Patti in Upstate NY

I've been around for a few years but I'm Irish and stubborn so have rarely asked for help. I'm also a one woman band here so rarely chime in because (I apologize in advance) I read daily to learn yet have little time to help. Unfair to all of you that I take yet I don't give. I learn something new every day from each and every one of you. I've done taxes since 1987. I remember peeling the label off and sticking it to the blue form at the kitchen table. I went computerized with a software called Pencil Pushers and I loved it but it went away. Then I turned to Lacerte. Too expensive so I switched to ATX which led me here. The debacle of 2011 sent me back to Lacerte but I'm grateful my short time using ATX introduced me to this incredible group of people. I lost my partner in 2018. Not my business partner but the man I simply adored so 2019 season was a shit show. Sorry if I'm not supposed to say shit. I work from home. Every single day people came in and asked "where's Eric?" I had to say "dead." 2020 was business as usual until it wasn't. 2021 has been the worst I've seen in 33 years. No one in my office. Meeting in the driveway. I won't even list the insanity of the government because I've been here daily. I know you know. I guess this post is to simply say thank you for getting me through another year. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Your struggles. Most of the time you were helping others but you were also making me feel less alone. Going forward? I'm probably downsizing because I'm old and I'm tired and I'm furious to have done such hard work for so many years only to have them make my life and my job harder. I wish all of you a week on the beach with your family. Or the mountains. Or wherever. Most of all - I thank you. From an old woman in upstate NY who's been doing taxes way too long and still trying to do her best. My sincerest thanks

His buddy bought a portable garage which obviously made a difference. Buddy did fail to tell CPA he paid cash to put it on a slab so it's actually a permanent structure but that's not my problem. Thanks for taking the time to answer. Greatly appreciated.

I'm afraid I'm losing my mind and it's entirely possible I am but if anyone can give me an answer off the top of their head, I would appreciate it. I have a landscaping client who paid $30K cash last year (cash was proceeds from sale of gifted house/property) to construct a garage at his home that is dedicated to storing his mowers, blowers, trailers, and whatever else he uses. He told me he wanted to write off the entire building for 2018. I told him he couldn't because it's 39 yr non residential property. He told me his father put up a building and his accountant let him write it off. I said "your father is a farmer so he can. You're a landscaper so you can't." He was in today to pick up and told me his buddy who goes to a big high priced local CPA firm put up a $60K garage last year and they wrote off 100% of it. I'm doubting myself because it's late in my hardest tax season in 30 years and I'm tired. But I think I'm right. What say the rest of you?

You guys are the best. It is not my problem and my client knows that. I haven't been asked to solve it nor will I offer to. Not unless I'm hired. She called because her stepdad received a paper check at his address with the wrong name on it (not "in care of") and the preparer was rather rude to her. He said "I've done your parent's taxes for 25 years and never had a problem until now. Just cash the damn check and give him the money. It's not like it's income to you." She was offended. So was I. That's not how I do business. I've known the family for a very long time, long enough that I went to the Mom's funeral last year. There may be snakes but not the stepdad. And not the daughter. One of the reasons I follow this board is to see what you all see in your offices. It's always helped me to read about some crazy thing you've never had happen. I learn from that. From you. For me - this was one of those things. Take a break but don't go away. I appreciate all of you.

One of my clients called earlier today. Her Mom passed away in 2017 and she (daughter) was the one who gathered all the tax info to deliver to their preparer because her Dad never did paperwork and at 85, wasn't about to start. She said there were a few questions she was able to answer and all was well. Until the refund check came payable to "Karen Smith" which is her first name but not her last name. For the record? Neither name is even real. Confidentiality and all that. She called the preparer who said "we'll fix the file going forward but just cash the check and give the money to your Dad." He's not her Dad. He's her stepfather and the name on the check is not a name she's ever been known by. It's her first name and her stepfather's surname. She wasn't willing to endorse. Thank you - I have a client with integrity...........Who knew? The preparer is asking for a POA to be able to discuss with IRS which I told her was okay for Dad (Stepdad) to sign. I also vented and told her how useless it was to check the box to allow the preparer to discuss the return. But my software is relentless. If not a surviving spouse claiming the refund then I have to jump through all kinds of hoops to make it happen. Not ATX. I use Lacerte. How and why did IRS issue a refund to a person who isn't real? I mean.....she's real. She's been his "daughter" for 50 years but they never shared a name. The preparer never asked for her SSN. I can't continue without it. I told her to review the copy of the return and specifically, the 1310. Just venting..................:)

This 3 year old post was invaluable. Tom? What do you drink? I'll send you a case of whatever it is........ As promised. Here I am. Asking for more. Sorry. Especially when I'm new. My clients were quite surprised to hear what the law was and that their gain is $293K. They're thinking about purchasing another two family in another state and they understand they only have two years to make that decision. But they want it to be an informed decision. Do I make an official election? Or did I read correctly that by not reporting the gain this year that we are in effect making the election to defer the gain? I am soooooooooo tired.

I'm about 20-25 miles north of Albany. Very small town. Not much here but the Hudson river which is 50' from my front door. I am blessed to have a room with a view and since I work from home? An office with a view. To Tom - I'm glad I made your day. Too many times we forget who we help and only remember those we failed. Shame on us. I'm about to resurrect the thread that sent me on the path I researched and led me to your post. At the 11th hour? I appreciate any and all advice. Thank you for the warm welcome. I appreciate it more than any of you will ever know.

I'm actually not new - I've been reading this forum for years. At the end of every tax season I swear I'm going to join and donate and tell all of you how you helped me get through the last few months. Then I'm too tired. We're all tired. So that's not a good excuse anymore. I've done taxes for 32? years. On my own for approximately 28 of them and the hardest part has been not having anyone to bounce things off of. Well. That's not entirely true. The hardest part is the fools who walk through my door who make me wonder how they managed to find their way from their house to my office......... My biggest challenge this year was a client who I've had since day one. Two family rental totally gutted in a fire. Okay. What does this mean? How do I report? What is the impact? Involuntary conversion, right? Wait. Is there a casualty loss? OMG! Oddly enough - Bulldog Tom (who beat himself up for missing something on a return) gave me the answer in a post from 2015. Bless you Tom. And know that last year I finished a partnership return on 4/17 and forgot to e-file it. Yeah. Totally forgot to hit "send." At least the extension was filed on time and it was "only" two months late. I still suck as a preparer and I ate the penalty. Tom and all of you keep me sane. You make me laugh. You make me feel like I'm not alone. My sincerest appreciation