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Lots of new due diligence this year and lots of fines to go with them. Beware.

Here is what I send them:

There's some sample letters here if you absolutely have to send something: http://www.cpai.com/business-insurance/professional-liability/ThirdPartyVerificationLetters

Let them do their own due diligence. I don't provide any kind of "comfort letters"

These requests come from the, oftentimes stupid, loan underwriters.

What they want is to add you to potential deep pockets should the loan go bad. Sounds like a separate bank, not the one your client uses, as if it was the client's bank, they would be able to verify income, and probably expenses, by looking at records they already have.

Drake has that for bank information and for W-2 information. Yes, I hate it except that I love it. A couple of times I've gotten mis-matches that needed attention (you also get mis-matches from last year's bank data that is only entered on ONE line, so that you *have* to check it).

I'm singe, too. I go around hugging people. I don't understand why I'm single. Seriously, after the questions I've had today, I am going to incorporate dope-slapping with the hugs.

You never do, Eric, and this April will mark the forum's 10-year anniversary. Other than posting thank you messages here, it's the one other way of showing our appreciation for putting up with us.

wow..the questions to muddle through on the 8867 and EIC form this year!....seriously thinking about updating the master to save time

There is also a CAF Unit in Memphis.

I use Foxit PhantomPDF which can be password protected and also encrypts. It is also an excellent PDF file creator with tons of features.

We don't provide such documents. If you wish, I can send you a copy of what we do create, then give to the client to provide to the lender. It is a situation not unlike a huge minefield.

I just got mine. They used nice, clear fonts with excellent use of color. It's very sturdy and well made - I'm very pleased.

A story I heard from a former HRB preparer was a situation where a mistake on the return was found after it was filed. The client owed several thousand more in tax. The "Peace of Mind" paid the tax as well as the P&I. My professional liability policy is not designed to pay a tax deficiency. I know it is a "nothing burger" to offer the Protection Plus, but like Max said, some clients feel better to know that they had the option. If they don't elect to purchase, then they are on notice if something goes wrong, it was their choice to decline the extra service. Otherwise, we do charge to hand hold our clients if they are audited. We do not pay tax. We will pay P&I only if the client allows us to dispute the penalty with the IRS. I am leaning toward offering the Protection Plus and having each client pro-actively deciding to "opt out." At this point, I don't know what, if any, commission is paid to us if we actually sell one of these policies.

After today, I'll need all of that and more....

My pet peeve: "Security" software vendors who choose not to be accurate. By not being accurate, their customers eventually have to disable their "security" software to install known good software, making the "security" (and payment for said "security") pointless. It is a no win for me. I have to tell folks to contact their "security" vendor for help, since the issue is not on our end. (not a great solution, even though the most accurate) The usual feedback is it must be our fault because the "security" vendor must not be wrong... It usually is the :security" vendor, but sometimes it is the user who does not keep their "security" software current. If I had a nickel for each time I end up providing support for the product of others...

We need a tongue-in-cheek emoji.

Unless required to mask, show. It is the one annual shot the recipient has to make sure the amount is reported correctly. Same for W2 forms...

It's scheduled to open on the 1/23/17 for individual returns. The status page says the date for filing business tax returns opens on 1/6/17. https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/e-file-providers-partners/modernized-e-file-mef-status-page

Add to that list that we are also safeguarding all the world's identities from data thieves with a myriad of log-ins and passwords all while the government systems are the ones being hacked. I need chocolate already!

I figured it out. Choose Forms, Client Letter. Open the engagement letter & attach it. Why I have to do this for some clients is the mystery.