Gail in Virginia

I also would have to agree with Mike on this one. I think KC may have skimmed through the message too quickly - she ordinarily doesn't miss a trick!

I am glad they are doing it because I hate having them ask me for a letter for their bank. Their isn't anything I can say in a letter that really means anything - I can say that I prepared a tax return based on the information provided, but that means nothing if you look at what I am saying. I can't say that return was filed (unless I e-filed it), I can't say it wasn't amended, I sure can't guarantee that it was accurate - I have not yet been forced to make my clients prove their returns to me, although I feel more and more like the IRS is leaning on preparers to do that. I would much rather they ask the IRS for this information instead of me.

:bday:

My thinking would be that if you have some formal, evaluative procedure you could "write up" the employee for exceeding his authorized hours, and use this to cause his/her next review to be less than stellar. With sufficient occurrences, you could make it grounds for dismissal, or even require that the employee not work for a certain number of days/weeks as a consequence (unpaid suspension). But I really think that if they work the hours, you have to pay them whether or not you meant for them to work the hours. You might suggest that someone check the time cards every day, and if someone is getting too close to overtime, you send them home early on a day that is less hectic so you can keep them on the days you really need them. I don't have any legal experience to base this on, just my opinion shooting from the hip.

I had one who also had been married multiple times, and I know that she changed her name with social security because she brought me her social security card and it matched her current husband's name. However, when we e-filed I had to go back to the name before this one, even though it had been several years since she changed her name. After tax season she contacted social security again to get it straightened out.

My sympathy Janitor Bob. My son is 17, and all he can smell is gasoline and perfume. (Not necessarily in that order!)

And quite varied!

I can't find the article that I read now, and don't have time to look during tax season, but I do recall reading something (that I thought was published by the IRS) that went so far as to say that while I could make a mass mailing to all of my clients as long as I did it myself and used the postal service, if I used a mailing service to prepare the mailing it was a violation of the disclosure rules. This would tend to imply that we are required to keep names and addresses confidential. I don't know whether that would mean not being able to tell the police without a warrant.

:bday:

:bday: and many more!

:bday:

Virginia has a separate box that needs to be marked on the state return for farmers. I don't know about Illinois, but you might be on the lookout for one if they extend the same courtesy to farmers regarding estimates.

I seriously doubt that the law will be amended to change the way that credit works. I think if there were any feeling that should be done it would have been included in this last bill. I believe the change was to encourage more first time home buyers for the rest of this year in order to stimulate the economy. However, since my crystal ball is slightly cracked, I make no guarantees about what a bunch of politicians might decide in the future.

Since the neighborhood both times was section 8 housing, I doubt she did hold a job. But I too wondered how she coped with more strenuous aspects of life.

Same problem is discussed under thread about ATX AM Forms Update - since the update there is a bug in the software. We reported it to tech support and they are supposed to get back to us when fixed.

We had the same problem only with MFJ and $1000. Called support and they have reported it as a bug and are supposed to let us know when it is fixed.

You might want to watch this video, Janitor Bob. http://www.thebigshow.com/video_day/videoN...?day=2009-02-09

If only I could remember everything that I read! :rolleyes:

My husband used to be with the fire department before we met. He told me the story of a call they got reporting a fire at a certain address. They rolled on the call, got there and there was no fire. They get back to the station, and get a call again at the same address. Again, they arrive and no fire. This time dispatch calls while they are still on scene, so they are able to relay that there is no fire at that address to the caller who wants to know why they aren't at her house which is on fire. Turns out that when she moved a few months earlier, she didn't want to be bothered to change her address so she took the numbers off the old house with her and put them up at the new house so she "could keep her address." It isn't just us they are out to get......

The fact that he has a net loss does not necessarily mean he is not treated as a farmer, the rule is based on gross income. If 2/3 of his gross income is from farming (or fishing) he can elect to file his return by March 1 (the 2nd this year) rather than paying estimates and he will not be considered to be under-withheld. If his taxes are paid through W-2 withholding and underpayment is not an issue, he can wait and file by April 15. If underpayment is an issue, and he does not qualify as a farmer in 2008, he can also look back to 2007 and if he qualified then he would be treated as qualifying for 2008.

:bday:

I don't think that the poster was referring to anyone particularly on this board, just making a general observation. THe profession of tax preparation is like any other profession where human beings are involved. Some are very conscientious and work hard to maintain their craftsmanship, while others just want to make a few bucks without working very hard at it. This is true both ways of those with and without professional designations. I have noticed that a lot of posters to this board do not flaunt any credential, and yet sometimes their responses lead me to believe that they have either the EA or CPA designation. I respect most of the responders on this board, whether or not they have indicated their professional standing. Usually, the way they answer questions tells me all that I need to know about their professionalism.

It probably does fall under that heading, but realistically it won't last more than 5 in a state with weather. We have done ours ourselves and needed to redo it within a year, or had it professionally done with not much better results. However, real life has very little to do with taxes.

A belated I took Valentine's day off, and missed wishing you the best.

But I like coconut icing. I can't wait to update this afternoon.