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I bet that dog was not even a member of the household all year. Probably goes door to door selling his DOB and SSN to tax cheaters. Well, we are on to to you, Rover.

I have a client that buys a Dome book where the left side of each page lists every check and deposit, and the right side gives you a place to total by the categories for the month, the year to date before this month, and the year to date after this month. At the end of the year, he has everything listed in one place and good totals to give me. Everything does not have to have a technological solution.

Just for the record - I was under the impression that Hohs were not deductible. Just sayin'!

Yep, and you could even tell her, "Here are columns for groceries, house payments, personal utilities, boat slip, DirecTV, Zappos shoes, etc." The less technology the better for some folks, in my opinion.

If she won't use a spreadsheet program, I think Staples still has 13 column accounting paper available :)

I find this very disturbing.

are you kidding me?

This guy has help with benefits. What could go wrong?

My thinking is you will never get anything accurate out of this particular person unless some serious training and/or arm twisting occurs. Software, spreadsheet, columnar pad, legal pad, stationary with stickers. It ain't gonna matter. Not a whole hell lot. :)

Just like my guy this morning that took over $200,000 from his IRA, (not early), had 10% withheld and was SHOCKED, I tell you, he was SHOCKED, that he owes another 20 grand. "I thought I could offset all of that with my new business". The new business? A one man lawn mowing business. Come on, man!

Try a simple spreadsheet for her with as few categories as you can, including things like To Owner, Cash, New Equipment,.... Tell him to hire you quarterly to review her bookkeeping.

Well, you should maybe go anyway to pick up that Publisher's Clearing House valuable sweepstakes entry so you can win, retire, and go diving with me!

My little baby in my picture comes to work with me everyday. I think I will take a deduction for him. He's my security. Ok - he doesn't look that tough, but you watch your ankles! So I can take his treats, his grooming, new collars. God I'm getting cynical this year!

I still have clients that use ledger paper and their records are some of the best I get. Why is it that people who can NOT balance a checkbook think they can run a business and do the bookkeeping all by their lonesome?!?!

Cool - our daughter plays travel softball. We travel all over NYS, Ohio, and PA. Do I get to deduct the meals and lodging too? How 'bout all the gear? And gatoraid. That stuff adds up! :wall: :spaz:

I think with half of our clients, we resort to the bank stmts to make some sort of sense of their bookkeeping. I wish someone would blow-up Quickbooks. People get that and they think they are all set. Register balance says -30K, inventory negative, payables of over $100K, sales showing @ 2x the deposits, and no concept of what receivables were at the end of the year. But it's "all in Quickbooks so it should be good." :wall: :poop:

I do like their creativity. The parents take turns bringing refreshments to my grandson's church league games. Next time my daugther calls to ask me to pick up soft drinks and crackers when it's their turn, I think I'll save the receipt and log the mileage. :)

Charitable mileage is deductible only when it is a necessary part of giving service to a qualifying charitable organization. They were not rendering a service to or on behalf of the organization--their attendance was only so their child could participate in an activity sponsored by a charitable org. Therefore, no deduction. Give 'em credit for taking a 'creative' approach though!

No, not if a family member is a participant. As was mentioned, a volunteer coach would be a possibility. But, driving to watch your kids play, get them to practice, etc., is a personal activity just like driving them to play dates or to visit relatives. Clients sure get pushy this time of year!

Oops, Margaret CPA not mcb39. I love them both, so I get them mixed up. Just like we do our kids, right?

That's what I would do, but others will say mail it before April 15 and write in something across the top and it'll count as original. Sorry, search didn't turn up the thread I wanted. It was by mcb39 about the new 3115 regs, I think. I personally would do the 1040-X, if nothing else, so the client realizes it's a PITA to be changing things now.

Start selling cosmetics, handbags, cooking utensils, etc via one of the MLM plans. Buy lots of inventory & store it in your home office. Along with all the other great writeoffs, you can deduct the pet food & vet bills for your guard dog (or security cat, as the case may be).

Yep. He needs to get rid of her.

My kitties provide a calming influence to clients, especially when confronted with owing. My dog used to work as a doorbell, but I think she's going deaf. Or is just so old she doesn't care anymore.

Am I numbered among the 32? Well, never mind, I should know better than to ask questions to which I might not like the answer. As to the update, I ran it as soon as it was announced on my screen because I was between returns. After the update, I opened the program and it was in that middle size thing. I maximized the screen and everything was fine. I do have a three monitor set up in portrait mode, however. That might make a difference.

OK, but I'll keep it on the down low, cause if I don't it'll be just like when you're ten and you open a pack of gum: BAM! Thirty-two instant friends...

Thank God. I love you, Margaret. I'm not going to the mailbox now.

And I thought it was just me! I still don't know how I manage to get my screen and the program back to the size I need but it finally happens. Someday I just may jot down all the steps I go through to get there - nah!

You have to visit the southern US, Ron.

I need some input from all the learned people on this board. Tell me if I am right or wrong. Clients, ages 45 & 42 with 2 teenage kids, wants to deduct as charitable mileage, their trips to baseball, soccer and basketball practice for their school teams. Their children are on the teams. She has documented close to 4,000 miles in 2014. Mileage to all practices, home and away games. My conclusion from research... Charitable miles can be deducted if you are driving to take part in an charitable event for a charitable organization. I do not consider the school sports games to be charitable events, therefore no charitable deduction for the mileage. Opinions?

OMG I remember those.

thanks for the laugh

Terry, I think you mean form 706, not the 1041.

Venting is what we're here for.

I ate a baby bon-belle cheese, a huge handful of jelly beans, and two cups of tea. Kids are here for the evening from PA, so we're going out to eat. I'll try to have a salad, veggie, protein, and nothing too bad for me. We'll see.

Superceding an earlier filing was discussed in >this topic, but MaxW pointed out that it really doesn't apply to 1040s, although KC said she'd used this technique without issues in the past. Personally, I'd file the 1040X with -0- entered as paid with the original return, just as the OP asked.

Stop that!

Jack, do they coach the team for free? That's the only way that I would think that it would even be close to deductible. Most school coaches are paid though. I wish that I had known that I could have deducted all of the mileage to my kid's sporting events. "Sarcasm"

I should be in TN. Thanks for letting me vent...

Invariably my diet during tax season sucks. I have to resort to popping vitamin pills, since at the end of a 12hr day at the office, I look back and find that I ate: 1. Tea and cookies. Sugar in the tea, of course. 2. A burrito. 3. Some potato chips. 4. Soda. 5. Bottle of water. 6. Kit-Kat bar from the client bowl. For a time I was preparing salads by hand every day, then it just got too busy. Then when it slumped, I was out of the habit. At best I was sprinkling a bag of pre-cut greens over my burrito. I lose weight over the cold parts of the tax season since I expend quite a bit of energy keeping warm when I go home, after being on-the-go during the day.