Leaderboard

If you really want to learn a subject, learn it hands on and do your research. This is my fourth year of teaching another accountant that "accountant" does not equal "tax preparer". She has a certificate in accounting. I have one in tax preparation. I taught myself and gleaned knowledge from others along the way. This tax board, in particular, has been a major contributor. She is terrified of starting out on her own. I HAD to learn Partnerships because my husband was, and still is, one. There are areas that I don't step into. Take on only what you can handle or are willing to learn.

I might add the following: If you really want to learn a subject, prepare to teach it to others.

It could be that the number is correct, but it is not passing the eVerify because of a small anomaly in the formatting of the name. Some variations don’t matter, but others won’t pass the “Name Control” requirements. For example, C.J. Smith Company becomes CJ Smith Company because it looks better on the letterhead. (or Smith and Jones Company becomes Smith & Jones Company over time). The possibilities for a problem with the Name Control are numerous. Some don’t matter while other seemingly innocuous ones will produce a reject.

Finally, I managed to have a snappy, to me, response to "How do I contact a live person?" "There is no one here who is dead, so every message you get from us is from a live person." --- This was from someone who has sent a dozen or more messages, over the last 24 hours, all with a reply address which is not valid, so I doubt they will ever see my reply.

"Being wrong is the only way I feel sure I've learned anything" Daniel Kahneman - Nobel Prize in Economics ( 1934 - 2024 )

That means that the return has been selected for additional scrutiny by a live person. Until the return is actually assigned to to someone, you won't be able to find out much if anything.

Rule 1, umpires are always right. Rule 2, if umpire is wrong, see rule 1. But of course, the good ones work hard to never be wrong, and understand they will be wrong and have to rule the best they can with what they have at the moment. Good training for life. Sadly, the difference today is any perceived slight will follow you forever at any time. I have been asked about a call from 20 years ago while online at the grocery. Must have kept little Spike from making the show. My very first call in my very first game was an ejection. Little JR cursed at me. The grown up JR resides at state expense as a predator.

A slight variation, but the same basic thought: “Experience - that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn.” - Anthony Hopkins as CS Lewis in “Shadowlands”

Been there, done that. Also known as IRS purgatory. IRS knows they have it but they don't know anything else. Tom Longview, TX

Yes, it has been like that almost since the beginning of this season for me. When the program would open, I had no alerts or notifications in that bottom left corner of the manager screen, and I wasn't able to get program updates. I didn't realize this at first because I was only waiting for state approval of a certain form. Also, MS Edge browser window would open on top of the program every time, and I couldn't make the support person or her supervisor understand this. I have never used Edge, and the supervisor's suggestion was for me to try changing to Edge as my default browser, or try Chrome. I could NOT make either of them understand at all that something with my computer's environment was blocking communication from the program to Drake's server, that it was not a browser issue. Finally after about 6 calls the supervisor sent a message to a higher level support person. Very frustrating! We worked on it and thought it was solved with me changing settings in my AV, but the problem reappeared again in late Feb. I ended up changing to a different AV software completely but had only disabled the original one. That worked until I rebooted the computer and a portion related to the original AV's VPN was still enabled, and THAT was the issue.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

They are likely blocking certain IP ranges, and your VPN is using one of those ranges. Try changing your VPN sever/IP location. Most VPN's come from known IP ranges, which is how companied like Netflix try to block certain access. For me, I block outside of North America, not only because my software does not apply outside of NA, and reducing unwanted access attempts, but I avoid having to comply with the EU "cookie" pop up laws! I also block known bot farms within NA, and other IP ranges based on experience.

The benefit of the QBI is elusive indeed. At first glance, it sounds really great - a 20% reduction of profits available in addition to standard/itemized deductions. However, it has hoops to jump through. First of all, if there is EVER a loss, the loss must be applied IN FULL to the current benefit. However, if a positive result is ever squelched for any reason, the amount lost is NOT carried forward. Next, the 20% is applied to the taxable profit, or taxable income, WHICHEVER IS LESS. If any benefit is lost thereupon, it is lost forever. The 20% is a great thing for taxpayers with regular profits, and regular taxable incomes.

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.

I need pictures! What is a Morkey? What do your cats think about your dog?

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!

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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

Can you personalize each clay pigeon?!

I'm done. This morning I filed the extension for my ultimate procratinator, and other than the extended returns, I am waiting on one to pickup (SO unexpectedly hospitalized day she was scheduled to see me) and one couple that have had the returns for almost a week and must return the 8879 to me. Tomorow I am participating in a charity event in the early morning and then will be shooting at the clay pigeons. That's been ongoing as weather permitted and really helped keep my sanity this year. Plus, it's fun.

You are so right! I had about a dozen that I out right fired, about 10 more that I doubled the price and they went elsewhere and a couple more that paid the PIA fee. The stress these clients caused was not worth the money.

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!

I really don't want to be responsible for client's payments, but I had done it for one client for a few years that wanted it. I also did it one time for the 2022 return for a long time older client who is so disorganized that the return wasn't filed until Nov of last year, and I knew that the balance due may not be made. I also have trouble getting him to bring me or send me the notices he receives. I strongly nudged him in the direction of allowing me to schedule the payment for him.

Today I waited 46 minutes on hold with PPL only to be told by someone that I could barely understand, that I was not authorized to receive this information after whoever it was had asked me for all of the taxpayer information. My client is still waiting for his 2023 refund and we can't get any answers anywhere. Huh???

Wow! I've tried to call several times for a trust issue; letter response call number X and use ID number Y. No one has picked up, in an hour and a half, any time I've tried. Yesterday I got disconnected after 47 minutes; my shortest call yet. Very, very frustrating.