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All this griping reminds me of the guy who joined the monastery. He was told he had to remain silent for 7 years and then there would be an examination. So after 7 years had passed, the big day came. They brought him into the gathering hall. Everyone crowded around him and the leader and told him he could say two words. His two words were - "Food Bad." The leader then told him there would now be 7 more years of silence. After 7 more years of silence they brought him into the gathering hall. Again everyone gathered around and the leader told him he could say two more words. His next two words were - "Bed Hard" The leader then told him there would now be 7 more years of silence. After this 7 years of silence they brought him into the gathering hall. Everyone gathered around and the leader told him he could now say two more words. This time his two words were - "I Quit" To which the leader responded: "Well, you may as well quit. You've done nothing but bitch and complain the whole time you've been here !"

Don't tell me what to do. Oh, wait - ok.

Not just California, trust me!!

Difficult to do sometimes. Don't get me started on the incompetence of administration workers at California Colleges. I have a real issue with them. Tom Newark, CA

I posted this on another list serv yesterday where there had been a hurtful exchange of words and both parties quickly realized they were equally over-reacting and publicly apologized to one another. It seems fitting to post it here as well. Absolutely nothing should be read into this than just what it says. You two reminded me of two of my dogs. They get into a brawl with each other for no apparent humanly observed reason and with no special warning. After they are done, they will stand there and lick each other's face. Not saying you should lick each other's face, but it was nice to see calmer minds prevail! This is a highly stressed business that causes us all to over-react from time to time. You all have a very blessed day!

Shut up no you shut up.

The point that should be made is that whether he gets a refund or not, he starts the SOL running, which alone is worth filing.

LOL It's not real. It's posted by SnickersBrand© and labeled as comedy on Youtube, the same Snickers© that has the current commercial starring the Brady Bunch.

I think you did a great job, too. And thank you for not suggesting to him that she made a few thousand dollars so she could receive EIC. That happens, and it gets old and tired when you pay taxes.

Her father came in today and I asked him. Yes she makes maybe $300 a year baby sitting a family members child. My thought was if she made a few thousand dollars I would suggest he forego the three exemptions so she might receive the EIC. I have known him for ages and am now satisfied I have done my best for him. He and wife got refunded so all is well and I guess you might say I went the extra mile.

My son would be graduating next month as well if not for the incompetence of the "entrenched bureaucratic incompetence" at San Jose State. He has to return for 2 classes, NINE UNITS, that he could have completed if those idiots would have just read his transcript correctly. It is costing him a year of his career. I hate San Jose State administration. They think the university was created for them instead of the students. Tom Newark, CA

How about an IRS wage and income transcript for the kid for that year. Find a college with intelligent people in positions like financial aid.

Let's go back to being a happy family after tax season. I am taking my vacation next Friday. A whole week without Internet, TV and news will help me recover.

I apologize to everyone including Jack for my rude post.

Had a client that argued herself with IRS and CT over a lot of back years and did get them to keep applying those very old refunds forward as she filed each year. It was something like 10+ years worth of returns. Really surprised me. But saw that only once. For other clients, it's that letter as mentioned above for failure to file within the three year deadline blah blah blah.

Hahaha, I'm sitting here thinking what a silly, impossible request they are making. Maybe we can all write letters saying we didn't pay the kid to do anything at our offices.

Glad they think your're a wizard. This year I had a couple of clients tell me they think I'm a tax gargoyle.

And the ADDED ADDED bonus is that the gross income is on a W-2. How many self-employed people report gross income? Just us. I'm telling you, they need to lighten up on employers, and they would ultimately collect a lot more revenue. Everybody would be happy, cause all my clients think withholding is a fringe benefit of the employer. They have no clue it's their money. I swear, when they ask how they can get a bigger refund, and I say "have more withheld," they think I'm a tax wizard.

I really wonder if they would give her a high five.

How about you ask them WHAT they want to see?

Judy, I think you owe Jack an apology.

OK, I was so aggravated today at the two who called and one who came by to see how their very special tax returns were "coming along," my daughter said I needed a Snicker Bar. I want to just offer everybody a Snicker Bar and report that I AM going to write it off:

Judy, I don't see any shouting. I think he was pointing out (just like you did with the bold in your earlier post). We all post to confirm our thought process, and Jack just pointed out that he was getting his thought process confirmed. I think you read too much into his post. Just my 2 cents. Tom Newark, CA

I was "way underpricing" about 30% of my clients several years ago and realized that I was literally working myself to death and not making any money. I sent a letter to those 30% after the filing season telling them that their fee the next year would at least double. They could pay the fee and continue our relationship or they could find another preparer that could satisfy their need at the lower rate - either way they would not hurt my feelings. About a third stayed and remain good clients and the others chose to leave. So I worked less hard for nearly the same amount of money. From that point, I purposed to get my complete fee structure to a respectable point. So I systematically increased my minimum fee over a period of about 8 years to where it is today. And every year, I raise every tax client (well, not every every client), a minimum of the cost of living increase but more likely 2 to 5% more than that. And I never apologize for my fees. As some of the others have said, stay with the software you have comfort with and bump up your fees to pay for it.

Oh jeezel luizel do NOT get me started. I am SO sick of the KSC entrenched bureaucratic incompetence!! Thank heavens Gwen is graduating next month as I have just about HAD it with them.

I have sent clients those e-file ack's for extensions and had banks REJECT them -- but they'll take the 4868 with NO proof of filing. They are drones looking to check a box; do NOT ask them to think because for the most part they don't know how.

Oh contraire, I fear I know your life like looking in a mirror - kinda! Anyway, NO! You shut up, RitaB!

Every time I've been asked for one, I just had the client send the lender a copy of the 4868. I've never had a question come back requesting any sort of proof of acceptance. (I like the path of least resistance)

I know the IRS considers all income as income, even illegal income. But, I hope they don't consider illegal income as earned income for EIC purposes. The law is not logical, though, it's just the law. If I kept a client that earned money at illegal activities, I'd have to research that. Luckily, not my client base -- as far as I know.

Shut up Rita - and go get a snickers bar!

Very good :)

I think the tax return with zeros is perfect. It's all there - zeros and signature swearing that it's the truth. Maybe attach a statement saying consult the yellow pages if you want to follow up with the 3,400 banks.

Sweet humor.

AND we thought that on April 16th we all were going to be relaxed. lol.

I had a T/P that filed three weeks past the deadline for refund and the IRS refused sent a letter stating she failed to file in the three year deadline and would not be receiving her refund

Give the financial aid office a statement from 3,400 banks stating that he never deposited cash *here*. LOL

https://www.facebook.com/The.K9.Instinct/videos/987288104637143/

GREAT commercial, Rita!

Tell them there will be no refund, charge for preparing the return and tell them to pray for divine intervention.

I would just file it and make no promise to the TP, if they get it, perfect and if not, too bad. MAS

I have a candy dish on my desk, and I ask every one of my clients to take a piece. I tell them if I am audited, I am going to call every single one of them as a witness at tax court to get my $24 deduction every year. Tom Newark, CA

Surely you jest...

Jack, You need to see the settlement docs. My first blush is it is all taxable, but the costs of the litigation may be handled differently depending on what the settlement docs say. 1. Lost wages should be paid on a w2 to the recipient. These are fully taxable and subject to employment taxes. The defendant is also subject to their portion of the payroll taxes. 2. Punitive damages are fully taxable on line 21 unless they related to injury or illness. 3. If the award is for discrimination, the taxpayer can take the legal fees as an above the line deduction on line 34 of the 1040. You need to see the settlement docs. Did I say that already? Tom Newark, CA

Leave it to CCH to send a renewal email which directs you to a renewal site which asks for a discount code which is NOT furnished !!

The important part is that, when asked point blank, the leasing party LIED. I still think that is unconscionable. And deceptive. And if my clients ask about buying versus leasing, I will make sure to point out that there WILL be a lien on their property for the duration of the lease. I also note that when my husband and I were given the spiel about solar panels (being pushed by our town), there was NO mention of a lien on the property. We chose to buy - and apparently were the FIRST people this company had dealt with that bought instead of leased. I wonder how many of them will be *very* unhappily surprised when they go to refinance or sell?

The point is, if they are flat-out stating "this is NOT a lien" -- but it actually IS a lien, then THAT is deception and fraud. And the entire POINT of posting this was so if clients ASK US we have yet another data point for them to consider.

Why wouldn't you charge more for an EITC return? Which return is most likely to get you into trouble? EITC returns. From dependency issues, to who gets to claim who, to all sorts of other things. When a simple return, with the addition of EITC goes from 4 pages to 16, its time to get paid for that. Rich

Yes, definitely an extension is in order, I realize that, but if it comes to Sept or Oct and your client doesn't have the 1095A then you'll file with what you have and deal with the IRS.

I currently have a client who has yet to receive any 1095-A from the market place. She has called numerous times, and they say a copy will be mailed. Still waiting. Last week, I had the client come in and we contacted the marketplace together. Got the same canned response from the CSR - so, I requested a supervisor. The supervisor could tell me what her premiums were, how much she paid, and the subsidy amount, BUT he stated that a 1095-A was not available for her account yet. When prodded, he admitted that the unavailable 1095-A's were a known issue. And he could not give me an estimated fix time. So, I have placed my client on extension. This ACA is a clusterf***.

The 1095-A is from the INSURANCE Marketplace. This is the part of this story that really chaps my backside. We have been given the task (imposed on us whether we like it or not) of policing their INSURANCE law. This is why I have increased ALL my clients fees with a separate line on the invoice marked "Affordable Care Act Surcharge."