have their returns done by then? Who but college students goes on vacation in April? This week I moved at least a dozen clients up in the queue because they were going away. The only place I want to go is To Sleep.

Tom, you are a great preparer. I usually find that if I own up to my mistakes with clients and pay any additional penalty/interest my error caused, they are very gracious. To make you feel better, I prepped a Schedule C for a long-term client this year and left off COGS (after I calculated it, no less). My proofer ALSO missed it. Client caught it AFTER signing the 8879 and I had already efiled. I quickly amended as the difference was several thousand in tax. I apologized to the client and simply said, 'I have no way to explain myself. I just blew it." The Client said, "I could never have a different accountant, because you are straight with me and don't get upset when I question something on the return. I really want to understand this." I felt like a loser for a few days given it was such a huge, stupid error, and I told my proofer that we are NEVER allowed to make the same mistake . . . right. We are human, and the working conditions from 15 February to 17 April are something no one who hasn't lived it could possibly understand. You 'da bomb. I know you just want a space in Rita's back 40 so you can get a bit of uninterrupted sleep!

My nephew told his watch he was at a certain bar and where was the closest liquor store. The watch said it would call him a taxi.

Congratulations!

Abby......The hard working....Over worked.....Tax preparer.... . ................Coat of arms..????.... .......................

My invoices just have one line '20xx federal and state tax returns' but my job sheet has a line for assembly and efiling and clerical, etc. The amount for each of those varies by the client.

.....until you get caught. http://www.theprogressiveaccountant.com/Tax/feds-sue-three-florida-liberty-operators

Start with "10x big money", same was as how to make a fortune in racing, the software business, etc. I was deposed during a case against a current guest of the federal penal system. He was preparing returns for immigrants, with the refunds deposited into his account (since his "clients" were unbanked. Besides the morality of that alone, the returns were altered for EIC and other items, resulting in a difference between what the client was expecting, and what was received, with the difference remaining in the preparer's account. The court was more than happy to add to the person's "vacation" based on an email threat I had received after the deposition.

I was driving my son to school this morning, and I noticed that his socks were not appropriate for his uniform. I asked him about it, and he said, "Mom, I don't have any more clean socks, and this is my last clean undershirt". I have to appreciate that he just dealt with it and did not say anything to me until i brought it up. I asked him if he had clean underwear left in the drawer. Yes. I sent one of my staff members to Target for 7 new undershirts and 7 pairs of dress sock. I've become 'that mother'.

Nope. 4/16 at 6pm and it's a half hour away from my office. Plan to eat some snack type food as dinner while driving down to count as my dinner break. Still, that's at least one return that won't get done unless I can rally and work an hour later than normal that night.

>2% S Corp insurance is wages, and part of the "remuneration". Also is subject to all taxes and deductions (WC, CS, etc.) unless specifically excluded (such as UI).

The 17th would be fine. You are done then. It is tomorrow Night. Rich

I'm going to start including an electricity,telephone, rent and maybe even a health insurance and lunch surcharge. I hadn't seen someone include a computer fee since the 90's on anything.

picky client called as we had to tell her the refund was lower for state as the sales tax was put in as estimates - I missed it But the catch is - she only wants me to touch her return.. how do you explain someone else put it in wrong and I missed it.. No one wanted to take her call - so the boss does - right! I finally said I messed up, totally my fault and she was fine!

Yeah, she used to live in Modesto. But by the time I moved here, she had moved to Southern Calif. (I think). @kcjenkins Please pop into the board and say hi sometimes. Tom Modesto, CA

Sounds like an IRA with the estate as the beneficiary (or no beneficiary). Doesn't matter what is inside the IRA, the distribution is ordinary income subject to ordinary tax that someone has to pay - either the estate or the beneficiaries of the estate. I am questioning the treatment though because it would seem to me that the estate should be paying the tax. Sounds like the treatment you are looking at is an effort (although not correct) to move the income to a potentially lower tax bracket.

We have experienced the same thing and have been trying to figure out why! I put in a lot more hours early and mid season to be where I am today. That said, we will still have about 60 extensions. Which is about normal for us.

Stop. Let your Husband be a Dad. Whatever that might look like. Is anyone in a unsafe condition? Rich

You are not CRAP. You are human and we are not perfect. That was something large enough that the client should have noticed. I work on my own and I have made a few mistakes over 39 years. I always try to learn from them, so that I make a different mistake the next time. I really hope that none of my self employed health insurance ACA returns come back to bite me. I have definitely tried to slow down and not rush through the return and I never prepare them in front of the client. When I screw up, I admit it, give the client a break and pay penalty and maybe interest. You are doing good and among friends.

We all screw up sometimes, and clients usually understand because they screw up too! If you have decent relationship with them, they shouldn't fire you. I made a costly mistake on a business sale one time, oy, that was a nightmare. This year I had a new guy come in, one of those that enjoys trading. Lots of 1099s, some K1s I think, big stack of paper. I was so paranoid about checking everything multiple times to be sure i didn't miss anything, and in the end he took the finished return back to do it himself in TurboTax (as he had in previous years). He said I missed something, but I don't think so; from the questions he asked I think he just wanted to learn more about how to do it himself. Paid me my whole fee, so no whatever. I had a feeling about him.

I sort through the paperwork and separate out the crap from data entry work. Then, I arrange the work papers according to my input screens. Then, I enter it all. Then, it goes in a To Review pile. Then, I review it the next day. This has worked for all of the years I’ve done it this way. That one I made the big error on was because the client was waiting and had to rush out to catch a plane for their vacation. Never let that happen again.

Price of being human... Mistakes are the best learning tool, those that never admit, find, realize they happen, are not those I want to work with.

This. It's a piece of paper. We've all done it. I can't wait to see what I did this season.

Doesn't sound like it!

Congrats to everyone that can coast. I had some popup terrify me with a Red screen and someone yelling through my speakers about that my computer may be infected.when I wasn't even touching my computer. I was using my old fashioned calculator. I dont know how it got through Malwarebytes and AVG. I got out of it quickly and called my IT guys who just told me to shut down and clear the cache. It seems to have worked so far. My mind just does not need any more stress. I don't have the land that Rita does, but I am seriously considering a wood chipper and going all Fargo on some people .