mcb39

I say NO!  I have one who does not receive either a 1099 or a W2; just the Profit and Loss Statement from the Parish, which shows his stipend, and everything else.  Have been doing his taxes for over 20 years and it has been SE all the way because we cannot get the Parish to change their method of accounting.  My Priest (client) does not want to rock the boat because he was born and raised in Poland and is afraid of the Government.  Perhaps you could help me.  He also does have a W2 from the Hospital where he is the Chaplain.

I had one of these for years, because they both refused to file with each other's accountants.  My client always got the short end of the stick because she owned the home and paid all of the expenses.  He had nothing to deduct.  Dear friend of ours who has passed away.  He could not take the standard deduction because she itemized.

Just had to send a fax to Taxpayer Advocates.  Client has not received 2022 refund.  Has been sitting in "Where's my Refund" for ten months.  "Still being Processed"!

I had one years ago who was on the board of a Credit Union.   Yes, it was SE, but he did deduct his mileage back and forth to meetings.

I have two landlines through Spectrum (Charter Communications) one for my office phone and one for fax.  It is reasonable and works out very well.  I have ATT for my cell phone.  I really don't mind clients calling or texting my cell phone.  I can always shut it off.  Because of OIH, I am trying to get packed to get out of Dodge for the weekend.  My landline is ringing nonstop.  Of course, I could let it go to voicemail, and will for the weekend.  I am getting away and will be coming back to the gates of Hell so need some R & R.  Surprisingly, the first week of filing was fairly quiet, but we are booked solid for next week.  Starting to book into March now.  In the meantime, all of my business receipts for 2023 are missing and I live in fear that my assistant put them in the burning.  I see the usual extension coming and am trying not to worry.  

Instead of a Partnership return.  Maybe this is only allowed in Community Property States.

I have one business that files two separate Schedule Cs as a Qualified Joint Venture.; 

21 hours ago, BulldogTom said:

You are a great American!  

Tom
Longview, TX
USCG BM2 1984-1987

Thank you Tom.  My husband was in the Navy!!

Just now, mcb39 said:

I think that Intuit and HRB are both feeling the tightening of the screws.  I am already receiving random offers to purchase my business.  Delete! Delete!  In the past week I have had new people call me because they can't file this or that on Turbo Tax unless they step up to the business program.  Well, I don't know much about Turbo Tax except, as Sara said, they miss issues that they know nothing about.  And, basically, we don't charge that much more for basic returns and prepare them properly; just because WE CAN.

I Never charge for active duty Military.  Never have, never will.

I think that Intuit and HRB are both feeling the tightening of the screws.  I am already receiving random offers to purchase my business.  Delete! Delete!  In the past week I have had new people call me because they can't file this or that on Turbo Tax unless they step up to the business program.  Well, I don't know much about Turbo Tax except, as Sara said, they miss issues that they know nothing about.  And, basically, we don't charge that much more for basic returns and prepare them properly; just because WE CAN.

8 minutes ago, BrewOne said:

if there was business activity (income or expenses), a return is due.  And late filing penalties are severe.  That's the information a preparer should pass on to the tax-matters partner.  I'd leave speculation on the odds of anything happening if they don't file to the partners.

This is a former Sch C filer and he will be claiming all of the income and expenses on the Sch C.  He just said that the Partnership didn't work out.  No surprise to me.  My Sch C client is the Primary and TMP.  I guess it won't hurt to file a zero return with no activity.

Partnership created this past summer has already dissolved without ever filing a return.  Is it necessary to file a zero return to that effect.

Truthfully, I don't understand a lot of this security parlance.  I, however, do feel secure in the fact that nobody other than my IT person and myself touch my work computer.  Even with my office addition, I am running out of room.  We just somehow make it work.  This week leading up to tax filing day has been extremely stressful for various reasons.  People are bringing in problems that should have been addressed months  ago.  Sales tax numbers are coming in late.; as are numbers for 1099 filing.  I hope to take it one day at a time.  Other peoples' failure to be  timely is not my responsibility.

My eyesight is fine as of now.  There is no cure.  I have a condition inherited from my father.  However, in his late 80s and early 90s he let it get him down.  I won't do that.  I only hope that along with his eyes, I got his brain because at 92 when we lost him, he was sharp as a tack mentally.  I was just cleared of nearly nine years of any recurrence of cancer.  Which would I rather have?  You all know the answer to that.  

I hope that each and every person who frequents this board has a season that is nearly trouble free.  Some of us have been around for a long time, but if we don't do it, who will?  Happy Taxing to all of you.

19 minutes ago, Pacun said:

The parent who provides a home, which was the home for the child for more than 6 months in the tax year, enters the social security number of the child and checks, "Not claiming this child this year" and qualifies for HH status. 

The other parent can enter the social security too and claim the exception. if there is another child living with this parent, that other child will qualify this parent as head of house hold and both can claim HH status. 

Of course the social security can be used on both returns as long as only one claims the exception. My brother never saw his child for 10 years and every other year (even years) the mother would sign the release form for the child.  The mother every single year was HH and every even year was HH without a child as a dependent.  The IRS never questioned them and now the child is an adult.

There would be no reason to question them as long as they weren't both claiming the exemption in the same year.

Some of us have reached a point where we don't want to walk away, but it is getting to be too much to handle alone.  Myself, included.  I took on a part-time assistant a few years ago and she has gleaned a lot of knowledge but is no way ready to go on her own.  In short, if your clients want the expertise and experience that you have to offer, they should be willing to pay for it or find it somewhere else.  Charge what you have to charge.  You don't have to justify it to anyone.  Having just had a negative eye diagnosis, I totally get what you are saying.  Panic is setting in, etc.  I wish you all things good.  None of us are magicians.  Handle what you can or what you want to and try not to worry about the rest.  I have already called for help.  My heart is with you.

These situations waste more time and cause more confusion than almost any other.  The exemption isn't what it used to be and HOH can be worthless if the parent makes too much money.  As in any tax situation, it all depends on the numbers.  In so many cases, they are living together anyway and are willing to perjure themselves for the sake of a larger refund.  Therefore, the Due Diligence burden falls on our shoulders.

7 minutes ago, Lee B said:

I don't have any clients filing HOH. But I don't understand the race to file issue,

because you can file HOH while the other parent claims the child as a dependent.

It's not like both unmarried parents are claiming the same dependent with the dependents SSN popping up twice,

so what' to prevent both unmarried parents from filing HOH?

 

If you file just HOH, you have to enter the ITIN of the person who qualifies you for HOH even if not your dependent.  Hence, same ITIN will be on both returns.

Why do people do things like that when we are doing everything we can to help them.?  I would say that losing this client is worth losing a client.  Our overhead continues to snowball.

Each of my active computers has two external backup hard drives, used alternately, stored at a different location.  My password books are also off site.  We try as hard as we can to protect our information.  No, have never had anything stolen as of yet.  My worst catastrophe to date was a battery blowup on a laptop and to this day that laptop is still working.  I gave it to my IT man who pried the battery out of the half melted machine and he still has it running.

Exactly!!!!!

I know some people (not many) who are running their desktop from a tablet.  Either use wireless hardware or get a USB splitter that will accommodate several plugins.  Hence, the value of using a Surface, as Margaret said.  You can do as little or as much as you want.  Pretty much any scenario is possible.

My problem is that when we added on my office addition, we should have gone BIGGER.  My assistant brought this home when she mentioned the other day that she wished she had more room on her desk.  

And, whose fault is that?   Generally, if I ever need support, I just call my Sales Rep and she gets me to someone.  With this board, however, that is very seldom.

I use a 17" Acer laptop with the pointer turned off and use the keyboard.  This is not my main computer, BUT, could be.  Any bookwork or returns prepared on the laptop are exported to a jump drive and imported into my desktop for revue and filing.  Even with my diagnosis of Macular Degeneration; I don't, as yet, have a problem with the 17" screen and it is running Windows 11.  I could add another monitor if I had the room.  I also would need to get a wireless printer, but there is no need at this point.  Each computer in my office has its own printer at the moment.  Good luck with whichever way you choose to go.  Generally, I believe that if I want to do something, such as tax prep, I will find a way to do it.  So far, I haven't let age or left-handedness hold me back.

23 hours ago, Lee B said:

The Tax Advocates Assistance Tool   https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/can-tas-help-me-with-my-tax-issue/

Form 911   https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f911.pdf

 

Thank you Lee.  We will move forward with this information.

It has been pretty apparent that when the IRS does correct a return; their explanation of correction is slim to none.  This particular client has been threatening to call his Senator or Rep.  I will tell him to go ahead and do it. Thanks to all of you.  This situation has been a really sore subject this year as I also prepare this client's Sales Tax returns and have some of his bookkeeping on my computer.  He also has a short fuse and isn't the best at keeping records,, but we have worked with him for many years and have him doing his bookkeeping  on Quicken; which is an extreme advantage.   He is retired County Law Enforcement.