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This type of client doesn’t bother me. It’s those who was to bring it in an expect to have it completed bly Apr 15! who would irritate me. That’s why I set a cutoff date (usually somewhere around March 15-20). Anything coming in after that date automatically get an extension. Some of those returns still get finished, but there are no guarantees. Strict adherence to that type of policy turns April 15 into just another ordinary day.

My hair skipped grey and went directly white (sans color). But then again, I have hair, so no complaints - other than the cost of a cut. I say it is from kids, they stole the energy I used to have, as well as my hair color . For me, the "days" are the W2 deadline date, and every quarterly deadline date. But, as someone told me so long ago, there is NO such thing as an accounting emergency. No ambulances come, no specialists are on call, etc.

I've had a policy for years - and my annual tax letter states in bold - that any return not ready for signatures and e-filing as of April 1st *will* be put on extension. My cutoff is March 15th, but the poison pill in it is that I have to have all the documents and information in-house by that date. People rush to get me docs on March 14th & 15th - but it's never, ever, complete, so they have not made the cutoff. Manage your clients, or they'll manage you into premature gray hair and high blood pressure.

Pub 936 has easy to understand explanations and the worksheet you need to calculate the interest that is deductible. You'll need to use that since you have pre- and post- 12/16/17 debt over one million. You will need the average balances of EACH mortgage and the totals are used on the worksheet. The pub also has excellent examples for you to follow. There are 3 methods for calculating the averages, and you can choose which one works to your clients advantage, depending on the actual circumstances. Points are separate and aren't included on the worksheet's calculation, BUT they will be limited based on the percentage of nondeductible interest you arrive at using the worksheet, and that reduced amount is what you will include on Sch A.

The client will have the refund before the 3911 gets processed. Plus the refund isn't lost, it's delayed due to taxpayer error.

How does one verify that the amount isn't already on the 1099INT? I would assume that it is.

It's probably too late to call, but they can try. https://www.irs.gov/faqs/irs-procedures/refund-inquiries/refund-inquiries-18

preparers don't have access to someone's IP PIN; the taxpayer will have to retrieve. Even with an 8821, the IP PIN is not on a transcript and, unlike other IRS correspondence, you're not copied on the January IP PIN letter.

Even when no one else fits in the vehicle, the driver might stop to pick up the dry cleaning or a gallon of milk on his/her way home or attend his kid's game after school or go to the dentist during the work day or...

reminds me of an audit of a coworker's client. Taxpayer had claimed 95% but showed the auditor that the vehicle was 100% business use. He asked her why didn't she take 100%? Answer: "Because Ms. _________ won't let me claim 100%!

I always liked the ones who said they’re too busy to keep a log and “if I’m audited I’ll just give the auditor my box full of gas & repair receipts and let them figure it out.” I’d always tell them “The auditor will just hand the box right back to you and inform you that you don’t have a deduction.”

I wouldn't go that far but I get what he means.

At a seminar an IRS agent once told us that the only vehicle IRS believes is 100% business use is a cement mixer.

@Frog I like your dialogue. Sounds like the beginning of a short story. Perhaps, "Applachian Tax Cheat"

Value of a company car is supposed to be calculated and added to the W2 if in a corporation. Sole prop is just prorated. I forget how partners are handled.

Here we go again: Bubba: "Hey, bought a brand new pickup truck!! $100,000. All for business. I parked it outside so you can see it." Preparer (after glancing out the window and seeing two fishing rods sticking out the window). "That's great Bubba!! We'll see what we can do with your mileage log." Bubba: "Whaddya mean mileage log?? I want'chu to write off this whole thing." Preparer: "They won't let us do that. Only a limited amount of depreciation per year. Not only that, but if you take actual cost, you STILL need a mileage log." Bubba: "Only a limited amount of depreciation? I'll never get $100,000 depreciated out before the thing is ready for the junk yard. I don't need a mileage log either. It's 100% for business. I tole you that." Preparer: Mileage log?? Where do you drive? Bubba: "Everywhere in my business. Just got back from Myrtle Beach last week and my wife wants to see the Alamo in June." Preparer: "I'm sorry Bubba. I don't think I can help you." Bubba: "Well I'm sorry too. I can find someone to do what I want them to do. I'm gonna take my honkin' new truck to Slick Sam over in Yonder County and he'll fix me up." Ever happen to you??

Drake has an entire separate signature page for bank information. Very glad for that; it has caught some major client errors (not all) beforehand.

I don't think ATX supports Mo Fiduciary for e-file. I know they do the 1040, and the Business (C/S/P)

This isn't an adjustment listed on a 1099-INT, there's nothing to combine. It's accrued interest on a 1099B that needs to be deducted from the gain and put on Sch B as interest income.

As part of swapping to a different main computer, I looked again at securing my computer in case it is not there (for any reason) when I need it next. The short: Ditch using sleep, and change to hibernate or power off only AND implement a bitlocker drive PIN. A bit more trouble than relying only on the Windows login (and normal bitlocker), but WAY more secure. What? The bitlocker PIN is the most secure consumer friendly option we have. It has worthwhile and very good brute force protection. You will need a Pro or Enterprise edition of Windows. Hibernate gives some speed improvement to restart (over power on), while sleep given no security protection other than your Windows login (if you are using one). There are some other things to look into, hardware dependent (such as blocking port access while not past security). It may even be this setting (bitlocker with pin) would better meet (or be hard to defend not using, for those who have to have) a data security plan. --- For me, I still need a device on 24/7, at least in sleep mode (which allows an app to keep running), but that will be changing soon. So for now, I have my always on computer only having limited information, so no real harm if it disappears, and my main is either in use, in hibernate, or off. Indeed, another login screen can be annoying, but I set mine up so I can one hand the entry fairly fast, with a reasonably obscure non dictionary "pin", so it takes only a few seconds. Even the time to de hibernate is not bad once I got used to it, I can always use a few seconds to declutter my desk.

A couple weeks in with the Asus Duo. Nice! The only oddity is the screen's dimensions, but there are a couple of monitors which are 1:1 for the size, so no real worries. The one I am looking at will even handle two inputs so my main and backup are more easily used. I already have a keyboard and mouse which can handle three devices on the fly. But the real discovery/oversight is something I will post in a separate topic.

Third week in a row a client has called up and said he didn't think he'd be able to make it into the office this week but would we still be able to file on time if he gets it here the next week. I'm 99% sure he wants to file an extension but doesn't want to admit it.

I don't personally but Googled and found this Drake KB of states that accept the Federal extensions. It shows all types of returns. https://drakesoftware.com/Site/Browse/16498/States-That-Accept-Federal-Extension If you scroll to the bottom of that page, it has additional links for states' deadlines and states that will accept extensions via e-filing.

I had a supervisor once who wore strong cologne. My eyes would burn when I was close to him.

So true. I doubt that I could function without at least one visit here per day. So much knowledge here and people to help each other see the trees for the forest. Grateful and Happy Easter to all of us who are working today and those of us who aren't.

I'm thankful for this forum. Sometimes you just need to talk things out. My dogs aren't very good at tax stuff. Although they do like to take the paper roll hanging to the floor from the calulator.

How about the client (mine, this year) who traded in a truck that the previous preparer had never included on the Depreciation Schedule? Small business claiming 50%

Have a client (on second vehicle now) who always buys the vehicle in the business and pays all expenses of the same every year through the business (vehicle is definitely not business use). I make a journal entry in the books every year moving the vehicle expense to owners draw. 14 years running. We never discuss it. Don't ask/don't tell. I'm not hiding it. The client does his own daily entries in QB.

Years ago I met with some prospective clients who represented a merchant card services provider as independent contractors. They received a 30 % commission of their customers monthly merchant card fees. They were really good salespeople and were very profitable. They had paid a Million $ for a custom built bus style motor home and they really wanted to write it off as a business expense. They didn't like my answers and kept on shopping for the perfect tax preparer.

If they want to show a percentage use, they should buy this.

Ha. I hear the new truck thing often. Not the rest of the dialogue but they do think they can write the whole thing off.

Had one lady years ago who would bring her docs in one of those Dutch butter cookie tins. Everything smelled of cookies. Finally told her that if she was going to do that, to leave me a couple of cookies. The next year she brought an envelope, doggone it all.