BLACK BART

Talk about great government service - here it is already on April 4th and was only applied for on November 5th. Too, the old card only expired three days ago on 3-31-16 (sorta like getting one of those invoices with a due date several days before you receive it). But...no reason to complain - it's not like anybody's demanding to see it -- come to think of it, the only one who ever asked me what "EA" is was the guy who printed my business cards. Anyway, to offset my complaint, the mail also produced this postcard gem: Playboy offers a full-year subscription "for a token $12" or a dollar each. But I'm not jumping on the deal since that's about what I paid for the last one I ever bought. Besides, it's a bit late to be offering such to me now at age 76 (while Hefner is holding up surprisingly well at 80+, I attribute that to the 26 year-old company he keeps). Ironically, while dangling this low-rent offer, they also announced that, as of March 16th, babes-in-the-buff will no longer be featured. Oh well; I was never lucky at poker either. But, that aside, I KNEW I should have resisted clicking on that bikini-clad temptress Fox News sidebarred with an in-depth analysis of serious foreign policy goin's-on (Honest! It's all about the articles). "They", advertisers, (not the government-it wouldn't be worth their time) really ARE watching you. ____________________________________________________ Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after me. -- Anonymous

Thanx Joan. Now I don't feel so sorry for myself.

Even though it's non-deductible, this is absolutely true. Just proved it to myself this evening. Worked till 5 P.M., quit, ate supper and watched TV 'til drowsing off at 6:30, then up again at 11 P.M., nursed fever (and fever blister) with two Tylenol, and now back to work until 3 A.M., then bed 'til 9 A.M., get up and do it all over again tomorrow. Like Jack, I'm meeting myself coming out of the file room.

True, true. Must always look at the big picture, I suppose. And being cynical, even if a brick wall attitude keeps bouncing you off it, gets one nowhere. ______________________________________ "There's no such thing as a bad boy." --- FATHER EDWARD FLANAGAN (1886-1948) - "BOYS' TOWN" - Omaha, Nebraska

Dear KC, The article's author, Andy Andrews, apparently has clients of a higher caliber than I'm able to locate. Some time ago I responded to a Chinese café owner's request to come see him about payroll. Andy's rule #1 (must like and connect with client) couldn't be accomplished since he spoke little English (so his wife said) and "NO TAX" was the only thing he ever said to me. We ran an endless loop of "You would owe X dollars of withholding/SS" and "No Tax" for about fifteen minutes before I threw in the towel and left. Re Andy's rule #2 (must have a great level of belief in their team); no soap there, either. His wife was the entire team and sported a black eye hinting perhaps which way the team was headed. So anyway, I'm not entirely sure Mr. Andrews is down in the trenches with the rest of us.

I also have high-roller clients. Guy brought in 12 months' bank statements Thursday and said "There's some interest on that bank account, but they didn't send me a 1099 form; I don't know why." Checked after he left and the YTD figure was six cents.

There is a very visible line between "time wasting idle chit chat" and visiting with the client at a deeper level. The fact of the matter, I have oft said that my practice is 65% counseling and 35% tax and accounting - and I lament (in a joking manner) that I should be charging professional counselor's hourly fees instead of those of a lowly accountant. I did not imply that I do not chase anyone out. I did imply that I will take whatever time it takes with a client that needs a caring listening ear. And I certainly did not mean to imply that anyone here is cold, crass and calloused. I was simply commending the original OP for taking the time with a client that needed it. We each have our own practice with a unique culture. Yours works for you - and mine works for me. To rfassettk: Sorry. I took your first reply as sarcasm, but apparently I was mistaken and overreacted (it's hard to read facial expressions on a message board ). I think you're right about the "counseling percentage" - we had a younger guy in today (50-ish; which is young to me) who was recently laid off from his long-time job. We're doing his taxes (whenever he can get his 1095 form), but he's single, not a "sociable" type, and has nothing to do and no place to go. So he stayed for a long time and we talked politics. I felt good about helping him pass the time and so did he. And, come to think of it, I'm guessing that we average about 30 minutes of chit-chat every time somebody picks up their taxes, so yes, I guess there's something of the "bartender listening" that comes with this job. About the "You haven't heard!?" guy from the other day, though; I now feel somewhat vindicated. When he was here, another man waiting got up and left after about 20 minutes. He brought his papers back in today and, laughing, said "I bet you won't ask him THAT again, will you?"

Cold, crass, and calloused, eh? Well, my clients too have many ailments which are becoming more noticeable with each passing year and we DO chat with each about whatever comes up; be it medicine, money, or politics. While I don't doubt your nobility, neither do we view clients as objects any more than you do, but we're a strictly walk-in business and there's a point when talk must stop to serve the next waiting person before they fall out of the chair. You're saying you have NO inconsiderate windjammers you wish would shut up so you could get some work done?

Since many of my clients (and me) are getting a bit long-in-the-tooth, I find it best to avoid the mention of medical matters when possible in order to expedite their exit. However; (pick one) human kindness/ a wish to "grease up" a high-fee customer/ temporary insanity, prompted me to ask a client reaching for the doorknob (another no-no) "How's your health?" Stopping in his tracks, he turned, said "You haven't heard?", and launched into a complete one-hour recitation of all the dreadful details re his prostate operation from incision to recovery. Dazed, and only by mentally repeating over and over "$900, $900, $900," did I manage not to fall from the chair. He says a thousand pleasant things, but never says "Adieu." --- J. G Saxe

Don't take it too hard; just a few years ago I was as lowly a PTIN as anybody you'll ever meet and only took the EA exam 'cause I was afraid RTRP would throw me out on the street. My squeaking through (studied months, said a prayer, gave a bum outside the test site ten bucks) brought to mind Groucho Marx's observation: "I wouldn't want to belong to any club that would be willing to have me for a member." Anyway, maybe give it a shot -- it's a great morale booster. However, as a practical matter, most people think you're either a CPA or you're not. Folks around here figure "EA" is some part of a declension of the verb "eat" (as in "I eat"/ "I et"/ "I done et") -- yeah, I'm kidding, but you get the gist of it. I wish IRS would call us "Special" Agent or something besides "Enrolled" which sounds like we're still in school. As to the EFIN issue, I subscribe to the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" school of thought (witness the problems other posters mention). IRS is liable to assign you two numbers and you maybe can't file with either one.

Thanx, Rita.

Got a laugh from an NYPD Blue re-run recently: Cop: "What's your date of birth?" Answer: "August 15th." Cop: "What year?" Answer: "EVERY year! Don't you guys have to pass an IQ test to get this job?"

Does anyone happen to know if ATX (or any other software) sends the detailed depreciation schedule to IRS or does IRS require only the 4562 totals? Or in some cases, if nothing new is added, then not even a 4562 but simply figures off a line on C, E, and F? P.S. On another topic; I sincerely wish Form 1095-A had never come into existence.

I agree with this - getting an extra high fee makes you feel much better about putting up with guff and grumps. While I haven't found any one solution that works for all, pricing them out of the office seems most effective. One particular pest told me he'd leave if I went up again, so I promptly added $100 to his fee and he's now torturing some poor soul at Jackson-Hewitt. This post reminded me of something I still chuckle about. Years ago I had a doctor for a client. We were in my office going over his stuff and I was complaining bitterly about a PIA customer who'd just left. He grinned knowingly and said "Yeah, he's also my patient. I'd like to refer him and a few others to Dr. Kevorkian."

This is from page three of the "Instructions for Forms W-2c and W-3c" - Revision of April 2010 which is the latest I could find: "Boxes 15 through 20 - State/local taxes. If your only changes to the original Form W-2 are to state or local data, do not send Copy A of Form W-2c to the SSA. Instead, send Form W-2c to the appropriate state or local agency and furnish copies to your employees." This is what the link below says - I couldn't get it pull up from inside this post (maybe you can), but that's the text. So anyway, it looks like NECPA is right. https://www.drew.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/96/iw2cw3c.pdf

Correct. You're okay on the EIC since the income's irrelevant for that - living with mom and being a student are the things that count. On the other hand, the "provided more than half of her own support" kills off the girl's dependency exemption for mom.

BUSIFORMS.COM : a small outfit in Chattanooga. My print version (very simple/good) is $59.95. Efile version is also offered, but I don't know the cost. All good and true advantages. Hi Rita: Nice to hear from you again (and thanks for your support on fees the other day). I do the same as you do and while the folks above are right, I feel more in control this way since I dislike e-flinging (as JohnH would put it) figures into thin air . For some clients I get the 1096 signed and simply keep it until enough time for corrections passes and it's safe to mail (this probably won't work next time - I've heard IRS wants their copies by 1-31-17). But while they say you cain't teach an old dog new tricks, I've learned that IRS can MANDATE some and we'll probably have to get horseless carriages before long. Anyhow, I'm hangin' out in the Jurassic era until they come and GPS me. Best regards, BB.

Dear KC, Unlike the Powerball winners, I'm a bit gunshy and had druther stay unlocated (just hate big cities and that dang Google Earth thing). Not that I've got anything worth stealin', but I had to co-sign two notes at my last family reunion and prefer to keep movin' along. Since I dropped my E&O insurance and like to spin yarns about my crazy clients, I figure they might sue me for slights (real or perceived). Too, IRS might consider such drivel coming from a low-population hole-in-the-road as a violation of disclosure rules (or maybe even human rights). But anyway, to answer your question somewhat (without pinnin' myself down too fine ): I once lived at Mountain Home, then descended southeast through Calico Rock, up to Gum Stump, down toward Oil Trough, over to Possum Grape, back your way toward Bucksnort, then driftin' down between Turkey Scratch and the Mississippi River. And that's where I can sometimes (but not always) be found. Best regards, BB

My first customer wandered in yesterday - older single guy with one factory W-2 and will pick up Friday. My fee will be $75 (our minimum and same as last year) at pickup for this guy. I was just wondering what you guys here would charge for something similar. I know, of course, that locale has a lot to do with it (I'm in AR - "pore boy territory"), but still am curious as to what others are doing. We're the only independent in our small town but have two franchise competitors - Block and Jackson-Hewitt. Our mainline customers are mostly the older, settled type (rent, retirement, interest, small businesses). We start out at around $125 and go up gradually by hundreds and complexity (no longer doing corporations) to $1,200 or so. We now do very few EIC returns, although many years ago we had bunches and JH/Block were our main competitors. But anyway, their fees are much higher than ours regardless of type (they would get at least $200 for the above case). Since our clientele has aged we no longer seem to get their kids/grandkids like we used to and I think that's mostly going to TurboTax, IRS FreeFile, and Block online, due to the younger crowd's generally increased computer-literacy. On that note I just saw my first TV ad for Block online last night - free federal and $9.99 for state. Although I'm not competing for that market segment (the "short-form" bunch) anymore, that's a pretty hard price for Block franchise-holders to overcome and I'll bet they don't like it one bit (the company probably feels the same way). I don't like it so much either 'cause a newbie used to wander in occasionally and we could knock out a $45 fee in 15 minutes - that seldom happens nowadays. I would complain more about customers dying off; a very depressing event from my point of view (to say nothing of theirs ), but the futility is evident and, besides, as John H. once posted: "Despite the high cost of living, it remains very popular".

Re: "Compatibles" - I looked at a carton left over from last year and it DOES say "Premium COMPATIBLE." So maybe they aren't refills - I never paid that much attention to the cartons and just always assumed from the cheap price that they were. I checked those model numbers and they have them: HP4050 IS $29 for one and $135 for five. Also listed is CP1525, but can't quite figure out the pricing. They don't take the empties for trade-ins, but at these prices it seems irrelevant. Phone number is 877-822-8659.

For anyone who hasn't ordered needed toner cartridges, here's a pretty good place to get them reasonably. SuppliesOutlet.com is the website - they're in Memphis. It's refills, not original equipment, but are very good quality. I've been using them for about five years and no problems so far. Over the years I tried almost all the used ones (remanufactured or "Remans" they call them) but something was always wrong (shipping mistakes, half-filled cartridges, prices not much cheaper than originals), so I finally gave up and started buying OEMs at Sam's Club ($68 each). Then somebody told me about this place. A package of five for my LaserJet HP1102w printer is $70 total and a set of 2 for my Canon 4770n copier is $34 total. I just ordered some and hopefully everything will be as good as last year. I got a coupon from Offers.com which took $15 off the total (it's AMZ15 and I just typed it in) which worked for me, but, as you probably know, those things work sometimes and sometimes not. Anyhow, just thought I'd pass that on to anybody interested and (Disclaimer) no, I don't get anything off for references.

I renewed my EA license Nov. 5th and have not received the billfold card they mailed me last time, although they did let me print out a payment confirmation. Does anyone know if they are still mailing those out or is there a place online to print out the card myself? I know that it could simply be that two months is not enough lead time for IRS. Thanks.

I'm 76 and know the pasture awaits, but ah'd druther trudge on in my rut until either it or I collapse, whichever comes first. To offer some perspective on age; when my day job folded in the eighties, tax season was over, I had few write-up clients, and desktop computers were being introduced. I answered a software company's ad for commission-only salesmen (some good advice: NEVER do that) and after a dozen failed sales attempts, I called on an out-of-town independent insurance agency. At the time I was forty-something and a snowy-haired gentlemen sat down with me, relaxed while listening courteously and attentively to my entire amateurish spiel; pausing only to light a pipe and pluck occasionally at his flag-emblazoned suspenders. He summed up the situation thus: "Well sonny; I'm 95. I own this place. My wife, Margaret there (pointed to a nice lady at her Underwood who looked up, nodded, and wiggled her fingers at me) is my secretary. She's 90. We've been selling insurance here for 60 years without a computer. Now, I know they're the GOING THING, but ..... I'm NOT GOING with them! But I do appreciate you coming by to explain everything to me. Goodbye and good luck to you." And so ended my sales career; it's been taxes ever since and hopefully will be for a good while yet .....

Old-timer here, too (nice to know I've got company). Started nights for dad-'68; 1970-began half-days (employer ok/Jan-Apr) plus nights 'til 1-2 A.M.; full-time self-employed 1980 and later. Agree with Nebraska about change; kept waiting for it to finally let up, but (as you know) it just intensified and now there's credits for everything except alms for sots (probably next). We typed returns but I was a lousy typist and carbon paper mistake corrections were awful, so I do like computers, EF, and laser printers. Would quit except then (money aside)...do what?

Thank you.