mcb39

Dead end! I tried E-services again as the client brought in the two identical letters that he has received on 3/14 and 4/2. No luck with E-services. Called Practitioners Hotline and waited 46 minutes, but did put on speaker phone and continue to work. Finally got a live person. Of course, there is nothing he could do for me other than verify that they have received the return and were reviewing it; which is exactly what the two letters said. I asked him if he could jog it; and he said he could do nothing but put a note on it that I had called. Maybe Catherine is correct and this might start something. He could not tell me what they were reviewing. So frustrating and a little frightening that these are the same people who rule our lives as professional preparers. Oh, he did tell me to call again 45 days after receipt of the last letter. I said the letter is dated Apr 2 and today is May 30; I believe that is more than 45 days. He said, "Oh!" ;)

I tried E-Services first but got nowhere with them. Probably because I am not an EA or CPA. My CAF did not match their info. I think Deb might be right that some of these just get stuck and if you don't make some attempt, nothing will ever get done. They used to have an inquiry that you could fill out on "Where's My Refund", but that is gone. They are sure closing all the doors of communication. If the client calls, he gets the same recorded message: "Return has been received and is being processed", then a hangup.

Client is going to drop off the letters he received in the morning so I will wait until after I get the paper. It is just a matter of tracking his refund......filed on 3/05; has not received refund and message is that "return has been received and is being processed. Nothing unusual about this return, either, except for a few windows that he had installed. I have copies of those receipts.

Thanks, Bart.....that is the one. On hold for 23 minutes, will try again tomorrow.

I need the number asap. Thank you to anyone!

I took my test today......and, PASSED! Just wanted to thank all of you for the small and large nuggets of information that surface on this board. Next to "hands on", these forums are the best teachers that I have ever encountered. I have learned on some occasions that I wasn't as smart as I may have thought I was. Thanks again. :read:

For some reason, I always seem to catch the spelling and/or grammar errors in books, and I read a lot. Also, for some reason, it always irritates me. I wonder if this is the result of too much "Spell check" as opposed to actual human proofreading. Once again, I think we lay the credit (or blame) to a good grade school education wherein Grammar and Spelling were stringently taught. However, I would never correct anyone else unless I was asked to. We all have our own and varied areas of expertise. :read:

I have had more people calling this year to ask how long they needed to keep papers. I would like to say "forever", but I do say "forever" in regard to stocks, RE transactions, Retirement funds, any type of business and/or rental info. Why is everyone in such a big hurry to throw things away? I have a gal coming in on Monday who hasn't filed for five years.; which was the last time I filed for her. I thought she went elsewhere. No, she just didn't file. I hope she didn't throw anything away for her sake.

Actually, one of my clients who specializes in massage is bring her chair to my office and giving me my first massage ever, the day before. I keep reminding myself of how easy it is to answer most questions just when someone ask. So, yes, second guessing oneself could be chaotic.

My question upon reviewing Cir 230, is are we actually allowed to use those letters behind our names as, for instance, on our business cards, etc. My congrats to Frazzled. I feel much like she did. I go on the 23rd of May and am on and off nervous. Trying not to think about it. Come on, Rita, join the crowd. I really don't believe that I have taken a test in over thirty years and that was for an Auto Salesperson's license; which I hold to this day and really have never used. (In the interest of my husband and sons' business). Am sure I will become much more uneasy as they day approaches, but did experience a great feeling of relief once I had made the appointment.

But, in many cases they would have been deferred as some of these annuities and IRAs in general go back a way.

You are both correct in general. However, considering the employment situation in Central WI, you have to look at both sides. Yes, she did a lot of running around for nothing and ended up here in the end, where she had to pay. No, I did not prepare the return for nothing. But, they are both out of work and have a son in college. They really paid the 4000 plus in mortgage interest as well as principal and property taxes. I think they have to eat too. On the other hand, they wasted a lot of my time fixing their error and I am quite sure this will never happen again. My point was not whether they had to pay to get their tax return prepared. My point was why are these novices allowed to perform such important services in the first place.; without education first. IMO, the IRS itself has placed the biggest tag on our heads with their greatly enhanced advertising of "Do it yourself on our website" How many of you have ever tried to prepare a free-file return? It is difficult at best and even with our knowledge, it is so easy to click "Send" too soon. My second rant for the day.

1. Old client and friend goes to technical college to save money on tax prep 2. I tell client to let me look it over, I will not charge to look at it 3. Return is a mess. Over $4000 in mortgage interest is on Line 8a, Taxable interest income 4. I will amend return and charge a fair fee 5. Client comes yesterday to pick up amendments (Fed and WI) Client says she has not received refund yet for return filed in March. 6. We call WI and IRS...neither has a record of the return which was supposedly efiled. 7. I redo entire return and e-file. Both are accepted so were never filed before 8. We call tech college and response is "You know these are just students preparing returns but the supervisor is supposed to check them over. I will connect you to the supervisor. OK, but received disconnect rather than connect. Now, this may be an isolated incident, but I tend to think that it may be fairly common. Client would have waited forever for refund which would never come because return was never filed. Who would detect the errors? Say what you may about calling clients who don't show up; but if you know them well and they have been with you forever, I have no qualms about calling just to make sure their needs have been taken care of. Both I and my client are very happy that I made that call. I would have happily backed off if their returns had been in order and we would still be friends. Again, I ask, "Who Needs To Be Tested?" This is not the first time that I have seen the work of the underling to be not properly checked by the person holding the credentials. :dunno:

You are correct about the spam. However, I registered through the IRS web site under PTIN......it showed the choices for my state and the fee was $116. Everyone is sure trying to cash in on this dea.

Big discussion about this on the "other" board. Some can, some can't. This makes the "Gone Batty" sign on my wall very apt. In any case, I ended up going to the IRS website and filling it in online while my clients waited. I didn't want to look any more stupid than I already am. I no longer need it. Just filed my last (I hope) quarterly Sales Tax and have to do one more LLC renewal and I can get back to focusing on all the extensions and amendments in the box. Happy May to all. :scratch_head:

I wonder what Peter was thinking. I would say that Paul has 50% basis in the property. What was their intent for the use of this property?

Don sounds like a typical husband. If he is that stubborn and determined, he should surely get well. I have one just like that.

If I don't keep at it for a while every day, I will not want to go back to it. Finished and filed my own this AM. Extensions, amendments, payroll, sales tax etc, lurking in the boxes on the floor. Finally got DSL upgraded yesterday to a new provider. Was actually going to escape for a while today, but my car has been sitting in the garage for so long, it would not start. That's one way to save on gas. Sure do miss all the guys and gals chatting here. Made appointment for RTRP. The slots are going fast. Not looking forward to six hours on the road and three hours being tested, but what ya gonna do?

KC.......those are generally the type that I see. I also get many new clients as soon as their kids start college because they know "there is something out there, but don't know what or how" That is also when you start finding the things they missed on their prior self-prepared returns. Half of my extension box is filled with returns from prior years needing amending either by self-preparers or HRB or free preparers. Thus is the nature of this job. Hope and pray all things are on the upward swing for you and Don.

We should all be as lucky as Jack. I just finished doing my Lego box full of bookkeeping for the year. Just what we tell all of our clients not to do. If all goes well, next year I will have an addition to my office and an assistant. Will have an entrance right into the office so no more people coming through the house when hubby is eating dinner or trying to relax. Obviously, hubby will NOT be the new assistant. All told, this was a great year. I don't charge enough either, but am happy with what I have earned. and thankful for what I have learned. Peace and Happiness to all of you.

That is so cool. I have my Grandparent's wedding invitation; much the worse for wear.; as well as their wedding picture. But the best part is all the warm and fuzzy memories of time spent at "Grandma's House." I tried to give that same feeling to my only Granddaughter and it seems to have taken. Now, at 26 and married, she still calls me and keeps me updated on what is going on in their lives; and her husband does the same. He actually stopped and showed me her engagement ring before she saw it, but she doesn't know that. My two most important roles in life right now are being a Good Grandma and helping people prepare a correct and beneficial tax return. I don't try to be a "good wife" during tax season, but I do love my husband after nearly 52 years of marriage so my Grandparents must have been good role models for me.

All said above is true here as well. Working alone, home office, etc. I woke up this morning with such a feeling of contentment and achievement. I could never have done it without all of you. This was a difficult year; new clients, new questions and situations, new forms to contend with! I was busy every minute and still have a box full of extensions and more coming in today. But, I surely tried to do the best job possible for my clients. I am here for them and you are here for me. Thanks so much and remember that there are no dumb questions.

Actually, to the tax preparer that is pretty HUGE; since most of us have been living in our offices for several months now. I couldn't even find a spot on my floor to lie down right now. Tornadoes and loss are not funny, but I guess if I had to choose which part of my house to save right now, it would be the home office, hands down.

Did I mention that my Priest client was born and raised in Poland? So, yes, his offerings are the genuine stuff. My mother's Polish name was short also, but her mother's wasn't. That is a great idea for a password. My Grandparents were married on what is now called "Veterans Day". Grandma always said that one war ended that day and another one began. That wasn't true, though, because at 69 years of marriage, they were still holding hands and he was wiping the dishes for her. I love and miss them terribly. I tell everyone that my Polish half is my best half.

Yes, a long three. We left town so I could get some serious work done without interruptions. Have my favorite Priest client spread all over my kitchen table. He's not a terribly organized guy, but devotes his life to service, so what can I say. He thinks that I am the peak of infallible. I ask him for a blessing every time he stops in. He brings me Pierogi and Polish Sausage. I advertise in his bulletin. (The only advertising that I do.) Have two more businesses that HAVE to be finished and several extensions including my own. Crazy world, crazy life, but I wonder what I would do without it........so am putting an addition on my home office. Blueprints came in last Thurs. By the way, wonder what I would do without all of you. Thanks for all the help and even thanks to Jainen for the subtle scoldings. Love you all.