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So I had an issue with a client that I needed to talk with IRS about. Called the PPL expecting a 20-30 minute wait. I was shocked at how quick it was. The agent was on the line before I had my paperwork out of the file. Issue resolved in 10 minutes. I need to get a lottery ticket tonight. Tom Longview, TX

Sorry to hear about everyone's personal things going on during our busiest time. I guess I'm fairly fortunate. I went thru some things about 10 years ago but I'm an old bachelor and don't have a lot going on. I just hear from my siblings and the things they are going thru with children, grandchildren and all that. As someone said, life happens. But yes, the tax season is the tax season. I'm planning for three more years. Rent increases, othe costs increase. Whew. I'm afraid to start dipping into savings too soon so I'll keep at it for a few more years. I don't do too much after April 15 though. Fridays off, shorter hours the other days. Just the extensions gradually.

I dropped back to 1040 to do my 1065, 1120S and 1040, plus my fiancee's 1040. Still cheaper than paying someone to do all of those or messing with some other software. But then I added 8 or 9 simple paid returns that more than pay for the software.

A revocable living trust usually goes on the grantor's 1040. The exception is when the trust has an EIN and it is used on bank or brokerages accounts. The trust gets the 1099s and must file a 1041. You can elect Treas. Reg. § 1.671-4(a), which leaves the 1041 blank and provides a statement of income and expenses to be shown on the grantor's individual return. It essentially tells the IRS that these amounts are being reported by the grantor.

Where is that $79 program for us tax practitioners ??? That is what I paid for it in 1991.

After our retired racers started to pass, we were able to get our hands on two ~75/25% Greyhound/Whippets which were saved from the meat trade in a certain country. Some elders in that area still eat dog, and they have big markets where dogs are sold by the pound. Don't look this up online unless you are ready for what you will see. One of our greyhounds was a "Macau" dog, rescued at about 30lbs, with a good weight of 75. She lasted just under 2 years with us, likely because of being emaciated for two to five years while being "stored" in a back kennel at the Macau track. We call them our "littles" since they weigh 40-45 lbs. Much easier to pick up, especially when I think about picking them up 10 years from now. (Racing greyhounds are 60-100lbs in "retirement".) Most thankfully, our first racing Greyhound was an alpha female. She was able to train the littles into good house dogs in her final months, as a perfect purpose when her two prior house mates passed. There is something to be said about having an older dog break in the noobs. The littles spend most of my work days near me on fluffy dog ball/beds. There is something special about watching (and feeling) a free animal (such as a Greyhound) with the flexible spine, running (double suspension gait) at full song.

Oh my, I want one.

He's a cute little fluffball.

I have retired and Drake PPR worked perfect for relatives and my own.

Those K-1s from PTPs!!! Do people make any money from those 'investments'?

"Land trusts are not “trusts” in the legal sense. Some, in fact, refer to themselves by other names such as conservancies, foundations, or associations. Land trusts accept donations of properties, buy land, or help landowners establish legal restrictions that limit harmful use and development." You may need to ask more questions?

Makes me think. Our first official order was in 1984, $35. Currently, for the most similar program, the price is $79. In 1984, we calculated and filled in preprinted paychecks. Paper "reports" were printed to get figures to enter into tax forms. W2 fill in was possible, if you or we knew the proper "printer control codes" for the brand and model of printer being used. Inflation charts tell me I should be charging about $105. But nope, and we have exponentially more functions/features than 1984. -- The reality is, there is usually one code base these days, with the ability to hide/disable things if you want a lite or different "versions". The cost is actually MORE, to produce the lesser versions (time adding/testing the code to hide/disable things). The savings of a lite version are often from reduced support costs via restrictions on support in some manner (the cost of one long support issue can take a couple of years for the customer's license fee to recoup). -- Written as I chuckle to myself pondering pricing. I just filled up our EV for under $10 (~250 miles) and tomorrow, I get to fill up our ICE, about 30 gallons at $5.80 per, good for about 600 miles. The last time I got gas, it was at least a dollar less per gallon. We would have no ICE car, except it is the one SWMBO allows the pups in, and it can be flat towed behind our motorhome. We have no room for a car trailer or I would get a second EV to drag around on trips. I am allowed to keep our Wrangler, carbureted, 4WD, top and doors off, and I get to use the third pedal!

I have been with ATX since they bought out Saber (?). In a word from the beginning. I have watched each year their constant increases while we are continually challenged by Free file and of all things offers from neighborhood banks to file taxes. Their charges for efiles increase your cost not insignificantly while other providers provide it without cost. My practice is a small home based business so i will likely seek another provider. You would think they could produce a lite version but no they won't. I am going to check out the above mentioned Drake PPR to see if it might be a viable solution.

I used Drake Pay Per Return this tax season. It cost $355 which included 10 personal tax returns.

The cats hated him at first, but the Alpha is getting closer to him. He only weighs 4.5 pounds and our smallest cat weighs 12. Yoda can't figure out why they are annoyed when he chases them or runs headlong into their side to try to get them to play. The cats are positive that he is beneath them. He really needs our son to bring back their two Great Pyrs again, because he has a blast with the youngest one. When we get moved out to Colorado, they will have fun. A Morkey is part Maltese and part Yorkie. He does have some poodle in him according to his DNA test. He does not shed and he is the faster than greased lightning.

This was my last April 15th when I have to care about anyone else's return except my own! I just finished a bunch of extensions, but I still feel like a huge weight has been lifted. This has been the worst tax season ever. I didn't think that it could ever be worse than losing my Mom, but this last five months of having my husband so sick has been the pits. It was getting so hard to concentrate and get enough sleep. We got a new puppy, too for my husband. He turns out to be a Morkey, not a Poodle but I am happier with him anyway. I am also pretty sure that he will never know to go to the door to be let out. He is way too small, anyway. At least he is very good at using pads. Between a dog and 3 cats, it keeps me busy cleaning up. I just hope that we can find a condo that will allow 4 pets when we move. It was a sad and happy day. Lots of hugs and tears, and I will miss my clients. I got some beautiful bouquets, a customer made blankets for both my husband and me and gift cards to go eat. I did get a gift that I bet none of have ever received. My clients sent me an adjustable leg rest because they know that my leg is still a mess after my scope and that I will be getting a replacement. My client had just broken his leg very badly and was using this after his surgery. I have been blessed and still have a ton of work to do. I am hopeful that my husband will improve so that I can get a part time job out of the house in anything but taxes. Thanks so much for everything. See you all soon!

8 pm! Just filed the last extension and there are many. This day is SO over. Had to pause for one more senseless phone call. I am going to bed. Have been in this chair for 12 solid hours. We didn't even stop to eat. Good night all. Things will look better tomorrow. I am also rethinking giving up and shooting for one more year. What? Have we all lost our minds?

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....

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.

Amazingly 20 minutes after e-mail she shows up all apologetic. Didn't give her the return, only the original documents.

I'm fortunate enough to be at a point in my life where I don't need to be bringing in money from preparing returns. For the most part, I still enjoy it and the vast majority of my clients I look forward to seeing each year. Email sent and now I'm going to go dig in some dirt and plant some veggie seeds!

I have always agreed with your statement. My threshold gets lower and lower every day. For instance, I have a hard line of end of relationship when a customer sends me something my granddaughter should not see. It is a matter of being professional/business-like, as well as liking to have her in play in the room when I am working.

Once in awhile there is a client that no price is high enough!

It is very peaceful to let go of those whose revenue does not cover their expense and headache. Although long ago someone here said there is a price which makes any client worth having, and our job is to get that full price.

I'm essentially done other than one that is a total PITA. They dropped off info late March. I sent email of a couple basic items missing. Various emails over the last 2 weeks to get the info. Sent email that they were done Tues, and she replied she will pick up today. Did not answer my return email as to what time today. I sent another this morning saying they need to be picked up by 1 pm. At 1:05 I'll be sending another email with password protected file of their original documents telling them they need to go somewhere else. They have 1 dependent that graduated HS in 2023 and another in college. Guessing at least one of them filed their own returns without indicating they were being claimed by someone else. Same crap happened last year and needed to prepare a revised return for them on 4/18 because kid claimed herself. I can be very nice until I feel taken advantage of. When I reach that point, look out!

The person who set it up made a lot of money. Apparently enough to "incentivize" brokers.

That always annoyed me to no end, but I wonder if it's because many of us don't work the off season, and so might miss any notices sent later. Like others, I quit MAX 2 years ago. Last year it worked out to be about the same cost, but then I fired all my non-profits, and a bunch of 1040 clients. This year I'll fire more 1040s. Goal is to hold onto tax season but without extensions and without clients who stress me out, lol. This year the delay in so many K1s is kinda screwing that up, but as long as I have everything done and double checked, I'm ok with just plugging in the K1s later on.

It seems like ATX has a strategy to bug us during the last 2 weeks of the tax season. Tom Longview, TX

I have multiple people who have living trusts file their own tax returns while alive because their attorney set it up that way. It obviously isn't required but you can do it that way. There are fees that can be deducted by the trust which the individual can't deduct.