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Here you go, Gail. https://www.gocomics.com/frazz/2024/04/13

Sorry to hear about your mother. I lost my mother 10 years ago. It's never easy.

The incomparable thrill of meeting the deadline. Almost 2 a.m. and 4 coffee cups, that would have been about right in many past years for me.

Use the LLC. Save the AOC for his 4 most expensive years. I think it's for post-secondary education only, so I guess that means he has to have completed secondary ed...

Student has to be a degree candidate, and since he hasn't graduated high school yet that would knock him out. No? Even if qualifying, AOC can only be claimed for 4 years. Maybe the parents don't want to claim in a year where the credit would be small.

I cover these two in the upcoming webinar. Don't know about ATX any longer 'cuz I bailed in the 2012 filing season. I always learn more from case studies than the ivory-tower practice cases where all the numbers line up perfectly.

I have the utmost respect for everyone here and I thank you for sharing your day to day and making me feel less alone. Sincerely. My plan was for this to be my last year but I looked at the numbers and I think I have to do at least one more. Here's hoping I'm just exhausted and maybe I can call it a day? Congratulations to those who are done. My best to those who will continue.

You made my day @BulldogTom. Thanks for the smile.

Solvency is calculated immediately before discharge. Only if the date of identifiable event is incorrect on form would solvency after the fact be considered.

Instructions for 1099C: https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i1099ac#en_US_202201_publink1000284973 If insolvent it's not taxable, but if form received it needs to be accounted for on return.

Thanks. That's good to know, and so it would be up to Christian to find out the specifics for this student.

Sure he can. I know plenty of kids who graduated w/ an Associates Degree from the local community college the same time they graduated HS.

I definitely have a few in mind to fire. However, I'll wait until I've recovered a bit before making final determinations. Drake tracks time on a return (so I leave the client's return open when I'm doing anything with their documents) and one of the things I'll do is go back through 'em all and compare what I charged with what my time-billing fee would have been. Anyone whose time-bill is substantially more than the per-form charge is high on the list of candidate for firing.

On occasion I'll send an extension form with recommendations, or (for those internet-savvy) a link to Direct Pay. Up to them, though. I'm not their mommy and they're supposed to be grownups!

I had a pretty good start to the season, but then lost a week to tech crap in March, and this past week to a bad back. So I'm trying to remind myself why I thought it was a good idea to keep doing taxes a few more years. But I just prepared a partial list of folks I'm going to fire, I'll go through and finish the list this week. Then I just have to write the letter to them. Then only 2 clients I still have payroll returns for, that's a relief to have that so low! Next year, none!!

Certain people do come to mind and then they turn to dust. Breaking things after an aggravating day can be very satisfying.

Almost over people !!! Take a couple weeks off then finish the stragglers we filed extensions for. Its been a trying year that has dragged on forever !!! Been saying for years we need to cut back, but this year solidifies we need to. Tired and wore out as I imagine we all are. Hope everyone has a fantastic summer !!

You have, indeed, had LIFE! That is so much in such a short time - well, for any length of time. I'm so sorry for your losses. Hopefully the brother and daughter may be finding peace within and with you soon. I'm sure Frankie and Louie are a comfort despite puppy challenges. I so much want a little dog. Two cats are sweet but not the same as a dog. My husband is less understanding. Take all the time you need. We know that without self care, we cannot really care well for others. Breathe....

This has been a long season. And not so much because of the tax work but because of LIFE kind of getting the best of me. My mother fell and went into nursing home in January. She basically got stuck in there too long and got worse. My daughter was quite sick and taking priority over my mother. My mother died in March. Had to take off time for that and dealing with my estranged brother. My daughter had a very traumatic break up in March and had to move out of her apartment and back in with us, and continues to have her other problems going on. Being at the office was a better choice half the time this year, but I'm telling you, these family things have got me worn out. And just for kicks - we added 2 puppies to the family in January. Frankie and Louie. (Shih-tzus. And anybody that has little dogs knows - they tend not to potty train too fast.) (I will have to update my avatar when I have a free moment. That was my little guy Vinny who passed last August.) I'm ready to do NOTHING for a few days. Hopeful anyway.

I do get emails with things like (literally) "Help", "I cannot print", or "How do I pay my taxes". Over the years, I have built a custom automated reply system for the most common messages. I do track those who seem to ask excessive questions. They are thankfully few, and often indicate no experience or training ahead of time (with payroll processing) and will usually end up with a refund and a suggestion to hire out their payroll until they can get trained. Back when our customer count was beginning to grow, we could take orders on the phone and manually input them, we would spend time on the phone with most, but it actually was a detriment if one considers the time spent per customer and what our time costs (either to replace, or in lost productivity with other tasks). I am not saying support is a money loser, but the best use of support budget is preventing the contact in the first place by programming skills, FAQ, proactive emails, etc. It is also the best for the customer, as no customer (well, not those one should keep) asks for help before spending time trying to figure it out themselves and are likely at a low simmer (at least) when they reach out.

For me. A dollar fee does not prevent calls for things not in my realm of support. It anything, it makes the process worse, as those who pay expect to monopolize my time, even beyond what they paid for. They do not like hearing no, that is not anything to do with my software - but I cannot refund you because you still called and took my time. The reality is, again for me, email is the only fair method, and workable. Anything I could answer over the phone is rare, and well documented already, and the other issues usually require images, backups, or a written-out reply (so it can be followed properly). Then there is the fairness. Should somebody who calls jump the line of those who write, and how much to charge for that effect.

Yes, please see the instructions to preparing 1099-C and "Who Must File" and the large bold heading under that labeled "Exceptions". It seems that the form's issuance depends on the type of bankruptcy and whether the debt was for business or investment, or if it was for personal use.

Maybe institute a per-call fee, so you try hard yourself before calling. Even a small fee of $1 to $5 per call would make a lot of folks look things up themselves first.

Christian, you may be correct. With the AOC, the student must be a degree candidate, and he can't be a candidate for a degree without graduating from HS. Most colleges and universities will not even enroll the student in the degree program without first completing the secondary education. The LLC, on the other hand, can be taken by an eligible student taking course(s) that are part of a degree program, but it does not require that the student be a degree candidate.

Yes, it's a godsend for all of us who are solo! And I too have had all but one other accountant I know retire.

@Catherine @Abby Normal @G2R The three of you should get together and put on a seminar. "What the hell happened, how the law tax law applies, and how to enter the damn thing in ATX". I would attend if it qualified for CPE. If you held it in my hometown I would put on a BBQ dinner for you at no charge. Tom Longview, TX

I'm done and done in. Last night I dug a hole on the edge of my foot to remove an already inflamed deepish splinter and went off this morning to the 5K charity event with a bunion pad and bandage. I completed only half of that, and then the sporting clays went about the same, like I was a raw beginner again. I had an awful season this year. My Mom passed at the end of Feb, and the I got the flu-a in early to mid March and missed many days. I actually sent 3 returns and a trust away because of it. There were a few days that I don't even remember in March when I started back working and was still very sick. Glad this season is over. If you made it this far, thanks for listening to me whining.

I will be working all day today and tomorrow. Then on to the extensions. This has been a whirlwind year. A client is bringing homemade soup for tomorrow. Then I can say that we have been given everything from soup to nuts. Friday it was two quarts of homemade maple syrup. You just have to love these clients who appreciate what you do for them and we really try to do the best job possible. Off to work I go.

I had a (former) client who I hadn't heard from in 4 years text me at 6:00 pm Friday asking me to do a trust and individual return. This was the normal pattern when they were my clients. I told them I was "pretty much" retired and to call Block Advisors. Just remembered--one summer I sent them a warning they were about to hit the 60 day mark (minimum penalties kick in). They contacted me on day 61.

I'm in for a short time today but probably won't get much done. Got an email from a lost client. He's four years behind. Ha. Says he wants to catch up. Ok but he'll have to get his info to me. His son has been coming in regularly. We'll see. I jogged this morning. Feels good to get back to it after a few months off.

Some people call support for some of the dumbest reasons, and both tie up the lines and increase costs for the software company. I hope the software companies can flag those users and make them a lower priority. I wish the software would only allow you to call 5 or so times, and then you have to pay per call for additional support. That would make these inconsiderate people think twice about calling for dumb .

Please see the instructions for form 8889. Line 9 instructions say to include employer contributions AND those from the employee through a cafeteria plan. That information is on the W-2, box 12, code W. Line 1 is for the overall limitation for the year. Line 2 is for contributions made separately by the employee outside of payroll NOT on the W-2. Doesn't ATX carry the amount automatically from the W-2 and fill in the limitation automatically if it is a full year coverage and you simply indicate it is either self coverage or family coverage?

W2 flow through is fine, it doesn't really matter what part came from employee vs employer. It's annoying that ATX has that constant warning to separate. Sounds like you're doing it right!!