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When I read posts like some here in this topic and others, and I think back to the workload I endured in my earlier career, I worry about some of you and about us as a profession overall. I haven't made nearly the amount I could have for whatever talents I have, but I have made a concerted effort for a healthier work-life balance and am happier because of those choices. This work can be extremely rewarding, but I believe that it shouldn't be at the expense of our health and well-being. I wish you all well, hope that you recover quickly, and are able to enjoy some quality time away from the office. I also hope to see you here in the off-season as we continue to work at a less hectic pace.

Stolen from another forum. Here are some band names comprised of tax professionals. Feel free to add our own. The Rite-Offs Double Entry Goodwill 'n Boot Qualifying Children LIFO of the Party Due Diligence

Just upgraded from three 24 inch monitors to three 32 inch curved monitors. Measured horizontally, it's just shy of 7 feet of screen space, because screens are measured horizontally. My eyes are so happy! (Excuse the mess!)

I have been on a little adventure, believe it or not. I hadn't been feeling well for a while and one morning I told my husband that I thought I needed help. Well, ER led to 7 days in the hospital (so they tell me). I had viral bronchitis and then developed bacterial pneumonia and had myself a vacation of sorts. If anyone has noticed that I have not been nosing around, that is why, but I am now home and on the way to a full recovery. Turns out that I was sick for a very long time and I guess I knew it but I just thought that was the way life was. Well, let me tell you , I have not breathed so well in years and I am back. This was my first fullish day on the computer and I am pretty tired so will keep you posted. I am so Happy to be back and Life is Wonderful. Love to each and every one of you. I had my doubts there for a while, but I don't do well with meds and they sort of messed me up while they were curing me.

I might be looking forward to only one more year. It depends on the progression of my eye issues. I have already thrown my hat in the ring for 2024, but I have been struggling for the past 6 months or so. The use of frequent eye drops and ointment at night has helped tremendously (depending on the day). This only helps with side effects as there is no cure for Macular Degeneration. I intend to give it my best shot, but honestly, I am getting tired of the spammers and scammers; the computer updates; the computer breakdowns; the constantly having to watch your back for malware, viruses, etc., and the games that Microsoft is playing with our OS. Honestly, it's been a great ride, but it really isn't fun anymore. Hopefully, some R & R will change my attitude. I am tired of waiting for clients to bring in their information, pick up their returns, return calls and take care of issues addressed by the IRS and the States. If it weren't for all of you, I would already be gone. I get my best information here and my best cheering up; as well as the realization that others have it much worse than I do. Thank you again for all of your help and kindness.

From a CPE talk I gave back in 2023; (staged) me under my desk after fully reviewing the disaster I had inadvertently accepted as a new client. You may find amusement in this, @mcb39.

When you see someone's name pop up on caller ID and your heart drops, fire them. Life's too short to be miserable.

It gets better. I told her on the phone that if she signed and brought back in person to put it in my box. Oh no, where did she leave it? It was under a rock on my office steps.

Don't forget the dang sticky notes. Sorry, you don't need to write me a note that your W2 is a W2!

Cooking The Books

Happy New Year to everyone here. May we all have a season without too much turmoil. Enjoy the last deep breath before the onslaught.

8879 signed with a highlighter. Is my instruction slip that confusing?

"I've Got Nexus" (The kids will never get it. ) "Unbalanced Entry" (for us old people) I really liked Patrick Michael's "LIFO of the Party"

The Lost The Lonely The Loophole

It's January 2. The year is going by fast.

And to all, God Bless...

I have to take my hats off to Abby Normal. I should hesitate because there are so many other great people on this board that should be mentioned. I am notorious for my cumbersome phraseology. Often I will ask a question and get responses from good people who, from their responses, are unclear what I am asking. This is my own problem, and not anyone else's. Often I have to repeat myself, and the conversation runs in many directions, very much like a "circular reference" in Excel. Occasionally you meet someone who can perceive what is in your mind - to the extent they know what you are saying before it ever comes out of your mouth. Hopefully, in your years of human experience, you have encountered a few such people. Abby Normal seems to know exactly what I am asking, why I'm asking, as if he is in my own shoes sharing the subject. Not just once, but consistently over and over again. I met this Abby Normal (and forgot his real name) at the gathering at Rita's in 2018, which was a delightful event for myself and my wife. Again, there are a number of helpful people in this community and I don't want to lessen their contributions by not mentioning them. Thanks to all who have put up with my awkward choice of words. Abby, wherever you are, please stay with us...

I don't like the practice of criticizing other professionals because it's not, well, very professional. When a client brings me a return prepared by someone else, I never say "that person messed up," but maybe something like "s/he did this differently than I do" or the code changed that year or whatever. We never know if the prior person had all the docs the client brings us, or if the client answered questions the same way. I respect letters after names, like EA and CPA, because I know how hard it is to earn them. And all of us, letters or not, make mistakes. Think of McDonald's commercials. They never even mention competitors (unlike their competitors) but just highlights how wonderful their own offerings are. I disagree and have only been there maybe once in five years because it was the only quick place around, but that doesn't mean they don't know how to cook.

That is the 64 thousand dollar question. I am amazed that the IRS spends so much energy on not talking to the very force multiplier that they need, US! We can talk to them and get them what they need to close their cases, but they have treated us like the problem and not the solution for the last decade. Congress and the tax code are the IRS problems, not reputable tax pros. The IRS knows who I am. They gave me my EA license. They hear from me every three years when I renew. They gave me my PTIN. They collect a check every year for that number as well. They gave me my EIN for my company. They gave me my EFIN number. They gave me my CAF number. They know my SSN. They require my software provider to know my information before I can use a software that they approve every year. They can look up how many returns I prepare and how many POAs I have on file and how many times I call in and the number of returns that are selected from my client list for audit and the resolution on those audits. The Commissioner knows me better than anyone except my spouse. And they treat me like I am the problem instead of the TurdoTax software they allow on the market. I am just so fed up with the incompetence of the IRS leadership, especially the Commissioner. I wish he would realize I can get his backlog on my clients through the system faster than his staff can without me. Just staff the PPL line and let us work with the quality revenue officials, like we used to do when I first got my license. Stepping down from my soap box now. I feel better. Tom Longview, TX

I'm getting old and spicy, and now, when people tell me something preposterous (or give me some crazy tax rule they 'know'), I look them straight in the eye and say, 'Did your hairdresser tell you that'? Stops them cold. Literally. You should try it. They look at me dumbfounded for a minute, then they usually chuckle, and then they remember that it's a 'fantasy tax scenario', and we never speak of it again. You have to be over 50 to pull this off, but I've now made the cut, and I use it every time.

Immigrant tax reporting aside, this agreement violates the sanctity of the privacy bond between taxpayers and the IRS. We voluntarily give them our most private data and that of our household members and they lock it up so tightly that most of their own employees can't access it. In my Master's course I learned that IRS can share your data with NO ONE, the only exceptions being suspected terrorism and money laundering. We used to joke that you could list your occupation as Hit Man or Bank Robber and the IRS would keep it a secret. Breaking that bond can further dent the agency's tarnished image. ICE is demanding this disclosure to get immigrants' addresses. I think the tax return is not a good place to look. People move, have PO boxes, use someone else's address to get their mail because their own box is insecure, still use Mom's address because they're away at school or she always handles everything. I'm sure all of us have had a client or two who suddenly notices that the address we've been using for five years has the wrong street number of spelling.

Well, that is one way to lessen the number of tax returns the IRS has to process, justifying the force reduction. s/s Super Sarcastic - funny not political. I hope you think it is funny. If Judy kicks me off the board I won't have anyone to talk to at all.... Tom Longview, TX

There are lovely people I serve too though. I delivered a return yesterday to a client/friend of almost 40 years. She's 95 now in assisted living. Return isn't *that* complicated but has half a dozen 1099Rs, one consol broker 1099 package with only 40 page or so, the bigger main consol broker 1099 package that was only 60 pages, and a PTP. We had a really nice visit and did some reminiscing. People like her remind me why I still do this work.

For future use for everyone using ATX, I'm going to copy Abby Normal's instructions to a new post of how to backup ATX data outside of the program and pin it at the top of general chat.

I would: Proceed to file 2024 return (with corrrect correct carryforward figures).

We are not open to the public on weekends so we can get stuff done. Plus I can crank the music !!!! Nothing better than classic Sabbath, Aerosmith, Steely Dan and Zep !!!

I remember at an IRS forum back in the days of paper filing hearing an IRS agent say that he knew it wasn't the preparer's fault when they got returns in with no signature - they could see the highlights and the sticky notes saying sign here, but there was still no signature. I also put the drop off box in at our office because I had a customer that left his papers in the grill out back. Took a couple of years but I finally convinced him to use the box instead of the grill.

While I understand the desire to be DONE on April 15th, I also don't want to work myself to the bone three months of the year. I use extensions extensively (intended doubling up) and work steadily while still taking Sundays off all season. Do what works for you, but remember that extensions are your very good friend. I'd rather put a client on extension and do the returns correctly the first time, than rush to finish and find an error - or get a corrected consolidated 1099 - months later that makes an amended return required.

I am so glad that I don't have to deal much with current stuff, but I am still dealing with 2023 letters from my terrible, rotten 2024. My 96 year old dad just passed away two weeks ago after being hospitalized with Influenza A, I had to have my knee manipulated for the second time in the OR, (this one actually worked and my range of motion is pretty good) and today I found out that a bone implant from 4 years ago has failed. I am not going through that again. I can't deal with it here, because we are finally moving to Littleton, CO on 4/2. Our new grandson will be born on 3/10 as long as he is not as difficult as his father was. We are over the moon about being close to them and we have a mountain view! One of my clients received a "we need 60 more days to research" from the first request that I sent and received a second 60 day letter last week. I don't expect it to get much better. I feel sorry for them. Morale has to be pretty low. I really hope that I don't end up getting a tax job in Colorado, but I am starting to worry about the part time job market for older workers. I miss you guys, but have not have much time to hang out here. Everyone hang in there and take care. Bonnie

You know I re-wrote that post three times to get it to "Judy Acceptable" standards. Tom Longview, TX

If it's been the 21 days and client calls me about their refund, I'm going to tell them to make phone calls to their Rep and both Senators.

As long as they will all play in the Audit-torium!

Ditto all the above! Don't always agree with you (but that's OK), and your use of abbreviations, (most times), leave me confused. But your insight, and especially your "view" from the other side of the table on employment issues, have been invaluable! This is 1 vote against you having "outlasted my welcome". Please reconsider.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

The Happiest of Holidays to everyone. I feel as though you all are family and I look forward to spending some precious time with you. Always take the high road!

Enjoy a few days before those 1099s start rolling out.

Merry Christmas!

I don't believe you are a tax preparer with a desk that clean!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mine has not been that clean since the day I put the desk in the office. Tom Longview, TX

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

Hi folks, The server move I mentioned last month will begin soon: You'll know it's in progress when the forum is replaced with a static message, and you'll know it's back up when the message is gone and there's an update on this post. I've done a trial run of the migration and although it went smoothly, I expect a few bumps over the coming weeks as it starts getting real traffic. Thank you for your patience!

You are speaking directly to me. As a warning. And I thank you because I needed to be reminded. I've been doing taxes since 1986 or 1987. On my own since I think 1990? I have brain fog right now but it's close. Many, many of my clients are about to be "fired." It's best for all of us. After almost 40 years? Time to put myself first.

I asked a client to text me a picture of the front and back of her license because the ones I had were expired. She texted back "I don't know how you know they're expired, but here are the pictures". They were pictures of the license plates on the front and back of her car!

I have one former client who decided I charged too much for a "simple return" and he could do it on his own. The first year, he called and asked a very simple question that I answered. The next year he called again with another question. I told him my consultation fee would be more than the cost for me to do the return. Never heard from him again.

The tax code has always changed frequently, so nothing new there. (Remember the year the ACA was introduced, the same year the expense/capitalization requirements were changed? For experienced tax pros, that was almost like starting over again.) Preparer requirements have bounced around a lot too. I think what has kept me engaged is that I have always worked for a firm, never self-employed. No worries about E&O insurance, ordering supplies, IT security, etc. Of course I pitched in with some of the tasks of running a business, but for the most part I was able to focus on tax research and preparation, planning--you know, the skills we acquired to enter this business in the first place. I like taking courses (an academic at heart), so required CEs were never a burden. The biggest complaint I can think of is the long hours during tax season, which repeat as Oct 15 comes around. That said, I have finally retired! Time to have some fun and read more books. I will eventually volunteer for VITA or AARP, but first I want to get organized around the house and do some things I always wanted to do. I will depend on this board to keep me in the loop so my tax knowledge doesn't fall by the wayside.

There is a time and place for Roths in a financial plan. There is a time and a place to do conversions (very low income years). Conversions are not the solution to all financial and tax plans. Tom Longview, TX

So, we have come full circle once again. I hope that you all have a productive and prosperous New Year. I believe it may be a difficult one as mine is already starting out that way with two days to go. Phone, text and cell have all been busy already. They just don't want to let me get away. I have signed on for another year and am looking at other options going forward. Health and time will be the deciding factors. I want to thank you all sincerely for all the help that you have given me and I want to wish you a very Happy and Healthy New Year 2025.

I think I need to go on another week long bike ride.