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Wait, wait, we get a chance to slow down and scale back, too, don't we? At 77, I'm ready for the raising rates to thin the herd but still make enough money to keep traveling - off to Papua New Guinea for scuba diving April 24-May 11. Stress relief writ large.

This tax season has been taxing - Thank you guys!

Thanks go to Don de Drain a guest blogger on the Procedurally Taxing website: "FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: 1) Q: Who came up with the idea of issuing Frequently Asked Questions? A. On advice of counsel, the person who came up with the idea of issuing Frequently Asked Questions is refusing to answer this question on the grounds that it may violate their 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination. 2) Q: Has the issuance of Frequently Asked Questions actually proven to be helpful? A: The issuance of Frequently Asked Questions has proven to be very helpful to attorneys who like to challenge in court the validity of IRS rules that have not been published in the Federal Register under the Administrative Procedure Act. 3) Q: How often are Frequently Asked Questions actually asked? A: Frequently. 4) Q: Seriously, how often is “Frequently?” A: Once. After the question is asked here, no one else ever asks the question again. 5) Q: Who are the people who actually decide which Frequently Asked Questions to include on the IRS’s website? A: See the answer to Question #1. 6) Q: Why does the IRS issue guidance like this in the form of questions? A: Why not? 7) Q: Can we rely on the answers to Frequently Asked Questions? A: Yes, except that you cannot rely on the answer to this question. Q: Will I be penalized if I take a position on my tax return that is contrary to the answer to a Frequently Asked Question? A: Only if the answer to the Frequently Asked Question is unintelligible. 9) Q: Are these Frequently Asked Questions binding on the IRS in Court? A: Only if the Questions have been written by someone living in Thailand. 10) Q: Why is that? A: Because it’s the Thai that binds. 11) Q: What do we do when there are conflicting answers provided by two different Frequently Asked Questions? A: You pick the answer you want to pick. Then the IRS will pick the other answer if your tax return is audited, and the Tax Court will decide which answer it likes better. 12) Q: What is the actual location of the United States Tax Court? A: We are not sure. We looked in the pocket of IRS Chief Counsel and did not find the Court there. We also looked in the pockets of some random taxpayers and did not the Court there. The Tax Court appears to be an independent body located somewhere in the penumbras between Article I and Article III of the U.S. Constitution. As a result, the Tax Court is considering renaming itself the United States Tax Court of Quantum Physics."

Holy canoli...I'm apparently waaaay undercharging! I've actually had several clients tell me that. You'd think I'd get a clue! I think because I deal mostly with clergy and/or elderly folk, my fee structure is partly based on altruistic impulses. In fact, I generally do about 20% for free. It's too late to change this year but next year I think I'm gonna raise my fees more than the $2 or $3 dollars I 'jacked' 'em up this year

Among the posters on this board we have a wide variation in skill levels from those who are just be beginning their careers to those who are winding down their careers. While you have a right to your opinion, I think your posts are excessively sarcastic and don't belong here. Perhaps you have had a really crappy day and you normally wouldn't have posted your comments?

This year I have forgotten to click the "donate" button so that the electricity/maintenance is paid for this site. Please don't make that same mistake and I will click it soon.

Did your client actually pay yet? If so, on the amendment, enter the amount originally paid. Then e-file.

I think CA is the most complicated. I was taken aback to realize they still allow misc 2% deductions that are long gone from the federal so you don't think to enter them. With MA you have to be careful that state AGI is correct. In UltraTax, it populates from Box 1, but that's not the number MA uses.

I expect to retire in the next 3 or 4 years. Hopefully, it will take them that long to make it happen.

I am in California and semi retired this tax season. This year I eliminated my out of state tax returns and eliminated the procrastinators who wait until October as well as the clients that I just didn't want to interact with any more (high maintenance). Last year was difficult for me, so reducing the work load to a very manageable schedule is working out well. I am four years in remission from my cancer, but that nasty beast will come back in the future. Now my client base has been cut in half it will be easier in the future to close up plus I don't have the stress of getting the "I don't know...let me explain!" answer to a simple yes or no question. Simplifying one's life has a lot going for it!

You are correct in that, since the charitable organization was a named beneficiary of the retirement fund, it is not part of the estate, and it is not considered on the 1041 in any way. It's the same as if an IRA named a person as a beneficiary -- not part of the estate. On the sale of the home calculation, it got a stepped up basis at owner's death, so if it was sold shortly thereafter, there should be no gain. There actually may be a loss due to expenses of sale, such as real estate commissions paid, legal fees, administrative fees, taxes, etc. (Do not include any items related to a mortgage.) Review the HUD-1/settlement statement carefully regarding real estate taxes debits/credits. See page 2 of HUD-1 for details, seller's column.

K1 always goes to the beneficiary. Payments of nondeductible expenses are considered distributions to the beneficiary. But if you have a loss, there will be no numbers on the K1.

Not at all contradictory. Who says H&R is market rate? My fees are almost always higher than non licensed preparers. Among one person CPA offices such as myself and EA's, sometime my rates are higher and sometimes lower. Like I said, I charge what I feel is fair. Your comment of I think so little of myself and saying I'm stupid in the post Judy deleted says more about you than about me. Peace out.

Off the top of my head, I am going to say probably not. First of all I don’t think it would be allowed since it was not spelled out in the will. Secondly, I don’t believe the retirement account would be included in the gross estate of the decedent. It should be excluded as a charitable deduction regardless of whether a 706 was filed. Therefore, if it was not part of the estate, I don't think the estate is not entitled to take a deduction on 1041.

A fairly knowledgeable retired neighbor of mine has prepared their return on Turbo Tax for years. This year she was unsure about something so she asked for some online advice. Her Turbo Tax fee for their 2022 tax return was $277.

1- If nobody is complaining about your prices, you’re probably not charging enough. 2- I tell my clients I don’t strive to be the cheapest. I strive to be the best. Charge your price and be proud of your work.

Way more than $300 - depending on complexity, up to about $600.