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I put in $4. One Mega and one PowerBall ticket. So, I am up to $8 a week. And I don' buy them every week. Lets say, I buy them for 40 weeks. That is $320 a year. Whatever I hit? Will beat whatever returns I have ever gotten in my SEP plan.... And yes, I will pay to fly everyone here to the next social get together....

If that happens we should quickly apply for 501(c)(3) status for our Association for Prevention of Cruelty to Tax Practitioners.

I underwent heart valve surgery TAVR/I at Christ Hospital in Cinti, OH on 10/15/18 and was released on 10/16/18, total 28 hours. The actual procedure was app. 1 hour during which I was awake, but the recovery was a bit more trying and during days 2 & 3 where I was very weak and had no appetite. On days 5-7 (Fri-Sun) I was able the do a very light workout at the Y at about 1/3 throttle. The hospital has grounded me for 2 weeks but I will get a chance to appeal this next Tue. “This minimally invasive surgical procedure repairs the valve without removing the old, damaged valve. Instead, it wedges a replacement valve into the aortic valve's place. The surgery may be called a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) or transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).” The 2 entry’s are in the groin area. I am in a clinical trial sponsored by Edwards Lifescience SAPIEN 3 valve, and monitored by Lindner Research Center on campus at Christ for 5 years. If you are interested in viewing this gory procedure be my guest (3 min): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f20qrZcD1LE PS This is NOT a GoFundMe Request

I would hate to win late in the year because my plan would be to give most of it away to charities. I would definitely hit the 50% limit in donations and have carryover for future income.

Get well fast - but take it easy. I have had plenty of experience with stents and various operations (non-heart). The body needs time to recover from the drugs they put into you and, in your case to adapt, to a foreign object in the most critical part of your body. Pushing it could bring on unwanted side effects. Better safe than sorry.

And in some states you have up to a year to claim lottery prizes, which should give you plenty of time. I think the least amount of time is 90 days. Make people wonder who won.

Wow! Had I known, I could have visited you! All good advice here - don't rush into recovery. Follow orders at least until your appeal which I sort of hope you lose. I guess this is your first procedure but not that of the surgical team. We all know you to be a superman, but take time to heal and enjoy some down time. Before you know it, all the regular stresses will be upon you so best you prepare by allowing for good recovery.

I wish you all the best for a smooth and uneventful recovery. Listen to your doctor and also take heed when your body gives signs you're pushing too far or too soon.

I follow the same principle and I buy tickets constantly. I have always known the outcome and I have not been proven wrong. OUTCOME= I lose my investments.

I don't mind about my refund but it was nice to go on line and renew my PTIN without paying anything.

You set up the Family Foundation, and contribute cash to that. Then you pay out of your Foundation to those charities you wish to support without the rush. Even supports the annuity option with this method.

A client dropped off her info Friday, Oct 19.

Sounds like everything went well - just keep it going in that direction!

Cred65, I agree with everyone about listening to your doc's orders. How quickly we forget the horrendous stress we go through during the season which will be on top of us before we know it! Take care, Cathy

I don't think IRS does direct deposit for amended returns. In fact, there isn't even a space to put bank information on the X. An ID thief would be looking for a refund of course, and an amended return won't get them one so stop worrying about ID theft. Perhaps a real person amended his/her return and wrote sloppy or mixed up their own SS number, and the IRS sent the letter to the person and address on record with that number (your client). A few years ago I efiled an extension and it went through just fine but when I filed the real return it rejected because one had already been filed. That one puzzled me. Do scammers really file after the deadline?

Check with the IRS. It could be a scam.

All the best Cred. I see you are proactive in your recovery, you'll be back to 100% very soon.

I hope that everything goes well.

Speedy recovery to you!

That's why I love living in the "boonies". I have a yearly paper bonfire. Tried my shredder but too many staples. The fire is beautiful also especially when the weather cools down.

Over 50 posts! Beats out the topic entitled "CPE recommendations"and second only to "1040 Postcard" that takes the prize.

As far as I am concerned, you win!

I guess I am the Pack Rat of all Pack Rats. I still have my 1955 tax return.

Judy is the best!

I do have to say the renewal process is very easy. I liked the ability to exclude myself from the public list, although I question how comprehensive the exclusion may be.

Thanks for helping out my wife Judy. Appreciate you very much. I was at a software conference and did not have the time or access to do the research for Patty. I told her if she posted here she would get some help. Tom Modesto, CA

You take good care of us, Judy!

I worked for Block back then, but it was an IRS e-News/Alert/whatever in my email box at home that told me about the new PTIN. I jumped right on it and applied. Then I received a letter from Block that they would help us/make sure we all applied -- don't remember much, because I'd already done it for me. But, Block did make sure we were no longer using our SSNs.

I don't know if my CAF ever had a hyphen, but it has always had a space and an R at the end. I was divorced in 1987, so know that I don't have any returns from 1986 back. I kept everything from 1987 forward, because ex bugged me with custody and other issues for years.

Here is where it all began. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-news/ir-99-72.pdf Wikipedia says IRS issued 1 million PTIN's in the first year. I assume the numbers were issued on a first come/first served basis.

I think that H&R Block worked with IRS to establish the PTIN system. Many of their preparers, especially those in shady neighborhoods, were uncomfortable putting their SS#s on returns for all the world to see (and this was in the days before identity theft was as common as shoplifting). So don't feel bad if your number isn't ultra low--Block preparers probably got to register first. I did work at Block back then, and mine starts with 000, then a 4.

Yes, "quite stupidly" Why do corps get 10 days to refile and 1040, and 1041 only 5? I actually had one this year where one of the dependents names didn't match, even though I had a copy of the SS card. There were four names on the card, so I tried various combinations, of first and last names, but nothing matched. The client ended up mailing it in. BTW, thanks for the link. That is a handy chart.

Stop, stop, this thread is out of control

Just renewed my PTIN. Six digits starting with 1. I guess in my old age I was slow to apply for the PTIN.

Yes, I think Joel just nailed the title.

That makes us double 0s. Name's Normal. Abby Normal. I like my umbrella drinks shaken, not stirred.

Mine is six digits with two leading zeros; now I feel like a newbie!

Yes, I need to develop a document retention policy and have all my clients sign and choose if they want a longer period retained. I was thinking I'd keep 10 years but give the clients the option to keep as few as 4 years or as many as they wish. I've had to refer back to 10 year old returns before. One problem I have is that my backup provider keeps deleted files forever, theoretically. So a backup would be available in case of a court order. There is a cumbersome process I could go through to remove those files from the backup server... or I could switch to a new backup service after deleting a bunch of old files.

I am special too. Renewed 3 days ago. But then, I got my PTIN when it was first implemented to protect the tax preparer from identity theft (we used to have to put our SSN on the bottom of the tax return). Somehow, a program designed to protect tax preparers SSN has become a tool of discipline for the IRS, since they can take it from you and along with the number, your ability to practice tax preparation. You cannot efile without a PTIN, and efile is a requirement to practice. OK, rant over. Tom Modesto, CA

I am devastated that I wasn't considered special enough to get an invite to renew early! I passed the EA exam in one shot, renew my PTIN and license faithfully, take all the required CPEs and then some (including 2+ friggin' hours of ethics every friggin' year), have never gotten a letter that the returns I prepare are suspicious, am nice to IRS auditors, even defend the agency when clients blame them for everything (blame Congress, I say). In fact, I got my PTIN the very first year they were offered. I am a model, exemplary, legacy PTIN holder and tax professional, so why was I so unfairly overlooked? Daddy likes you more than he likes me! PS. I used to renew in Dec because I didn't want to pay early. I still do, so I would have deleted their early invite anyway. Sour grapes?