GeneInAlabama

I'm 81 and didn't do tax returns this year.  I am still doing some payroll and sales tax and a little bookkeeping.  I quit doing income tax because my mind is just not functioning as well as it used to and I was beginning to have trouble keeping up with the changes in the tax law.  I just felt that it wasn't fair to my clients to continue doing tax returns.  I just gave my tax business to a friend that saved my business for me when I had a massive heart attack nine years ago.  Another big factor that caused me to quit taxes was that I am having more and more trouble getting my computers to do what they are supposed to do.  I used to be able to work with DOS without any problem, but windows is getting to be more and more of a problem for me now.  My mind is slowing down and computers are getting more complex.  I believe God intended for us to work for as long as we are able but to be able to recognize when it is time to slow down, but even then we should stay as active as we are able to.

I remember reading years ago that Queen Elizabeth in England gets paid by our government for not growing cotton on land she owns in Louisiana.  At least we aren't giving her food stamps.  (I hope)

I remember the 8" floppies.  The firm I worked for at the time had three computers that used those.  You would enter the information into the computer and it would take 20 minutes for the computer to process it and print out  a report.

17 hours ago, Richcpaman said:

Ok..

Long term client. I always dealt with the Wife. She was kinda loopy.. All sorts of health issues. I did the daughters returns earlier, but she is doing them now.  And only met the husband once in 12 years.

I heard thru the grapevine that she had passed away in October.  Sorry to hear of this, did not expect to see the husband.  But they called and set up the appointment for today.

Going thru the folder of information making small talk ,and saying I was sorry to hear about "wife's" passing, I pull out the death certificate that they were nice enough to bring along.  I was about to ask about medical expenses and other things surrounding her death.  Than I notice the cause of death.

 

Gunshot wound to chest.  Suicide.

Wow.

Not to many times you can stop me in a client interview.. cold.

Years ago when I was single, I dated a woman and she mentioned the death of her former husband and I asked her what he died from.  After a pause she said, "I shot him."  Turned out it was a very abusive situation and it was an act of self defense.

29 minutes ago, GeneInAlabama said:

I just have to say that I am enjoying this tax season.  So far I have prepared my return and my granddaughter's.  I came into the office this morning at 9:30.  I am still doing sales tax and payroll and a little bookkeeping.  Semi-retirement is nice.  I guess I really shouldn't post this, but I am.  Rita may hug me.

To be honest though, I am beginning to get a little hungry.

I just have to say that I am enjoying this tax season.  So far I have prepared my return and my granddaughter's.  I came into the office this morning at 9:30.  I am still doing sales tax and payroll and a little bookkeeping.  Semi-retirement is nice.  I guess I really shouldn't post this, but I am.  Rita may hug me.

Thanks everyone.  I think I will do as Judy suggested.  The transcript will show who his employers were doing the year and my son can write to them ask for another copy.  I was going to send a request to the IRS for a copy of the return including W2s and 1099s which costs $50.00, but after rereading the instructions, it appears that a return has to be filed first.

I have a client that repairs boats and motors.  He tried to deduct expenses for a trip to Gatlinburg, TN as a business expenses.  He said he left business cards at some of the businesses there.  I guess some people would travel 300 miles to have their boat repaired.  I remember some restaurants there had business cards displayed at the cashier's counter but didn't notice the locations of the business.  It may be that each card represented someone that claimed business expense for their trip to Gatlinburg.  I didn't think to leave my card there.  Oh well, maybe next time.

This year I have quit preparing income tax returns.  At age 80 I realize that my mind is not as good as it used to be and I don't feel that it is fair to my clients to prepare tax returns.  I am still doing a little bookkeeping, payroll, and sales tax.  I will still be doing a few free tax returns for my children and grandchildren through the IRS free file.  I do have a question.  My son lost all his tax information for 2015 in his car that caught fire and everything in it including his tax information was lost.  He is a union employee and works for multiple employers.  He can't remember who all he worked for that year and the IRS transcript doesn't show state withholding.  Would it be kosher to show withholding as amount owed and let the state send a refund or a bill for balance owed?  Opinions appreciated.

On 2/27/2017 at 1:54 PM, Catherine said:

I'll vote for you!

Are you a resident of Dogpatch?

On 2/25/2017 at 10:31 AM, Pacun said:

Too bad you left. Ever since that time, ATX has been an excellent program. I never had issue but I guess having these certifications helps:
A+
N+
MCP
MCP + I
MSCE
and EA.

I know what EA stands for but I don't believe I have ever seen the other designations.  Well, I have seen A+ a couple of times during my lifetime on test papers but I'm not sure if it means the same thing here.

I bet tax preparers in Ohio make a lot of money.

If the kitchen equipment is in the building, looks to me like the building is already in use.  Does he have to be serving customers in the dining room to be "in business?"

Thanks Elrod.  I knew my computer had a battery but had no idea where to look for it or how to replace it.  I also didn't know what kind of problem it caused when it needed to be replaced.  Thanks again.

I have been wearing hearing aids for about 20 years now.  They help but are not like the original hearing.  Reminds me of a joke.

Two old men were playing golf and one said, "it sure is windy today."

The other thought for a moment and said, "no .. today is Thursday."

The first replied, "yeah, I'm thirsty too.  Let's stop at the club house and get a beer."

That is pretty much the way it is when you are hard of hearing.

I know what it is like to wonder where the next dollar is coming from.  I think those of us who have been in that position have more concern for those who are going through that.

If he files the 2011 return today, the SOL will start the day it is filed, not in October 2012.  If he doesn't file the return, they could come back on him 50 years from now (not likely, but possible).  Why not start the SOL and get it over with?  Who knows what the IRS might do a few years from now?

I think SaraEA summed it up perfectly.

Sounds legit to me.  Wonder if I can get in on this great deal.

2 hours ago, RitaB said:

I just let the answering machine pick up my favorite.  She's saying, for the 10th year in a row, "OMG, I have been so busy, if I get my stuff to you by Friday can you get my return done?!"  And I will not see her Friday.

Now, now, Rita.  Just give her a hug.

They can use any number to show up on your caller ID.  One time I received a call that showed that it was coming from my own phone.

When I get a robo or telemarketing call I usually save it under the name of "Z" so that it appears at the end of my address book and when I get a call from Z, I just open the phone and close it.  Even though a lot of those calls come from different numbers, the Z helps a whole lot.

I just happened to think.  An out house with a picture window might be a novel idea.

Yeah Margaret I did mean ouR house.  Sometimes my fingers work faster than my mind which is getting slower and slower.  Since you mention it, this house did have an out house when it was first built in 1939.  Electricity nor water was available at the time.   My grandfather built the house and used windows and doors from another house that was torn down at the time.  I have no idea how old the windows are.  I replaced the doors several years ago.

It works on W10 also.  I just tried it and it works.  Thanks for the info.

Looks like I'm going to be replacing windows in out house.  I ordered one to see if I can do it and if it goes well, I'll do the rest.  I have never replaced a window before.  Google sure does make it look easy.