Jack from Ohio

No comment.... I choose to avail myself of the protections provided to me by the 5th Amendment to the United States Constitution. (Isn't this the new IRS mantra?)

OK Mas, you slid this one past me....

I am in the process of "preview testing" the new software. My sales rep also called me. I was very straight forward to the fact that unless I am satisfied with the "preview test" (beta test for the non-politically correct group) I perform, that their software is not even on the radar. Stay tuned. As I go through the beta testing, I will post my opinions. The non-disclosure agreement I signed will keep me from giving out details. Rest assured you will get my HONEST and COMPLETE opinions of the software as I brutally and mercilessly beta test it. Anyone who has followed my posts during the past tax season will know that I may be the toughest test they have to pass. Stay tuned!!

"How was your golf game, dear?" asked Jack's wife Tracy. "Well, I was hitting pretty well, but my eyesight's gotten so bad I couldn't see where the ball went." "But you're seventy-five years old, Jack!" admonished his wife, "Why don't you take my brother Scott along?" ... "But he's eighty-five and doesn't even play golf anymore," protested Jack. "But he's got perfect eyesight. He could watch your ball," Tracy pointed out. The next day Jack teed off with Scott looking on. Jack swung, and the ball disappeared down the middle of the fairway. "Do you see it?" asked Jack. "Yup," Scott answered. "Well, where is it?" yelled Jack, peering off into the distance. "I forgot."

"My wife found out that our dog (a Schnauzer) could hardly hear, so she took it to the veterinarian. The vet found that the problem was hair in the dog's ears. He cleaned both ears, and the dog could then hear fine. The vet then proceeded to tell Andrea that, if she wanted to keep this from recurring, she should go to the store and get some "Nair" hair remover and rub it in the dog's ears once a month. Andrea went to the store and bought some "Nair" hair remover. At the register, the pharmacist told her, "If you're going to use this under your arms, don't use deodorant for a few days." Andrea said, "I'm not using it under my arms." The pharmacist said, "If you're using it on your legs, don't use body lotion for a couple of days." Andrea replied, "I'm not using it on my legs either. If you must know, I'm using it on my Schnauzer." The pharmacist said, "Well, stay off your bicycle for about a week."

Low tonight here 55 degrees?

The Last Day of Life � All arrivals in heaven have to go through a bureaucratic examination to determine whether admission will be granted. �... One room has a clerk who inputs computerized records of what each applicant did on his or her last day of life. � The first applicant of the day explains that his last day was not a good one. "I came home early and found my wife lying naked in bed. She claimed she had just gotten out of the shower. Well, her hair was dry and I checked the shower and it was completely dry too. I knew she was into some hanky-panky and I began to look for her lover. I went onto the balcony of our 9th floor apartment and found the SOB clinging to the rail by his finger tips. I was so angry that I began bashing his fingers with a flower pot. He let go and fell, but his fall was broken by some awnings and bushes. On seeing he was still alive I found super human strength to drag our antique cedar chest to the balcony and throw it over. It hit the man and killed him. At this point the stress got to me and I suffered a massive heart attack and died." The clerk thanked him and sent him on to the next office. � The second applicant said that his last day was his worst. "I was on the roof of an apartment building working on the AC equipment. I stumbled over my tools and toppled off the building. I managed to grab onto the balcony rail of a 9th floor apartment but some idiot came rushing out on the balcony and bashed my hands with a flower pot. I fell but hit some awnings and bushes and survived, but as I looked up I saw a huge chest falling toward me. I tried to crawl out of the way but failed and was hit and killed by the chest." The clerk couldn't help but chuckle as he directs the man to the next room. � He is still giggling when his third customer of the day enters. He apologizes and says "I doubt that your last day was as interesting as the fellow in here just before you." � "I don't know" replies the man, "picture this, I'm buck naked hiding in this cedar chest... "

Do you know what happened 163 years ago this fall... back in 1850? California became a state . . . . The state had no money. Almost everyone spoke Spanish.... There were gunfights in the streets. So basically, nothing has changed except then, the women had real breasts and the men didn't hold hands. That, my friend, is the history lesson for today!

How does she describe what Miley Cyrus just did on MTV? I would love to hear the term....

Better yet, when jainen becomes a conservative....

When Nancy Pelosi becomes a Republican.

I sent you a PM with the information.

The purpose stated for their lawsuit has no basis. Ohio eliminated Estate tax effective Jan. 1, 2013. The court ruling is singular in nature and does not strike down any Ohio laws or statutes. The ruling will be appealed. AG for Ohio is sticking by the laws as written and passed now. There will certainly be other lawsuits but the idea of avoiding Estate Tax in Ohio is not valid.

How can we be expected to understand it when the IRS does not yet fully understand how it is to be implemented. Here is another caveat. I am in Ohio. A legally married same sex couple moves here. I understand how to file Federal, but since Ohio does not recognize the marriage, I must file them as single/HOH for Ohio to follow Ohio regulations. However, Ohio status must follow Federal status. This means creating 3 returns to accomplish this and more fees.

I just received my latest new computer. 500GB SSHD. SCREAMS!!!!!! Add 8GB RAM and Watch Out!! i5 processor

When the client is insistent that the small items that are deductible but will not have any effect are important, I put them on Schedule A, print it as part of the return and charge accordingly. They have the satisfaction of saying... "I deducted by work boots, union dues and my uniforms."

I see several more years of job security, more work on our part and the opportunity for extra fees.... Here's the full Treasury Department press release, please note the statement regarding amended returns/claims for refund: WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) today ruled that same-sex couples, legally married in jurisdictions that recognize their marriages, will be treated as married for federal tax purposes. The ruling applies regardless of whether the couple lives in a jurisdiction that recognizes same-sex marriage or a jurisdiction that does not recognize same-sex marriage. The ruling implements federal tax aspects of the June 26th Supreme Court decision invalidating a key provision of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. “Today’s ruling provides certainty and clear, coherent tax filing guidance for all legally married same-sex couples nationwide. It provides access to benefits, responsibilities and protections under federal tax law that all Americans deserve,” said Secretary Jacob J. Lew. “This ruling also assures legally married same-sex couples that they can move freely throughout the country knowing that their federal filing status will not change.” Under the ruling, same sex couples will be treated as married for all federal tax purposes, including income and gift and estate taxes. The ruling applies to all federal tax provisions where marriage is a factor, including filing status, claiming personal and dependency exemptions, taking the standard deduction, employee benefits, contributing to an IRA, and claiming the earned income tax credit or child tax credit. Any same-sex marriage legally entered into in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, a U.S. territory, or a foreign country will be covered by the ruling. However, the ruling does not apply to registered domestic partnerships, civil unions, or similar formal relationships recognized under state law. Legally-married same-sex couples generally must file their 2013 federal income tax return using either the “married filing jointly” or “married filing separately” filing status. Individuals who were in same-sex marriages may, but are not required to, file original or amended returns choosing to be treated as married for federal tax purposes for one or more prior tax years still open under the statute of limitations. Generally, the statute of limitations for filing a refund claim is three years from the date the return was filed or two years from the date the tax was paid, whichever is later. As a result, refund claims can still be filed for tax years 2010, 2011, and 2012. Some taxpayers may have special circumstances (such as signing an agreement with the IRS to keep the statute of limitations open) that permit them to file refund claims for tax years 2009 and earlier. Additionally, employees who purchased same-sex spouse health insurance coverage from their employers on an after-tax basis may treat the amounts paid for that coverage as pre-tax and excludable from income. https://www.facebook.com/nationalassociationofenrolledagents/posts/524743047596122

Also work boots, union dues and uniforms.

Methinks I have pushed the "big" button here!! You must really have it in for me to follow my every post so closely!! I think I am complimented by your intense attention??? A general answer to a general question. Have you tried Xanax?

Seems that my naysayers missed these key words....

One tax preparer I met in Atlanta has a sign on the ceiling above his desk... "The answer is not up here."

You left out the words "...the second time..." Please be accurate when you refer to what I say.

Put your armor on!!!

When they come from 5 year+ clients, I have the right to laugh that they thought other people knew tax law better than me. Like I posted before... The second time that a client challenges me on an issue of ethics or following the regs, I fire them. I have not spent all the years and expense to become a professional to take lightly people insulting and impugning my integrity. (I am sure jainen will jump in here...)

Dealing with finances and dealing with healthcare insurance are totally different. Decisions I help my clients make about taxes, money and finances will NOT have the same affect decisions about healthcare insurance. If I make an error, or things go badly with finances, the only issues at hand are money. If I give clients information about healthcare insurance choices, there could be health or even life threatening results if the choices are bad. I do not think E&O insurance will cover lawsuits about healthcare insurance or health related results.