Margaret CPA in OH

Catherine, we have the same 'baby' issues. My tummy is from my baby, now 31 years old. And maybe you didn't lose pounds with that great training, but I'm pretty sure you gained great muscle conditioning and, remember, muscle weighs more than fat. I try to think more about my condition now than my weight but it's hard because those flat tummy days are long gone. Maybe JB's success will keep us inspired and we can be a support group for that, too!

jainen, thanks again for your thoughtful, thorough reply. I do understand, being in the business since 1986, the difference between simple math errors (which may encompass omitted income) and more complicated matters. I also understand that no action is taken before conferring with a client. In addition I also understand that there are no routine audits. I really understand more than you perhaps think. Again, I was responding to the litany of complaints above, in particular the statement from Jack from Ohio posted 10 January. Obviously the checked 3rd party designee was insufficient. As IRS changes I believe we must be prepared to do the best for our clients, your mileage may vary. (Who was it that used to write that frequently on the old forum?) Thanks again, jainen. I do respect your comments and am constantly amazed by the depth and breadth of your knowledge. But we may occasionally disagree in kind and extent. This may be one of those times as we are discussing generalities and not specifics.

Good for you, JB! That's a lot in a short time so keep on moving whenever you can. Stand and march in place on the phone to use up a few calories. Marathons and dive trips to great places for me work for me in off season. Last September was 2 weeks in the Maldives and the Chicago marathon in October. I was 4th in my age group (old ladies 65+) out of 23. Could have done better but my I was with my baby (57) brother who had 2 potty stops for 15 minutes total. First marathon jitters, I guess.

Perhaps you both, jainen and Pacun, have a quite different set of clients from mine. Most of mine have been with me for many years and appreciate when I am prepared to address issues that might arise. I have heretofore not had POA in advance of notices. In response to the multiple complaints mentioned earlier in this thread and cumbersome, time consuming and stressful methods of sorting them out between IRS and clients, my inclination certainly was to make things easier for my clients, should the need arise. jainen, if the client doesn't want to sign a POA, the client has every right to decline. I don't agree a priori that a POA requires a separate fee structure although, to address broader issues than simply answering straightforward questions, a separate engagement letter may be in order. I do state that on my tax prep engagement letter following AICPA guidelines. Pacun, I would have the POA to be able to assist with answering questions on a particular tax return, not necessarily under audit, to expedite matters given the complaints stated above. If any client wished to retain additional, previous POA's, they can decline. I can only speak for my clients and none of them have POA's with other CPA's. Yes, I know that to be true having asked at the beginning of engagements. I am unclear as to your meaning with your last statement. I don't see any inconvenience on my part but perhaps am simply not understanding the grammar. Given the increasing complexity of the entire tax process and multiplying problems with poorly trained or otherwise difficult agents, I am even more inclined to be proactive with my clients - not yours - as I know their issues, their particular situations (many elderly), and their comfort levels managing what may appear to be threatening letters from IRS. I would never force anyone to sign a POA. It is and will always be an option. But I do want to continue to be the person that my clients depend on with tax issues start to finish. Thanks for the commentary and insights. It is so good to know that opinions abound and are shared. We may also agree to disagree.

Good idea to get POA from all. I've considered it from time to time and have probably 20% of them by now. I think I will just add it into the return for each and, when I send the pdf for review, just ask them to sign and fax or mail that form along with the 8879. Next year I suppose I can include the 2848 with the packet I mail out with engagement letter. I think only a couple of clients actually appear here with paperwork; nearly everything is mailed or faxed. There are several clients now I wouldn't recognize should we meet on the street. Hmmm, maybe it's time this year to meet for coffee - could lead to referrals!

I avoid the red ink problem by filing through Business Services Online, part of SSA. I do print out a copy of the W-3 for clients clearly stamped Client Copy and also provide the printout of the acceptance of the submission to SSA. When I began receiving computer printouts of W-2's from clients whose employers do not issue them and require them to access online and print out their own, I stopped being so worried about the requirement to provide on perforated paper. I still have a stock of Uniform sheets that I use sometimes but not for 1099's which I also efile.

You didn't waste a perfectly good coupon, did you? Maybe save it for the *&^%$ client that you want to fire like MAS.

Yes, it is a good feeling, after the initial one of rejection, to be rid of problematic clients. It has happened to me rarely but, except for one case, I have been relieved, like you. Don't take him back, either, unless he is a good, prompt payer and agrees to abide by your 'rules.' Life is too short to be dealing with people like that. You'll now have time to better serve other clients and even a new one or two! Deep breath and feel good!

jklcpa, that is great news about the ability to retain AON liability coverage without retaining AICPA membership! How did you discover that? I have dropped to 'retired' status for the state society by virtue of nearly halving my business when my other part-time CPA retired in 2010. I 'fired' the business clients for which she did bookkeeping on-site. The state dues are now much lower but AICPA is still painful. Did you contact AON about it or another means? Thanks!

Like Randall, I have been a long time AICPA member primarily for the credential. I do get my insurance through that affiliation and probably will stay with the basic membership until I fully retire. I was a Tax Section member for years but decided a few years ago that my go-to resource was the deskbooks (now discontinued) and PPC Practitioners Tax Action Bulletins. I like having the loose leaf binders and online access to client letters should I choose to use them. The references are always listed, it comes every two weeks and has many benefits that suit me.

When I had 5-6 clients all on different versions of QB, I found the service worthwhile. I stopped renewing 2 years ago for the same reasons you cite. The cost was getting out of hand while the questions I had were increasingly fewer as I improved my knowledge of the intricacies of some aspects. Last year I shed most of my business clients when my CPA employee retired and I decided to not replace her. Because I now focus on tax clients, only a handful with Schedule C use QB. I think the per call cost of tech support, should I need it, will never reach $500+ but your mileage may vary (who used to write that all the time?). And I still have one client on 2007, some on 2008, 2009 and 2010. No one has even thought about going beyond 2010 as what they have does what they need it to do. You might try to drop it for a while and reup if you need to in a couple of years - save some money!

Just adorable, Eric! And I add my greetings and best wishes to all, too. May each have a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Blessed New Year.

Congratulations, Ray! I do believe you are the winner and deserving of all the appropriate benefits, etc. that accompany this achievement. I am so green with envy but at least that fits the seasonal colors. And do let us know when you receive that first ack - we await breathlessly :spaz:

Crank, I completely agree about the hardest test ever. I tried without a study course and didn't make it. After my intensive review, I did pass all 4 in November 1993. Of course, my earlier attempt was literally on my knees in May 1989, 2 months before major back surgery. I had to request permission to bring a cushion to kneel on for 2 1/2 days because the back was killing me. And I vividly recall having to write everything by hand in what never seemed to be enough time. Ahhh, CPA, aka 'Can't Pass Again!'

You might want to look at www.cmifixedassets.com I have been using the 'free' version for many years (none of my clients have more than 50 assets. I pay an annual maintenance fee for updates and have placed perhaps 3 calls over the years for assistance. I don't now see that free plus annual maintenance is an option but probably still worth a look. I like it, I like the reports and the tech support when needed is great.

Just beautiful! I'll have to show my husband the competition for his celtic harp. He's playing 4 different venues this week alone. I think it must be a real challenge to set up all those glasses and tune. Thanks for sharing, Catherine.

Catherine, thank you for this disturbing information and subsequent suggestions and thoughts. I think you have given your best by bringing the complexity of this recent calamity and ongoing financial shenanigans (what else could they be?) to us for more careful consideration for ourselves and clients. My husband has a degree in economics from Wharton and rails often about the wisdom of great rewards to those who produce nothing but only move money around and devise ways to 'earn' money by such things as credit default swaps - win-win for them, lose-lose for many others. When the politicians and regulators are in collusion with bankers and money 'managers,' what hope is there for the likes of us being manipulated by them? So this will be sobering reading over the next several days when my focus should be on more seasonal issues. I guess we all should try to keep some perspective as best we can. Thanks again, Catherine, and enjoy your holidays and new bathroom!

My PTIN is from the first year also and has 2 leading zeroes. I am and was then a CPA and the number did not change last or this year. It may just be speculation as to the meaning, or lack thereof, relative to the numbering scheme. Maybe IRS doesn't even know!

So Dear Jack, please give us all a great gift and share this wonderful knowledge. Eventually we will all be faced with this very issue and would be eternally grateful to you and 'the most knowledgeable tech ATX has." Perhaps you could provide it as a link or attachment accessible to those who need/want it. Be a true Santa Baby!

I don't know at least in part because you didn't describe the error. The best place to begin is to check the knowledge base using your best descriptors. Next best maybe describe more fully the error message and hope someone chimes it who has seen it and addressed it before. Good luck!

Yes, I agree that a price increase for all who have Schedule D is definitely in order. I haven't completed my packets and engagement letters yet (usually mail out January 2) so maybe I'll create an insert describing the additional requirements - and commensurate time and skill - to properly report these. I especially like the automatice extension, Catherine. And you might even get to enjoy your new bathroom more! Hope I get to see it next summer :)

Yes, bstaxes, best wishes for a full recovery. Eyesight is so precious! I am legally blind in one eye and constantly concerned that something might happen to the 'good' one which needs strong correction itself. Do all the right things to heal for tax season. Be good to yourself!

NECPA -take care of yourself! That sounds like a scary ordeal, for sure! I've been lurking, too, while trying to finish up my marathon thanks. Check this, if interested http://tiny.cc/pf71p This weekend I accompany an elderly client to a family reunion of sorts in New York. She meets her newest great grands, including the one from England. She'll be 98 in a couple of weeks so this will mean a lot to them all, I hope. I'm thankful for all of you on this board and Eric for providing it. Don't quite know how I would manage. Ron, I was happy to see truly positive comments about tech support from ATX. I have noticed a lot of customer outreach and improvements this year and am quite optimistic about the future of ATX software. At least I hope it lasts as long as my last few years in practice. Don't eat too much, folks, and be nice to the rest of the family ^_^

Great! I didn't know that so see, George, we've already gotten better. Thanks, Gail!

I miss that, too, but you can click on the topic (new posts show bolded print) then click on the upper right corner "Go to first unread post." It's an extra step and if someone else has a better, quicker solution, I hope they share for both/all of us! I have noticed on rare occasion that following these steps may miss the immediately preceding unread post so am now in the habit of scrolling up one to be sure I haven't missed something. That's probably just me, though.