mcb39

One of the reasons why I no longer accept clients with payroll. The system is SO broken

From my heart to all of yours, have a wonderful New Year!!!

Yesterday, I received my IRS Annual Filing Season Program Certificate of Completion from the PTIN Website. We are already set to start and ready to go.

We insist on paper proof; could be e-mail, fax, etc:

I encourage calls from clients. I want them to ask me questions and I know the questions that I want to ask them. To many of you, this may seem foolish and a waste of time; but to me nothing is worse than having to do an amendment because something was missed. I, personally, interview every client and give them as much time as they need. I don't prepare returns while they are sitting here. If it's going to be too much for me, I will refer them to a practitioner that I trust. They are paying for my time and service. I want to give them what they are paying for and I tell them that I am here all year if something comes up that they have a question about. I don't like surprises at tax time. My husband and I reflected on our 63 years together on Christmas Eve after all of the "kids" had gone. We have been so blessed. We started out with a lot of Nothing. Neither of us even had a job at the time. We have both worked hard both as employees and finally as self-employed. We reflected on what we had then and what we have now. We have been so blessed. I have spent a lot of time learning and I don't mind sharing some of that time with individuals who need help. When I go to bed at night, I sleep really well.

We don't have a website. Just a Facebook page. My appointment book lives on my desk along with my computer glasses. (And a lot of other junk).

Client: Oh, let me make one for my daughter too Me:

Texting Scenario: Client: Can I make an appointment? Me: Yes, when? Client: Let me ask my husband Me: (Waiting) Client: How about the ____? Me: What time? Client: Let me ask my husband Me: (Waiting) Client: How about _______? Me: Fine And on and on it goes.......I HATE it! Bear in mind that I have over 200 1040 clients!

I have two business land lines. Believe it or not, we still send and receive fax messages. I HATE when a client texts me for an appointment. The biggest waste of time in the life of a business, as I have stated before. Pick up the phone and TALK! Even call my cell phone, but TALK!!!!

WAYYYYY...........over my head!

Personally, I think that too many people, clients included, rely on their phones for all of their information. I just cringe when they come in with all of their banking info; bookkeeping, etc on their phone. I rarely read email on my phone, just check it occasionally to get rid of all the junk. I am a firm believer in PCs with external hard drive or USB backups. Just my old-fashioned thinking. I would be lost without my phone, but I consider it to be more of a personal friend than a business friend. I keep it updated with my business information simply because there are so many who do not and will not contact you in any other way. More of my time is wasted in texting for appointments and/or tax questions; than in any other portion of my business.

I understand. There is a child that I have never met. I know that my first responsibility is to try to contact the husband alone. It is already out of hand IMO. Lady will not be happy about including husband because she already is upset because she thinks he is interfering. Very delicate situation, but Thank You All for your input. In the meantime, I will pray for someone from that side to step up to the plate and contact me. Let us all have a Very Happy and Untroubled Holiday Season!

Some good ideas here. The biggest problem is that she is not aware that anything is wrong. She is aware that she has contacted me often. She apologizes for bothering me and begs me not to drop her as a client. As if I would! They have a semi-complicated return with several 1099s and SS. It has got to be correct. Generally, they get a nice refund.

I have a longtime client who has been acting strangely for the past year and it is getting worse. She started out by bringing me the wrong paperwork in March. After we called her and she insisted we were wrong; she walked in the door with the correct folder. As time went on, she started to call me as to why they hadn't gotten their refund. All indications under "Where's My Refund" both Fed and State indicated that she had them both; one by Direct Deposit and one by Paper Check because she had given me the wrong bank account for WI. I called WI and they assured me that they had sent the check and it had been endorsed and cashed and they would send her a copy and if they were not their signatures; she was to call them. She called me several times and stopped in once always addressing the issue of why they hadn't gotten their refunds. Yesterday, she called and asked me if she had all the paperwork that she needed to do her 2022 tax return. I told her she wouldn't have anything before late Jan or early Fed. She said, "Oh, that's right!" Then again asked if I had heard anything about her refunds. That same day, I called a mutual friend who had referred her to me and asked if I could ask her a confidential and delicate question. I told her what had been going on in a nutshell without mentioning any amounts or other confidential information. Today, our mutual friend called her and asked her the usual Holiday stuff and how she was doing. The client in question told her that she had been unwell and was on medication but she didn't know what it was for. Mutual friend asked her to spell it, which she did. It is a medication for the treatment of dementia. So, what do I do now? How do I handle this ethically? I have never met her husband because she has always handled all of the paperwork and took the signature form to him to sign. She is a very nice, lovely lady. I don't know anyone else related to her and I fear that she will come in without all of the documents needed to file a correct return. Please advise.

I had the surgery several years ago and remember having similar issues as NECCPA. They told me to use eye drops that were Preservative Free. I had problems and my husband had none, we had surgery the same day by the same doctor. I think the fact that I only use one eye at a time entered into it. Just let me say that after the healing and the glasses adjustment is over; it is the most miraculous and wonderful thing that I ever experienced. I couldn't read the numbers on the microwave without grabbing cheaters. Now, much of the time I don't wear any glasses at all. Once again I say that these new glasses are wonderful. Nobody ever suggest blue light protection before. It is a game winner. Sun on a LOT of snow such as we have today, would have made it very difficult to work before. For two years I struggled with glasses that they never could get right. Went to a different vendor this time and what a difference. Good luck, happiness and a very happy Holiday Season to all of you. We all know what lies ahead for us.

I got my new glasses and they are wonderful. The blue light protection is wonderful. Also, I can spin around in my chair to client across the desk and see the client perfectly. I can see the bird sanctuary outside my window as well. Very happy.

Fortunately, I have one gal who loves digging through the papers and sorting out the expenses. She comes in when I need her and does an awesome job. Believe me, she looks at everything and questions that lunch at McDonalds or that bottle of Bourbon and isn't afraid to call the client on it. When she is ready, she calls them in and puts them on the "hot seat" and ties up all the loose ends. When she is finished, all I have is totals. At the same time; she is doing a great job of whipping them into shape. She isn't interested in tax prep, but loves the numbers and loves coming here just to be a part of the "fun"! One client has 9 rentals and tries to bring in reports that are a mish mash of a mix up. He knows that when Gen wants to talk to him, he had better have his answers ready.

Both our family practice Doctor and our Ophthalmologist have retired in the past two years; both relatively young men. In my practice, I am seeing more and more clients opting for early retirement as well. Some have a side line; some just want out. (Of course, some of them want their wives to continue working and carry health insurance); not always a happy situation. On the other end of the spectrum are those of us who have no plans to ever retire until absolutely necessary. Huge retirement plans are fueling some of this; some just think they have enough wealth accumulated. I am finding myself asked to help with more financial planning than ever before. I have had some clients lose thousands by following careless advice from their professional financial planners. There appears to be a severe lack of work ethics in some of the generation that is currently moving into the work force. On the other hand, I have grandchildren making more money than we ever dreamed possible when we were their age and with only trade school educations. I don't know the answers, so I just quietly and happily continue to build my cushion and hope that we never have to use it.

You enter your created password to get into ATX support to download the program. Then you have to wait for ATX to send you a code to prove that you are who you say you are before they let you into support.

Now that you mentioned it Lion, Amazon has several sellers of progressive computer glasses. The trick is getting the right prescription. I am glad that I took the plunge and ordered them custom made. Just sorry that I didn't have the top left clear, but it might turn out to be all right. They will never leave my desk, but I still have my old glasses for distance, although I seldom need that. I can drive without glasses. See better without them. I am definitely going to deduct them as I have separate invoices and, believe me, nothing is inexpensive these days. Had blue light put on my regular glasses as well. One thing I do believe in is taking care of my eyes. They are my greatest treasure and I am so thankful that they are basically healthy, just old.

Yes, I agree. I have total trust in my serviceman. However, what is going to happen to that 69% of computers if and when they become obsolete? There isn't any place that you can dump them. I have to believe that before the time comes, Microsoft will have a workaround to update. Fingers are crossed.

D, My Guru was in yesterday all day cleaning (dusting the insides of) and updating all of my computers. He told me that in 2 years our Window 10 computers will be obsolete junk. I asked him about your issue and he said that most of your Windows 10 programs will work with Windows 11; but it will not be possible to update Windows 10 computers in the future. Therefore, if I were you and buying a new computer, I would opt for Windows 11. He said that he has been using it for 2 years already and he works on a lot of 10 computers; including mine. Just a tidbit for you to mull over.

All of the above. We are talking about an excess of $30,000. Arrangements have already been made. With the standard deduction, he barely owes any tax as a rule. Of course, he can't take that above the line $300 this year either.

Yes, nobody had exactly $300 or $600. I think it is a shame that they took this tiny perk away. People really liked it and it didn't amount to much. I have a client who has already informed me that he is donating his entire RMD to three charities. Of course it will give him a deduction that he doesn't need; but kudos to him because he doesn't need the money either and has no wife or children.

I will have blue-light-blocking, thank you. kathyc2, I can't do the two different lenses because I only use one eye at a time. Hey, remember that I am 80 and probably won't be changing prescriptions again. At least I might be able to read the MTG without a magnifying glass.